A Baptism for Twins

I hope everyone had a great weekend! I had a relaxing one, but didn't get much done! I guess you need to have one of those every now and then to just unwind and relax! I had to go to a baptism party today. Our friends' daughter had twins recently (a boy and a girl...Gabriel and Gwendolyn), so I had to make a card. There aren't many stamps and such for this type of occasion, but I think I made one work. Here's my card.I just love this PMS digi image called A Fairy for Kaleigh. I told Katie Cotton (owner of PMS) that I don't think I'll ever tire of this image! I started by choosing my dp. Sorry, I didn't write down the name of this one. I got it at my LSS a while ago. I colored the fairy images in pink and blue copic markers to represent the girl and boy. I used my blossom nesties to cut and emboss the image and then to sponge in some background color with Pink Pirouette and Soft Sky ink. I of course added Star Dust Stickles to the images. The sentiment (inside and out, as well as the cross on the inside) are from PTI's Everyday Blessings. The sentiment on the front was sponged with the pink and blue ink. Finally, I layered two sheer ribbons...one is pink with with white polka dots and the other a wider blue ribbon. The card was a big hit at the party. Everyone loved the image! It's such a sweet one!

Just a reminder...starting Wednesday, the PMS design team will be doing peeks of the June release! Lots of stamps in this release! I'll be posting peeks on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday (and possibly Thursday, as well). On Sunday, there will be a blog hop and release party later in the day. I hope you can join in all the fun! Well, that's it for today. I hope you have a great week and thanks for stopping in!

Recipe
Stamps: A Fairy for Kaleigh (PMS digi image)
Paper: PTI white, pretty in pink, bashful blue, dp unknown
Ink: Pink pirouette, sky blue, Memento tuxedo black
Copic Markers: RV000, 10, 11, 32, 34; B00, 02, 04, 05: Y21, 23; YR23; E00, 02
Accessories: Blossom nesties, Star Dust stickles, corner rounder, sheer ribbons, dimensionals

My Time to Create Technique Challenge

Hi everyone! I've been such a slug this week...I didn't even play in Lauren's challenge today! But that's ok, because this was an optional one for us. If someone tells me that, I usually have it in my head that I'm not doing it! Are you like that? I slack off when someone gives me some leeway. I need structure and someone to tell me to do something! In fact, I started working out with a trainer this week. I went Tuesday and Thursday, and believe me when I say I'm sore! I came home both days and just crashed! Aren't you supposed to feel better after exercising? LOL! If I didn't work with a trainer, I wouldn't exercise regularly. Always something else to do!

But, Lauren and some of the girls did play, so I want to point you in their direction because they have some beauties for you! The challenge this week was to dry emboss on vellum, then color on the back. I will try to do one today and post it tomorrow (but no promises...I have to do my gardening today!). Here is the peek collage of the girls' work.

Don't they look intriguing? Well then, hop over to their blogs and see what they're up to!

Alicia
Dana
Kristin
Lauren
MacKenzie
Maria
Pam
Tamara

Tracey

If you decide to play, link your direct post to Mr. Linky on Lauren's blog. If you post to SCS/PCP, please use the code MTTCT01.

On another note, Paper Makeup Stamps is gearing up for its summer release! The peeks begin Wednesday, June 3 and will continue through Sunday, June 7 ending with a blog hop and party on that day as well (see the blinkie on my sidebar). Make sure to stop by here to see what I've got in store for you! Katie really has some cute new stamps (and fab fairies!) being added to the store!

Also, if you haven't gone over to the Stampin' Out Alzheimer's site and played in some of the challenges, you have until tomorrow at midnight to play! All you have to do is donate $5 to get into the site. I have a blinkie at the top on my blog to enter. I also am hosting a challenge called I've Got the Blues for You Copic Marker Challenge, so make sure you take a look at that too!

Thanks for stopping by today and have a great weekend!

Stampin' Out Alzheimer's Flower Soft Challenge

Hi everyone! Have you had a chance to go to the Stampin' Out Alzheimer's site yet? It's day two of this fabulously worthwhile (and fun) event and they've already exceeded their goal of $5,000! It runs until May 31 at midnight. All you have to do is donate as little as $5 to be able to enter this site to see and play in all the challenges! There are over $1,000 in prizes already donated and ready to be given away. Each challenge has a giveaway and there are daily prizes as well! I have a challenge called I've Got the Blues for You Copic Marker Challenge. So come on and join in all the fun!

