Stamps and Taxes!

MTSC49 - Celebrate Your Day

2009-11-24T00:00:00.000-05:00

Hello! Happy Tuesday sketch challenge day! :) I love today's sketch, although I will admit I'm not 100% sure about the card. LOL. I switched around the colors a ton, starting with hibiscus and ending up with terracotta tile. I do love this sentiment, because it is really a great catch-all sort of phrase that I could use for a lot of different occasions.

Be sure to check out Mercy's blog to see this week's sketch, and check out what the rest of the Muses have done:

Cindy Haffner

Pam Varnell
Vivienne Holden <---Guest designer

Fine Print:
Stamps: Signature Greetings - Papertrey Ink

Paper: PTI rustic cream, terracotta tile, smokey shadow, Jenni Bowlin DP

Ink: Palette Noir, Chamomile vintage touch

Accessories: Ribbon, Prima flower, Fiskars apron lace punch

LPSC43, TESC92 - Merry Christmas

2009-11-23T05:00:00.000-05:00

Hello! Happy Monday! Yay for short weeks, right? :)

Today's Little Paper Shop challenge is a color challenge: red, kraft and brown. I chose to use real red, kraft and soft suede. I love this SU DSP and am determined to use all of it for Christmas cards (THIS year!). I thought Taylor's sketch this week was perfect to show off the paper. The sentiment on this card is from the Katie Christmas set. (Pssst...it's on sale right now, too!)

Be sure to check out the Little Paper Shop blog to see what the rest of the ladies did with the challenge!

Fine Print:
Stamps: Katie Christmas - Little Paper Shop

Paper: PTI white, soft suede, kraft, real red, SU DSP

Ink: Palette Noir

Accessories: SU punches, ribbon, Making Memories glitter flourish

2S4Y39 - Fabulous!

2009-11-19T21:43:00.002-05:00

Hello! Happy Friday! OK, so sorry to do this to you guys, but I'm back on the butterfly kick again. Yes, I know...you thought I was over this, but apparently I'm NOT. LOL!

I made this card for the sketch challenge over at 2 Sketches 4 You. I think the sketch is supposed to be for a hanging ornament or something, so I'm calling this a hybrid card between the main sketch and the bonus sketch this week. :)

Have a great Friday! See you soon!

Fine Print:
Stamps: Fancy Flourishes, Background Basics: Diamond, Signature Greetings - Papertrey Ink

Paper: PTI smokey shadow, aqua mist, terracotta tile, Jillibean Soup dp

Ink: Palette Noir, Versamark

Accessories: Buttons, twine, ribbon, SU Bigz Beautiful Butterflies die cut, Fiskars apron lace border punch

SSSC44 - merry

2009-11-18T00:00:00.000-05:00

Hi friends! I have noticed lately that the more stressed out I am with the rest of the things going on in life, the more frequently I stamp. :) I guess that's good for my blog friends, but not so bad for me. Oh well, give and take, right?

Anyways, this is a new sketch challenge card for me. I've been printing the sketches on Karen Giron's blog for quite some time now and just never having the time to get them done, but this week I just SO loved the square shape of this that I couldn't resist using a few new items on this card to create a sort of non-traditional Christmas card. I hope you like it!

Thanks for stopping!

Fine Print:
Stamps: None

Paper: PTI rustic cream, dark chocolate, kraft, ripe avocado, bitty box dp, Jenni Bowlin dp

Ink: None

Accessories: Buttons, twine, ribbon, Nestabilities, Jillibean Soup alphabet stickers

MTSC48 - Jot This Down!

2009-11-17T00:00:00.001-05:00

Hello! I'm SO excited about today's post because it's Tuesday and that means another sketch by Mercy! This week, I took a little different route and finally inked up my Take Note stamp set from Papertrey Ink. I thought it was so adorable when I first saw it, so I bought it, not really thinking that I'm not much of a "create your own notebook" kind of gal. But when I saw Mercy's sketch this week, I thought by flipping it on it's side it would definitely work for a tall card/project.

So here it is in detail...

Be sure to see what the rest of the Muses have done with the sketch this week! And stop by Mercy's blog to play along!

