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.