Today I entered a card in the Flower Soft Challenge sponsored by i {heart} papers. I was planning on doing a card with Flower Soft using my very own flowering crab apple tree as inspiration. A few weeks ago it blossomed in all it's glory on a beautifully sunny day here in Buffalo, NY. I took a picture of it with my sweet Lizzie sitting under it. When I saw this flowering tree, I immediately had a Flower Soft tree in mind. Here's a picture of my inspiration.
Isn't it beautiful? And my Lizzie loves to pose for pictures...she's such a ham! Now here is my version of that tree. I'm not very good at creating scenes like some crafters, but I tried! Not bad, huh? I like the way the Flower Soft came out on the tree. I mixed Baby Pink with a little Bright Pink Flower Soft to create some dimension. The colors are pretty darn close to the real one! I wanted to put a dog under the tree, but I didn't have one small enough! I used Basic Grey's Porcelain dp. I loved the watercolor-effect paper and the zig-zag dp went really well with my image. I left off a sentiment...now that I'm looking at it, I probably should have added one in the upper right corner!

I hope you think about joining in on this fun and worthwhile event. I'm so passionate about it because my dad died from complications of Alzheimer's. You can read about it here (scroll down to the bottom of the post). Thanks for all your kind comments recently! They are appreciated! Enjoy your hump day...only two more after this!
Recipe
Stamps: Branch Out (SU)
Paper: Neenah white, regal rose, chocolate chip, certainly celery, Porcelain dp (Basic Grey)
Ink: Chocolate chip, certainly celery, soft sky, pink passion
Accessories: Flower Soft (baby pink and bright pink), ribbon, slot punch, star dust stickles, dimensionals

PMS Monday Challenge

Happy Memorial Day to all my US friends! I hope you have your flag proudly hanging outside somewhere! Mine has been out all weekend! I hope you are going to enjoy a hot dog or two today to celebrate wherever you are!

Well, today is the PMS Monday Challenge and it's the beginning of the Stampin' Out Alzheimer's event (see my post about this event here)! First the PMS challenge. Katie is involved with the SOA event and her challenge for the event is called "Any Winged Thing". Pretty easy for us PMS lovers with all the fairies flying around the PMS store! My challenge for the SOA event is called I've Got the Blues Copic Marker Challenge (you can only enter this site if you have made your minimum donation of $5, which you can do using the Stampin' Out Alzheimer's "give" link located on the top of my side bar). You are to use these two copic markers (B12 Ice Blue and B16 Cyanine Blue) along with any marker from the "E" family. I chose the blue because my dad had the prettiest blue eyes and the brown because I love the blue and brown combination! So here's my card combining both challenges.

I chose this stamp called Jashen because he looked so peaceful. The paper is Basic Grey's Marrakech (love that paper!) and SU's Pacific Point. I punched the two different size stars and added some bling I got at Michael's dollar spot. I've added Star Dust stickles all over this image! Fairies should sparkle! The sentiment is from PTI's Out on a Limb set. I chose this because I think every day is gift. This is especially true for those of us who have been touched (or I should say bowled over) by Alzheimer's Disease.

So, if you play in the PMS challenge, please post your direct link to Mr. Linky on the PMS blog. If you post to SCS/PCP, please use the code PMSMC13.

Also, please remember to sign up for the Stampin' Out Alzheimer's event by using the SOA "give" link on the top of my side bar. You must donate as little as $5.00 to get into the site and see the challenges. You can then play in my challenge or any of the other ones. Remember there are $1,000 in prizes to be won! You can't win if you don't play! I hope to see you there! Thanks for stopping in today!

Recipe

Stamps: Jashen (PMS), Out on a Limb (PTI)

Paper: Neenah white, pacific point, Marrakechdp (Basic Grey)

Ink: Memento tuxedo black

Copic Markers: E00, 02, 25, 59, 07,99; B00, 12, 16; R32; Y15; C-3; W-3

Accessories: Star and oval punches, nesties, bling, star dust stickles, dimensionals