Cindy Haffner
Crystal Birr
Jackie Pedro
Jessica Diedrich
Pam Speidel
Pam Varnell

Vivienne Holden <---Guest designer

Fine Print:
Stamps: Take Note, Background Basics: Text Style II - Papertrey Ink

Paper: PTI true black, hibiscus, Jillibean Soup DP

Ink: Palette Noir, Versamark

Accessories: Ribbon, mini library clip, Nestabilities, Prima rhinestones, PTI white notebook

A Moxie Fab Preview

2009-11-16T05:00:00.000-05:00

Hello! I'm SO excited about today's post! The challenge over at the Little Paper Shop blog was to use a diecut with part of your creation. I also made this card for the Moxie Fab Plum challenge over at the Moxie Fab blog. I LOVE purple and kraft together! I added some fun elements to this card today. And what about that sentiment? Guess who this card is going to? :) The sentiment is from a new set available tomorrow at Little Paper Shop called For You. It has a ton of mix and match sentiments. The "sister" portion of this sentiment is separate from the rest, and the set has a ton of different options! :)

I hope you've enjoyed the previews this month...and be sure to check out what the rest of the team did!

Thanks for stopping!

Fine Print:
Stamps: For You - Little Paper Shop

Paper: PTI white, plum pudding, Jillibean Soup DP, Bitty Box Basics DP

Ink: Palette Noir

Accessories: SU Bigz beautiful butterfly die cut, Making Memories chipboard flourish, buttons, twine, ribbon, Fiskars Upper Crest border punch

SFYTT - Congratulations

2009-11-15T08:00:00.000-05:00

Hi! Welcome to day 1 of previews for this month's release at Little Paper Shop. Today I'm showing you a new set called "I Heart" and I {heart} this set! :) It has some really adorable and versatile images. The image on this card is just one of many, but I so love this hot air balloon. This set, along with the other I'll be previewing tomorrow, we'll be available to purchase on Tuesday, Nov. 17th. Also starting on Tuesday, ALL stamps will be on sale for one week only at crazy prices...10-70% off!

Head over to the Little Paper Shop blog and check out what the rest of the design team is doing with this set, and enter for your chance to win it!

Thanks for stopping!

Fine Print:
Stamps: I Heart - Little Paper Shop

Paper: PTI white, chocolate chip, soft suede, berry sorbet, bitty box dp, SU DSP

Ink: Palette Noir

Accessories: Ribbon, SU oval punches, SU modern label punch, Copic markers

WSC106 - Deck the Halls!

2009-11-14T20:06:00.002-05:00

Hello! Happy Weekend! I made this card for Beate's weekend sketch challenge #106. I used some of my favorite things on this card: Vintage Ornaments and Giga Guidelines. :) I'm not certain I followed the sketch perfectly, but you get the idea. Instead of boxes, I used buttons along the bottom edge of the card. I really like this color combo for Christmas cards!

Thanks for stopping by! Previews for the new Little Paper Shop sets start tomorrow!

Fine Print:
Stamps: Vintage Ornaments, Giga Guidelines - Papertrey Ink
Paper: PTI white, dark chocolate, berry sorbet, spring moss

Ink: Chocolate chip, Versamark, spring moss

Accessories: Ribbon, SU scalloped edge punch, buttons

SFYTT - Merry & Bright

2009-11-12T21:54:00.002-05:00

Hello! I'm stopping in quick to show you a card I made for Jen's sketch for you to try this week. I got a box of new goodies from Papertrey and I couldn't wait to try out this new Vintage Ornaments set. I love it! This card literally took me 10 minutes to throw together so I can't wait to sit down for awhile longer and try out some other combinations with this set.

Thanks for stopping by! I don't know about you but I'm THRILLED that tomorrow is FRIDAY! :)

Fine Print:
Stamps: Vintage Ornaments, Background Basics: Text Style II - Papertrey Ink

Paper: PTI vintage cream, raspberry fizz, scarlet jewel, Holiday Cheer dp

Ink: Scarlet jewel, raspberry fizz, Versamark

Accessories: Rhinestones, ribbon, Nestabilities, SU scalloped edge punch

MTSC47 - Sleigh Ride

2009-11-10T00:00:00.000-05:00

Hello! Happy Tuesday Sketch Day! :) Tuesday is my favorite day of the week because I just love Mercy's sketches and this week is no exception! I made this card using the new Sleigh Ride set from The Petal Press sold over at iheartpapers.