My Time Color Challenge

***This is a long post! Please read to the end...there is some important info for you to read!***
Hi everyone! I've been a bad blogger, but I have been so busy since last weekend and there simply was no time to blog! Sorry! But I do have something to share with you today! It's another My Time challenge...this time a color challenge! Here's a picture of the colors Lauren chose. These are some really festive colors, Lauren! I was trying to find a dp that included all these colors, and Basic Grey's Marrakech came really close, so I started with that. The stamp set I chose came from something I saw yesterday. I was out with my mom and on our way home, I spotted a woman in her garden wearing a big straw hat. I remembered an MFT set called Can Ya Dig It that looked just like that woman. So, of course I had to use it (and it had never seen ink...bingo!). So here's my take on today's challenge. I paper pieced the dress and hat with the Marrakech dp. The paper on the hat makes it look sort of like a straw hat! Love that! I colored her arms, legs, shoes, and gloves with copic markers. The ground was also colored with a copic marker. I then soaked a section of a wash cloth with the copic blending solution and held it over the brown to give it some texture. I stamped and cut out the watering can and shovel, then colored it with a silver Spica glitter pen. The bling is from Michael's dollar spot. I ran the So Saffron piece through the cuttlebug with the distressed stripes folder. The sketch is an older one from Taylored Expressions found here. I had the three elements on the upper left corner, but stacked two of them together.

I hope you can play this week's challenge! If you do, please link your direct post to Mr. Linky on Lauren's blog. If you post to SCS/PCP please use the code MTCC02 so we can find it! If you want to see more samples for this challenge, please stop by the blogs of the My Time design team. They have some fabulous creations to share with you. Here's a peek at what they did.

Alicia
Dana
Dawn
Jennifer
Kendra
Kristin
Lauren
MacKenzie
Odette
Pam
Tamara
Tracey

On another note, I want to tell you about an exciting "pay to play" virtual papercrafting event to benefit the Alzheimer's Association. I was very willing to be a part of this event because my dad died 15 years ago from complications of Alzheimer's disease.

Jen Tapler and Susanna Boyd have teamed up with many sponsors and challenge hostesses to create a temporary online community where members can take part in a variety of challenges, contests, classes and workshops, and download several free products (a special digital kit, a printable 3-D template, tutorials, etc.) in different papercrafting categories (stamping, cardmaking, paperscrapbooking, digi scrapping, etc.). All this for a suggested donation of $5.00. One hundred percent (100%) of these funds will be donated to the Alzheimer's Association to help with their efforts to provide and enhance care and support for all those affected by this heartbreaking disease. All you have to do to enter the site (which won't be live until Monday, May 25) is go to the Stampin' Out Alzheimer's "give" link on the top of my side bar to make your donation. They are suggesting a minimum of $5, but you can donate more using the drop down menu. Once you've made your donation, register on the Stampin' Out Alzheimer's site. The challenges and other content won't be visible until Monday, May 25, but you can go ahead and join, set up a profile and visit the "Alzheimer's in our Community" group to share your own story about how Alzheimer's has affected your life in some way.

You can read more about this on Jen's blog (I took this content from her blog). You should also read this post on her blog about her father. Her father and my father sound so much alike. My dad was 60 when we first started seeing signs of the disease. He passed away 12 years later an empty shell of the man he used to be. Here is a picture of my dad around the time we started to see some change in him. This is actually a picture I took of him (and developed myself). It prominently sits in a frame on my TV cabinet so I see him every day.
I am hosting a challenge for this event, so I hope you sign up to join me and the other hostesses. I'm really looking forward to this! There are over $1,000 in prizes up for grabs! Thanks for stopping by!
Recipe for Card
Stamps: Can Ya Dig It (MFT)
Paper: Neenah white, tempting turquoise, so saffron, Marrakech (Basic Grey)
Ink: Memento tuxedo black,
Copic markers: E00, 02, 37; BG05
Accessories: Prima flowers, bling, Spica silver glitter pen, oval punches, distressed stripes embossing folder,dimensionals

My Time Template Challenge

This is the first My Time Template Challenge in Lauren's new lineup of challenges. She challenged us to use one of her templates, make it a birthday gift, and include the color purple and a butterfly. Well, I think I managed to get all of these requirements into my project today! Here's what I came up with using the My Time Purse-onality Clutch template.