Be sure to head to Mercy's blog to check out this week's sketch, and see what the rest of the Muses have done:

Vivienne Holden <---Guest designer

Fine Print:
Stamps: Sleigh Ride - The Petal Press (iheartpapers)
Paper: PTI vintage cream, old olive, soft suede, SU DSP

Ink: Palette Noir, PTI chamomile tea dye

Accessories: Ribbon, buttons, twine, Nestabilities, Copic markers, UTEE

LPSC41 - Oh Christmas Tree

2009-11-09T05:00:00.000-05:00

Hello! Happy Monday! This week's challenge over at the Little Paper Shop is a sketch challenge. This card turned out a little "busier" than I would've liked but I will just call it "festive!" LOL!

Be sure to check out the Little Paper Shop blog to see the sketch and to check out what the rest of the design team did with it.

Fine Print:

Stamps: Katie Christmas - Little Paper Shop

Paper: PTI vintage cream, ripe avocado, spring moss, raspberry fizz, holiday dp

Ink: Palette Noir

Accessories: SU modern label punch, SU oval punch, Nestabilities, Copic markers, pearls, ribbon, button, twine

TESC90 - Kind Words

2009-11-06T22:07:00.003-05:00

Hello! TGIF! :)

I couldn't wait to get home and stamp tonight after a LONG week at work. I can't believe how many Christmas cards I have made already and it's not even Thanksgiving yet! :) I'm finally ahead of schedule for once!

I used Taylor's sketch challenge paired with this adorable Sleigh Ride set from the Petal Press. I love the candy canes in the sled! This set was designed by Tracy and is available exclusively at iheartpapers! And sorry if you're getting sick of this color combo, but it seems to be all I want to reach for lately!

The sentiment reads: "One kind word can warm three winter months - Japanese Proverb"

Be back soon! Have a great start to your weekend!

Fine Print:
Stamps: Sleigh Ride - The Petal Press (iheartpapers)
Paper: PTI vintage cream, ripe avocado, scarlet jewel, Holiday Cheer dp

Ink: Palette Noir

Accessories: Ribbon, Nestabilities, Copic markers

MTSC46 - Take Two!

2009-11-04T00:00:00.000-05:00

Hello! Back again with another card for Mercy's Tuesday sketch challenge. You see, when I made my first card on Monday evening, I was very stressed out and tired after work. I totally forgot about these awesome digital images that the Muses were given to play with for this sketch. WHOOPS! :) So for this card, I bring you a sample using this super cute Christmas tree muffin from Whimsie Doodles Stamps! They are SO adorable!

One lucky participant in this week's sketch challenge will receive the digital image of their choice! Hop over there and check them out! :)

Fine Print:
Stamps: Muffin for Christmas - Whimsie Doodles

Paper: PTI white, ripe avocado, scarlet jewel, Holiday dp

Ink: Printer

Accessories: Copic markers, Nestabilities, dazzling diamonds, buttons, ribbon, rhinestones, EK Success border punch

MTSC46 - 'Tis the Season

2009-11-03T00:00:00.000-05:00

Hello! Happy Tuesday! Here's the sample I made for Mercy's Tuesday sketch challenge. I decided to go with a more "traditional" Christmas card today. I forgot how much I really love the simple look of this Stocking Prints set.

I hope you have a chance to head over to Mercy's blog and check out the sketch...plus don't forget to see what the rest of the Muses have done!

Cindy Haffner
Crystal Birr
Jackie Pedro
Jessica Diedrich
Pam Speidel
Pam Varnell
Vivienne Holden <-------------Guest designer...welcome Viv!!! :)

Fine Print:

Stamps: Stocking Prints - Papertrey Ink

Paper: PTI vintage cream, ripe avocado, scarlet jewel, holiday dp

Ink: Ripe avocado, scarlet jewel, Palette Noir

Accessories: Ribbon, Nestabilities, buttons, SU modern label punch, SU scalloped edge punch

LPSC40 - Happy Holidays

2009-11-02T05:00:00.000-05:00

Hello! It's Monday and time for another Little Paper Shop challenge. This week, your challenge is to use a digital stamp with a regular stamp. On this card, I used Katie Skating for my digital image, and the "Happy Holidays" sentiment is from the Merry and Bright set. I really liked this challenge! It made think outside the box!