I know I've said this before, but when Papertrey Ink and Lauren first launched these templates, I thought I'd never find a use for them! Well, I'm eating my words, because these are so FUN to make! I'm enjoying one better than the other each time I use them! Here's another look at it.
I think what I like about them is how cute and compact they are! I started by finding this dp in my stash. I found it in a stack pack of papers from Scrapbook Wizard. I must have picked it up on sale at AC Moore a while ago, because I don't even remember this stack! It matched beautifully with SU's Lavender Lace. I decided to stamp this little butterfly (from Verve Visual called Petals and Stems) repeatedly around the base of the purse in Versamark, then embossed it with clear ep. I then used a larger version of the same stamp (also by Verve Visual called Fluttering By) for the closure. I stamped it in Lavender Lace, carefully cut it out, and added purple rhinestones to the body and smaller ones to the antennae. I then attached a Basic Grey magnet (boy those things sure are strong and stick to EVERYTHING!) behind the butterfly and one on the purse so it would stay closed. For the handle, I used another piece of Lavender Lace and I added a piece of PTI's Plum Pudding stitched ribbon. I attached the handle to the top of the purse with silver brads. So simple, but so cute!

Now for the birthday part of the challenge. I was shopping at Coldwater Creek the other day, and saw these key chains in all different shapes...sunglasses, a drink glass, a shoe. I kept digging because I thought there had to be a butterfly in there, and there was! Perfect gift for my niece. This butterfly can also hang from a backpack, which the kids all love! So here's the full gift.I just added some purple shredded filler to the inside and I was done! What a cute way to present a gift! If you feel like trying one of these out, why don't you join our challenge? Just link your project to Mr. Linky on Lauren's blog and use the code MTTC02 if you post to SCS or another forum. We'd love to see what you can do with these templates! You may want to check out what the other girls on the My Time Design Team have done for some inspiration, too! Here is a collage peek of what they've done! Thanks for stopping by!
Alicia
Dana
Dawn
Jennifer
Kendra
Kristin
MacKenzie
Maria
Odette
Pam

Tamara
Tracey
and
Lauren

Recipe
Stamps: Petals and Stems and Fluttering By (Verve Visual)
Paper: Neenah white, lavender lace, Scrapbook Wizard dp
Ink: Lavender lace, Versamark
Accessories: Clear dp, PTI plum pudding stitched ribbon, red-line tape, crysals, brads, Basic Grey magnet

A Fairy in Heaven for Kayleigh

If you've visited my blog for the last two posts, you would have seen I used a digi image from Paper Makeup Stamps called A Fairy for Kayleigh. It was created as a charitable stamp for a little baby named Kayleigh who was gravely ill. All of the proceeds from this image are going to the Freeman family to help with their expenses while spending all their time with their little girl. Sadly, Kayleigh passed away on Monday, only after celebrating Mother's Day with her mommy. She was only here for less than a year with her family, and they are obviously heartbroken. Katie Cotton, owner of PMS, will continue to sell the image and continue to forward the proceeds to this family. You can see cards I made with this image here and here. You can also see other creations made with this image on the PMS blog here. The blog the family created about Kayleigh can be found here. It's very inspirational. Rest in peace, sweet little Kayleigh.

PMS Monday Challenge: Puttin' on the Glitz!

Hi all! Happy Monday to all of you! I hope you all had a great Mother's Day! I had a nice day at home. I made breakfast for my mom (quiche!), and then later my hubby made a surf and turf dinner for all of us! It was like being at a fancy restaurant! He made twice-baked potatoes, corn on the cob, and of course the lobster tails and steaks! It was delicious and a nice day. Unfortunately, I didn't have much time to stamp, but I had to make a card for my MIL, so I cased myself and used it for my PMS Monday Challenge! The challenge this week was chosen by me and I chose to challenge everyone to use some kind of **SPARKLE** on their cards. This isn't a challenge for me because I use it all the time, but I love it so I chose this for the challenge. So here's my card:

I just love this digi stamp called A Fairy for Kaleigh. I used it for my last challenge here and just love it so I made another in different colors. I started out by chosing my dp, which is Basic Grey's Porcelain. I then matched it up with regal rose, this green Offray satin ribbon, and my copic markers. I glittered up the fairy with Star Dust Stickles and added bling to the bottom and a little one for her necklace. Isn't she just so pretty! You can read about this charity digi image here. All the proceeds (100%) are being donated back to the Freeman family.

So do you think you can bling up a card? I think you can, and we'd love to see what you do. Stop over the PMS blog and see what the DT girls have done with this challenge, then create your own. Link it to Mr. Linky so we can all see it, and if you post to SCS or another forum, please use the code PMSMC11. Also, if you upload to SCS, please put Paper Makeup Stamps in your key words because we now have a gallery there! Yeah! We are so excited about that! Thanks for stopping in today, and have a great week!
Recipe
Stamps: A Fairy for Kaleigh (PMS), All Holidays (SU)
Paper: Neenah white, regal rose, Porcelain dp (Basic Grey)
Ink: Memento tuxedo black
Copic Markers: Y21; YR23; E00, 02; RV000,10, 11, 32, 34; R32; W-1
Accessories: Blossom die, tag die, bling, star dust stickles, corner rounder, satin ribbon, dimensionals

My Time to Inspire Challenge

Hi all! What a crazy week it was for me with the PMS sneaks, the blog hop, and the release party! I crashed on my couch last night after dinner and it felt so good to do that! So today I have a card for the My Time Challenges on Lauren Meader's blog. This is the first of one of her new weekly challenges...My Time to Inspire. I LOVE inspiration challenges, and was so glad she added this as one of her weekly challenges. This is what she chose for the inspiration piece.

I think Lauren likes purple, which is why she chose this dress! It's such a sweet little dress, too! I can picture a little toddler running around barefoot in it! So cute! Well, here is a collage of what the girls on the DT did with it.

Hmmm....I can't wait to visit everyone's blogs to see the full cards! I'm just as intrigued as you! Well here is mine and it has a story behind it, so make sure you read on.You can see that I really used all aspects of the dress in my card! Sometimes I like to replicate the inspiration piece, and sometimes I just take something from it like the colors, shape or feel of it. I wanted to use the colors, so I went to my PTI Black and White Basics dp and accidentally stumbled upon this paper. It totally matched the pattern in the dress, except it didn't have any color, so I colored it with my copic markers! Voila! It matched the dress! That was a lucky find! I also used the black satin ribbon and the crystals which I picked up from the dress. The blossom nesties were inevitable as they matched the flowers in the dp.

Now for the image. This is a very special image Paper Makeup Stamps (Katie Cotton) created as a charitable digi stamp called A Fairy for Kayleigh. All the proceeds will go to a sweet little baby named Kayleigh and her family to help with Kayleigh's struggle for life. You can read about little Kayleigh and her family here. It's such a heart-wrenching story, and I know you'll be teary-eyed reading about it. I know I was. If you want to help this family, you can do so by donating directly on their blog, or if you like this image, you can purchase it here at PMS and know that 100% of the proceeds will go to this family. It's such a beautiful image, and it took my breath away when I first saw it! I had to make this a Mother's Day card for my mom, but it could be used for a baby shower, to welcome a new baby, or even a congratulations on a new pregnancy. So many uses for it, and it's for a great cause!

I hope you enjoyed today's post and I can't wait to see what you create with this challenge. If you do play, please link your card to Mr. Linky on Lauren's blog. And if you post to SCS or another forum, please use the code MTTI01 so we can find it! Now if you want to see the cards the DT has made, stop by their blogs and leave some love! We'll be around to your blogs leaving some too! Have a great weekend and thanks for stopping!

Alicia
Dana
Dawn
Jennifer
Kristin
MacKenzie
Maria
Odette
Pam
Tamara
Tracey
Lauren (she'll have her's posted later today)

Recipe
Stamps: A Fairy for Kaleigh digi stamp (PMS); All Holidays (SU)

Paper: Neenah white, lavendar lace, black, sahara sand, Black & White Basics dp (PTI)

Ink: Memento tuxedo black

Copic markers:E-00, 02; BV00, 02; R32;, Y21; YR23; W-1

Accessories: Black satin ribbon, blossom nesties, tag die, crystals, star dust stickles, corner rounder, dimensionals

PMS Blog Hop and Release Day!

Hi everyone! Today is the day! The Paper Makeup Stamps blog hop and release party. The blog hop is happening all day, but the party begins at 9:00 p.m. EST (8:00 p.m. CST) on the new PMS forum. All the new stamps will be on sale at PMS tonight at 9:00 p.m. EST! There will be chatter, challenges, games, and a winner of the entire release! What a fun day!

But, if you've come to my blog first, please go to the PMS blog and start there because you are missing the blog hop, and you can find out how to enter yourself to win the entire release from PMS! You will pick something up at each blog, but you have to go in a certain order. So start at the PMS blog and then make your way through and leave some love for the girls...they've been working hard to get this together for you!