Be sure to check out the Little Paper Shop blog to see what the rest of the design team created!

Fine Print:
Stamps: Katie Skating, Merry & Bright - Little Paper Shop

Paper: PTI white, scarlet jewel, soft suede, SU DSP

Ink: Palette Noir

Accessories: Ribbon, Nestabilities, SU modern label punch, buttons, twine, Copic markers, SU scalloped edge punch

TESC89 - Autumn Abundance

2009-11-01T17:48:00.002-05:00

Hello! Happy Sunday! Did you remember to turn your clocks back? I love fall daylight savings time...it gives me an extra hour! :)

I made this card for Taylor's sketch challenge. I've been in quite the stamping funk this weekend, so that's when I pull out my hardly used stamp sets and see if I can get inspired by them.

Thanks for stopping by! See you soon!

Fine Print
Stamps: Autumn Abundance - Papertrey Ink

Paper: PTI vintage cream, dusty durango, chocolate chip, SU DSP

Ink: Palette Noir

Accessories: Nestabilities, ribbon, button, twine, Copic markers

WSC104 - Birthday Wishes

2009-10-31T19:41:00.002-04:00

Hello! I feel like I haven't "seen" you guys in FOREVER! :) I was busy this week chasing all of this Hallween nonsense...you know how it goes! And I don't even have KIDS! :)

I made this quick card for Beate's weekend sketch challenge. I wanted something fairly simple to get me back into the vibe of stamping. I used my new favorite set, Giga Guidelines, along with some PTI raspberry fizz ribbons for the main image.

I hope you have a great evening trick or treating! :)

Fine Print:
Stamps: Giga Guidelines - Papertrey Ink

Paper: PTI white, smokey shadow, kraft

Ink: Versamark, smokey shadow

Accessories: Buttons, jute twine, ribbon

MTSC45 - Merry Christmas

2009-10-27T00:00:00.000-04:00

I don't know about you, but I'm starting to get in the Christmas spirit, and it's only October! I think it's the unseasonably cold weather we've had this year (BTW, what's up with the global warming.......I'm waiting........lol). Before you know it, Thanksgiving will be here and it will be time to put up the Christmas tree and decorations...I can't wait! :)

This card is for Mercy's Tuesday sketch challenge...another awesome sketch this week - I might add! Be sure to check out what the rest of the Muses did this week, and check out Mercy's blog for the sketch!

Cindy Haffner
Crystal Birr
Jessica Diedrich
Pam Speidel
Pam Varnell
Silke Ledlow <----Guest Designer

Fine Print:
Stamps: Holiday Button Bits - Papertrey Ink

Paper: PTI rustic white, ocean tides, pure poppy, Rustic Snowflakes DP

Ink: Palette Noir

Accessories: Modern label punch, ribbon, dazzling diamonds, button, Copic markers

TESC88, TSG25 - Live Laugh Love

2009-10-24T22:38:00.003-04:00

Hello! I'm stopping in quick to show you a card that I made for this week's sketch challenge over at Taylor's blog and for the There She Goes challenge which was to do dry embossing. I used my Scor-Pal to dry emboss on the dusty durango panel.

For this card, I used one of my favorite sets from There She Goes called Act of Kindness. I thought I'd give the card a fall-ish look with rustic wood buttons and color combination. I sort of cheated and used ribbon and I don't think the sketch really called for it...but I couldn't possibly leave it off! :)

Thanks for stopping by and I'll see you soon!

Fine Print:
Stamps: Acts of Kindness - There She Goes

Paper: PTI white, soft suede, kraft, dusty durango

Ink: Soft suede, dusty durango

Accessories: May Arts twill, Nestabilities, buttons, twine, Scor-Pal

Embellish the Cure

2009-10-23T20:42:00.005-04:00

Hello! Happy Weekend! I had SUCH a long week at work, I couldn't be more thankful that today was finally Friday!

I made this card for the Embellish the Cure challenge over at Embellish magazine. We were to use pink, light pink, and grey plus BLING. :) My kind of challenge...

Head over there and check it out!

Fine Print:
Stamps: Fancy Flourishes, Background Basics: Text Style - Papertrey Ink

Paper: PTI white, raspberry fizz, sweet blush, smokey shadow

Ink: Versamark

Accessories: Grey pearls, SU Bigz Butterfly die cut, ribbon, Fiskars edge punch

Raspberry Suite Color Challenge #18

2009-10-22T22:02:00.003-04:00

Hey friends! I made this quick card for Dawn's Raspberry Suite color challenge. The colors were vintage cream, chocolate, kraft, raspberry fizz, and new leaf. I LOVE these colors together and I couldn't wait to use my new Giga Guidelines set for the challenge! It's been raining cats and dogs here in MN now for what seems like weeks, so I pulled out my Scattered Showers and Scattered Showers Additions sets.

I hope you are having a great week so far! Tomorrow is Friday and THAT is something to be grateful for! ;)

Fine Print:
Stamps: Giga Guidelines, Scattered Showers, Scattered Showers Additions - Papertrey Ink

Paper: PTI vintage cream, chocolate, kraft

Ink: Chocolate, raspberry fizz

Accessories: New leaf buttons, cream ribbon, Top Note die, Fiskars apron lace punch

MTSC44 - Sparkly & Bright

2009-10-20T00:00:00.001-04:00

Hey guys! Happy Tuesday! I made this card for Mercy's Tuesday sketch challenge. I will admit I was a little nervous about the sketch but I love it! That seems to always be the way it works out...I look at a sketch and get a little intimidated but when I try it I'm so glad I did!

Be sure to check out what the rest of the Muses did with the sketch and head over to Mercy's blog to check it out!

Shannan Teubner
Silke Ledlow <----Guest Designer

Fine Print:
Stamps: Sparkly & Bright - Stampin' Up!

Paper: White, real red, Christmas Cocoa Specialty DSP

Ink: Red, black

Accessories: Nestabilities, ribbon, brads, dazzling diamonds, red rhinestone

LPSC38 - Jingle Bells

2009-10-19T05:00:00.000-04:00

Hello friends! Today the Little Paper Shop is having an awesome sketch challenge! I'm using Katie Caroler for my card. Once again I'm in a bit of a stamping slump here, so bear with me today! :) Head over to the Little Paper Shop blog and see what gorgeous cards the rest of the design team has created, and also check out the sketch. One random participant will win Merry and Bright! :)

Have a great Monday!

Fine Print:
Stamps: Katie Caroler - Little Paper Shop

Paper: PTI white, soft suede, real red, holiday DSP

Ink: Palette Noir

Accessories: Ribbon, buttons, twine, Nestabilities, Copic markers, SU modern label punch

WSC102 - Sleigh Ride

2009-10-17T10:10:00.002-04:00

It's here! The day has finally come! Sleigh Ride is available as of yesterday to purchase at iheartpapers! I made another sample with this set using Beate's weekend sketch challenge as my inspiration. I love this sketch! It worked perfectly with this set. I colored in the sleigh with Copics and attached the sentiment to the bottom with a mini library clip.

Well...Happy Saturday to everyone! I will see you very soon!

Fine Print:
Stamps: Sleigh Ride - Petal Press (iheartpapers)

Paper: PTI white, soft suede, real red, holiday DSP

Ink: Palette Noir

Accessories: Ribbon, Nestabilities, Copic markers, mini library clip

TESC86 - Bloom

2009-10-14T21:11:00.003-04:00

Hello friends! We're one more day closer to the weekend! YAY! :) I will keep tonight's post rather quick because it's been a very busy day and I still have things to get done tonight.

I made this quick card using Taylor's sketch challenge this week. I hope you enjoy it!

Have a great night and I'll see you soon!

Stamps: Bloom, Fancy Flourishes - Papertrey Ink
Paper: PTI white, melon mambo, pink pirouette, Night and Day DSP
Ink: Palette Noir, New Leaf
Accessories: Ribbon, SU Scalloped edge punch, little pink rhinestones, black ribbon