So you should have arrived here from Tina's blog. Are you enjoying your hop? Aren't these new PMS stamps fabulous? Remember you can purchase them at 10:00 EST tonight at Paper Makeup Stamps. On with the hop! Here's my card....totally roaring, dude!

Isn't he just the cutest little surfer fairy? I love how fun he is! I colored him with copic markers and added a sponged background. I wasn't planning on the "Totally" sentiment (part of an MFT sentiment), but I sponged the wrong ink in the corner, and there was a huge blotch of color and I wasn't starting over! But I think it went with the PMS sentiment, another new one among many in this release. I added stickles to make him **SPARKLE**! It sort of looks like drops of water IRL. I don't know the dp...it was something I had in my stash and I loved the colors and different size circles. It looked fun for this card!

Ok, here's the letter you get from me: E

Write it down and then hop on over to Kim's blog. She's got another great new PMS release to show you! Thanks for stopping by. I hope to see you later tonight at the PMS Party! Have a great day!

Recipe
Stamps: Surfer Fairy and sentiment (PMS), Totally sentiment (MFT)
Paper: Glorious green, pacific point, neenah white, dp unknown
Ink: pacific point, baja breeze
Copic Markers: B00, 12, 16, 21; G07, 14; R24, 32; Y06, 15, 18; E00, 02, 33; W-3
Accessories: Nestie, star dust stickles, dimensionals

Copic Colour Challenge #12 and PMS Sneak Peek Day #5

So today is the Copic Colour Challenge #12! Aren't these colors so soothing? Shell picked them this week and did a great job of it! Here's my take on these colors.

Since this is day #5 of the Paper Makeup Stamps sneak peeks, I decided to combine the two challenges...kill two birds with one stone, so to speak! This is Ashlie, one of the four new fairies, and the sentiment is one of ten new fairy sentiments...all being released tomorrow! I cut up this sentiment to make it fit in that area on my card. She's colored with copic markers (this is a copic color challenge, after all!) in the challenge colors. Can you see that I even colored her feet so they look dirty? She just seemed like she needed to have dirty feet after running around barefoot with that snail all day! I paired it with SU's retired Linen Prints dp, close to cocoa, and apricot appeal cardstock. The cocoa cardstock was run through the cuttlebug with the floral screen folder.

Ok, so what can you do with these copic colors? We'd love to see your work! Please stop by the Copic Colour Challenge blog and see what the other DT girls have done! They really do an amazing job each week with their cards! All you have to do is link your direct post to Mr. Linky so we can go right to your card.

Also, don't forget about tomorrow's PMS blog hop! It starts in the morning and runs straight through to the release party, which will be held at the new PMS forum! Read about it here on my blog and here on the PMS blog! Someone will win the entire May release! Wow!

I'll be looking for you at both the Copic Colour Challenge blog and the PMS blog hop and party! See you then and thanks for stopping by!
Recipe
Stamps: Fairy with Snail and Fairy Sentiment
Paper: Neenah white, close to cocoa, appricot appeal, Linen Prints dp (SU retired)
Copic Markers: E00, 02, 33, 57, 59, 97; R00, 02, 12,32; YR23; W-3
Accessories: Nesties, brads, Sakura glitter pen, floral screen cb folder, dimensionals

PMS Sneak Peek Day #4

So here's another sneak peek of three new PMS stamps for May. It's the cottage series illustrated by Lindsay Spencer. I fell in love with the cottage and willow tree when Katie first showed it to the DT. These images are digi images only for the DT because we didn't have the rubber yet, so that's why my tree is black. (These will only be available in rubber.) I didn't think I was going to be able to work with a black tree, but I really like how this came out. Initially I was going to do it totally in black & white, but then I was able to sneak in some color and I liked it! The cottage was colored only with the W copic markers (varying shades of gray). The windows are stain glass-looking, so I used these glaze gelly roll pens by Sakura (I think) that look like embossing. I used a red and green on the windows. I masked the card with a piece of torn paper, then sponged in the grass and sky. I drew in the flowers randomly to fill in the blank space. The cottage is on dimensionals.

Now take a look at that great sentiment! Isn't that a wonderful saying? What's nice about this saying is that it is being offered in a small size, like this one, and a larger size as well. Katie does that with a lot of her sayings so you can use them like I have here, or as a focal point on your card. I think that's a fantastic idea! Double use of one sentiment!

Well, that's it for today. I hope you enjoyed my cottage scene. I should have another sneak tomorrow for you, so please stop by again. And please stop by the PMS blog to see what the DT girls have been up to! Some amazing stuff being shown there. Also please don't forget about the blog hop and release party on Thursday. You can read about it here on my blog and here on the PMS blog. See you tomorrow! ETA: If you go to the PMS blog here, you'll see I'm the featured DT member today! How fun!
Recipe
Stamps: Cottage, Willow Tree, and Home sentiment (PMS)
Paper: Neenah white, black,
Ink: Certainly Celery, Baja Breeze
Copic Markers: W-1,3,5,7; G14, 24; R24
Accessories: SU scallop oval and large oval punches; Sakura gelly roll glaze pens, dimensionals

PMS Sneak Peek Day #3 and Monday Challenge

Well, this is day three of the PMS Sneak Peeks, but it's also the PMS Monday Challenge. So I combined the two! Kim issued the challenge this week...make a bookmark. Cool idea, Kim! I thought I would have had this done in no time, but I was busy this week and yesterday took some time to go to our cabin in the country. I hadn't been there since the fall, and my hubby and his friend have done so much to it since then...it's beautiful! They had it built by the Amish two years ago and have the inside almost completed! I love it there!

Anyway, I digress. While I was driving there (it's a one-hour drive), I was concocting this bookmark in my head! I came up with this catchy phrase when I decided to use this new image among the many that PMS is releasing on Thursday (they are ALL FABULOUS!). This is Bronto, a Dustin Pike image. Isn't he cute? Can you just imagine all the fun things you could do with it for kids? Party invites, special birthdays, special awards, etc. So many possibilities! He's colored with copic markers and I gave him some freckles, glittered him up (of course), and glassed up his eyes with Crystal Effects. The phrase was generated on my computer.

I know my students would love this bookmark. They are always asking me for one whenever they pick up a new book. I always keep several on hand. Here is Bronto up close.

And here he is in all his glory, being used as he was intended...holding the place of a favorite book.

I hope you enjoyed today's post. Remember that on Thursday, PMS is having their blog hop and release party. You can read about it on my blog here and on the PMS blog here. Thanks for stopping in today, and I hope to see your bookmark linked on the PMS blog. Stop in tomorrow for another sneak! I have a fab card to show you using two new images that are illustrated by a new artist to PMS...Lindsay Spencer. These images knocked my socks off when I saw them, and I know you'll fall in love with them! Have a great Monday and I hope to see you tomorrow!
Recipe
Stamps: Bronto (PMS)
Paper: Neenah white, tangerine tango, Washington Apple dp
Copic Markers: E37, 97; YR14; W-3
Accessories: Circle nesties, Sakura glitter pen, crystal effects

A Beautiful Bridal Sneak Peek!

I have a beautiful sneak peek for you today from Paper Makeup Stamps new May release! But before I show it to you, I just wanted to remind you that PMS is having a sale in recognition of National Scrapbook Day (which was yesterday). There will be a 10% discount on your entire order today! Just used the code NSD09 at checkout to receive your discount. There are a lot of stamps (already inexpensively priced) that I'm sure you would love (expecially the Beautiful Day Fairies...my favorites!)! Now on with the sneak peek!

Isn't she beautiful? She is one of four new fairies (and a fairy sentiment set) being released on Thursday, May 7th! Her name is Mary (appropriate for a bride, huh?). I didn't color her entire dress, rather I just outlined her in the lighteset of pink copic markers. I added a darker color to the sash around her waist. I of course added stickles everywhere! I used two embellishments on this card I've never used before...a charm and Flower Soft. The charm is just attached to the brad with a jump ring. The square crystal brad and etched heart look very antique to me and perfect for a bride (maybe placed on her garter?). The Flower Soft is called Spring...perfect for her bouquet because it has a variety of soft colors and green for the foliage. I am just lovin' that bouquet!

I also made this card for the Featured Stamper Challenge on SCS for today. Sparkle is the FS today and she has a fantastic gallery. I found this Hitchdafellabella (fun name!) card and since I wanted to use my new bridal fairy, it worked perfectly!

Now for some more PMS news. First of all, check out the PMS blog daily this week to see more sneaks by the PMS DT of the May release. (Also check in to my blog and see what I have for sneaks!) Next, there will be a blog hop and party on Thursday, May 7. The blog hop will start in the morning, where you'll be able to see more sneaks by the PMS DT! Then at 9:00 EST, the party begins in the new PMS forum . That's also when the stamps go live for purchase. During the party, there will be games, challenges, and SOMEONE will win the entire release! Yes, that's right the ENTIRE RELEASE! So to get ready, go to the PMS forum and create your account so you can be ready to chat and participate in the fun! We hope to see all of you there and thanks for stopping in today!

Recipe

Stamps: Mary the Bridal Fairy (PMS); Wedding Day (PTI)

Paper: Neenah white, pink pirouette, Bella dp

Ink: Memento tuxedo black

Copic Markers: E00, 02, 33, 37; R00, 20, 32; W-1

Accessories: Flower Soft and glue, prima flowers, crystarl brad, heart charm, large and small oval punches, nesties, satin ribbon, Star Dust stickles, dimensionals

My First My Time Challenge!

ETA: I was just asked by our PMS DT team to post this. Today is National Scrapbooking Day, and Katie Cotton is having a sale at the Paper Makeup Stamps store...all orders placed this weekend will receive a 10% discount! Can't go wrong with that! Just use the code NSD09 when checking out! There are some great stamps there, so hop on over now! Also check out the PMS blog for some sneaks of the May release (there are some new Dustin Pike images!) and information on a new charitable digi stamp: A Fairy for Kaleigh!

So today is the day...my first My Time to Create Challenge! I'm so excited to be sharing this with all of you today! You'll have to go over to Lauren's blog today because she is formally introducing all of the new design team. (ETA: Actually I think that will be tomorrow...she had a family emergency yesterday and didn't get that fully completed, so check back tomorrow.) She asked for some information about each of us and a PICTURE! I almost died at that one! I am not very photogenic...the picture with my puppy Lizzie just happened to be the best one I could find when I joined SCS and just kept using it (that was two years ago)! I didn't think it would be appropriate for an introduction, so I had to take some pictures. I now have a new profile photo which you can see on the left. And I must tell you I took that picture myself! Yes, myself! Not too shabby, huh? This was the best one of about 50 I took! I was getting worried, then I decided to look up and shoot the picture from above and I had better luck! I liked it in black & white too...hides some imperfections! LOL! Anyway, on with the challenge!

Lauren chose a My Time to Sketch challenge for today. Great layout, don't you think?

Here's my interpretation of her sketch. I chose to use this Whipper Snapper stamp called Three's a Crowd. I just got it at my LSS, Buffalo Stamps & Stuff. Aren't those little guys cute? They're of course colored with copic markers and cut and embossed with a rectangle nestie. I used Basic Grey's Marrakech paper...it just matched so nicely with my image. The cardstock is SU's retired Marigold Morning and was embossed with the paisley embossing folder. I stamped the image three times and cut out the middle bird and his beak and popped it up on dimensionals. I added Star Dust stickles to the image, the dp and the embossed parts of the cardstock. The sentiment is SU's All Holidays. Lauren additionally challenged us to make a birthday card, as her birthday is tomorrow! (Don't forget to pop over to her blog and wish her a happy birthday!). This card is for you, Lauren, so Happy Birthday! Enjoy your day!!

Here's a close-up of the card so you can see the dimension.

OK, so here is a peek of all the other fabulous DT cards!

Can't decide who made each card? Well, check out these DT blogs to see which beauties belong to which DT member.

Dana
Dawn
Jennifer
Kendra
Kristin
MacKenzie
Maria
Odette
Pam
Tamara
Tracey
and of course...
Lauren

I hope you can take some time to play in the My Time to Sketch Challenge this weekend. If you do, you can link your post to Mr. Linky on Lauren's blog, and if you post to SCS or another forum, please use the code mytimess32. Can't wait to see your creations! Thanks for stopping by and thanks so much for the nice comments you all left! They are so appreciated!

Recipe
Stamps: Three's a Crowd (Whipper Snapper); All Holidays sentiment (SU)
Paper: PTI white, marigold morning (retired SU), Basic Grey Marrakech
Ink: Memento tuxedo black
Copic Markers: B21, 93, 95; Y08, 18, 38; YR16; R24; G17, 24, 40; W-1, 3, 5
Accessories: Rectangle nestie, paisley folder, ribbon, stickles, dimensionals