Love Blooms....

I don't know about you but I am so ready for Spring and this image reminds me of a time long long ago, when the weather was warm and the sun shone every day......

This little card was for a featured stamper challenge at the beginning of this month on Splitcoaststampers.

Rachel Hope from Hope Stamps Eternal had stamped it for me when I was on her Design Team and I never got around to using it until the challenge.

It is a Stampavie stamp and what a cutie it is!

I used my favorite October Afternoon paper - just absolutely luvin' this paper lately! and the sentiment, cardstock, and ribbon is from Papertrey Ink!

Thanks for coming around today!

Design Team Call!!

I can't figure out what is going on but the New Year is not being kind to my post - too many spaces!!


Yes, sadly my term as a Sweetie is over *sniff* but the good news is, YOU can get in on the action!!

Here is the official announcement from Rachel Hope  and I just want to add that it was such a fun design team to be on with all the newest and coolest "stuff" sent to you each month - fabulous - get your name in!!

"Hope Stamps Eternal Design Team Call

Do you love to play with Paper, Ink, Stamps and embellishments? Do you have a blog that you update regularly? Do you want to be a part of a fun group of creative people? If the answer is yes, then this is the call for you!

We are looking for bloggers who update regularly and can show our product

in a good light. Does this mean you have to be the best stamper in the industry??? Absolutely Not! 
What is does mean is that applicants need

to be willing to link all HSE product on all projects they blog, if we carry it,

we expect a link…in exchange you will receive an ongoing 25%

discount and free products throughout your term

What you will receive ~

1. 25% off ALL purchases at Hope Stamps Eternal.

2. Free product throughout your term.

3. A $25 Welcome Credit to the store

4. Camaraderie and a good time!!

What we require of you ~

1. Participate in the weekly Sunday Challenge (Cupcake Inspiration Challenge)

2. Use product carried by Hope Stamps Eternal as often as possible,

linked to the product or category each time.

3. A minimum of 6 projects a month should feature Hope Stamps

Eternal product, this can include the Sunday Challenge and

any Blog Hops or Spotlights we schedule

4. Special Spotlights and Blog Hops may be scheduled,

the timing will be worked out among the entire group

Term ~

Design team term ~ Feb 1^st, 2010 to July 31^st, 2010

What do you need to do now? Simple email links to 2-3 of your favorite projects to hopestampseternal@hotmail.com (please make sure you send Direct links to your Project, not a general blog link!) Submissions will accepted thru Jan 15th and the Design Team Members chosen will be notified by Jan 20th"

Cupcake Inspiration Challenge #38!

Well, good Sunday morning to you and welcome to another Cupcake Inspiration Challenge! Everyone is invited to play along in the challenge and if you do, be sure to link your creation to Mr. Linky on the Hope Stamps Eternal blog.

Every week, Rachel picks the top 5 links and highlights them on the blog!! If you upload to SCS or PCP, be sure to use this week's keyword: CIC38.



Here is this week's cupcake picture - oh my just look at all those gorgeous reds and greens - glorious Christmas colours!! Wouldn't your tongue just look hideous? lol!

Well, I still had some stamped images of Vivi from The Greeting Farm line of stamps, laying on my desk and I needed a Christmas tag for a gorgeous VAT of jelly beans for Holly's math teacher, so I coloured her up for this week's Cupcake Inspiration Challenge #38!




I apologize for the lousy photo, it was early morning when we were leaving and I had not got a picture yet........thus the crapola dark picture!

I coloured her up with my copics, adding Icicle stickles to the white part of her hat ! So pretty and shimmery!

I added a Zva Creative Crystal Snowflake to the tag since it is winter and all - and these crystals are just gorgeous! - so bright and ...well, crystally!! - for lack of a better word! lol!

The designer paper is from Basic Grey June Bug - some of those papers in that 6x6 paper pad are gorgeous Christmas colours! AND the new Basic Grey papers and accessories are in at the store - Origins and Sugar Rush!!

Take a red, green and white ride over to the other Design Team members blogs - and don't forget to pop into The Red Haired Girl! Elena is our guest designer this month!!


Carolina - Carolina's Creative Pad
Rachel - Hope Stamps Eternal
Colleen - Glitter Ink
Michelle - Stop and Stamp the Roses
Teresa - Enjoy the VA Sunshine
Natalie - Dougnat Diaries
Jessica - Shamrocks and Seashells
Kelli - Yard Sale Kind of Luck




Stamps: (Vivi) The Greeting Farm, (Communique Curves) Papertrey Ink, (Very Vintage Labels 4) Waltzingmouse Stamps
Paper: (June Bug) Basic Grey, Pure Luxury White (Gina K Designs)
Ink: Copics, (Tuxedo Black) Memento
Accessories: Zva Creative Clear Crystal Snowflakes, Zva Creative Clear gems, Fiskars Apron Lace punch, Papertrey Ink button, Papertrey Ink ribbon, rickrack from my stash

Cupcake Inspiration Challenge #37

Good Sunday morning to you all! and welcome to another Cupcake Inspiration Challenge!

Everyone is invited to play along in the challenge and if you do, be sure to link your creation to Mr. Linky on the Hope Stamps Eternal blog.

Every week, Rachel picks the top 5 links and highlights them on the blog!! If you upload to SCS or PCP, be sure to use this week's keyword: CIC37.

Here is this week's cupcake picture - oh my aren't those little snowmen the cutest??? I just want to smush them into my mouth and eat them all down and savor the gorgeousness of all that frosting and gorgeous sprinkles candy ....oops .... lost my train of thought.....




I decided to take my inspiration from the gorgeous pinks and fluffy whites - and when I was making this card I really wanted to use aqua for the ribbon and glittery present - but green was on my mind so that is what happened!



I used one of The Greeting Farm images which I see has been scooped up - man they are so popular you have to get them fast! There are a few more images that are just as sweet in the store, so make sure you get them while they last!

I paper pieced this sweet little girlie with the NEW Bella Blvd December Details Collection 12x12 Paper Pack - so gorgeous with all the beautiful greens and reds and pinks! yum!

In between the paper piecing I coloured with copics and then added some ribbon I had in my stash and also added some Stamping UP chunky glitter - the jury (me) is still out on this stuff - it kind of took on a mind of its own when I applied the glue with my Sakura Quickie glue pen. Any tips would be appreciated!!

The sentiment is from Papertrey Ink's Communique Curves which I love - lots of love lately lol!

The background panel has been run through the Cuttlebug Candy Cane embossing folder - which I am also luvin' lately - my goodness I love everything Christmas - quite a change from the humbugger I was a couple of weeks ago!
Please make sure to take a frostry stroll over to the other designer's blogs to see how they interprested these scrumptious cupcakes!!

Carolina - Carolina's Creative Pad
Rachel - Hope Stamps Eternal
Colleen - Glitter Ink
Michelle - Stop and Stamp the Roses
Teresa - Enjoy the VA Sunshine
Natalie - Dougnat Diaries
Jessica - Shamrocks and Seashells
Kelli - Yard Sale Kind of Luck

Cupcake Inspiration Challenge #36!

Good Sunday morning to you all!

Edited to add: I do realize that I have used blue instead of green - the sentiment is green.....I tried to make it work with a green background and it just wasn't there......lol! Sometimes that just happens.....!

Sorry I am late, but I was waiting for paint to dry last night and then I couldn't get a good picture. I hope it was worth waiting for!



When I saw Rachel's inspiration cupcake photo this week I knew exactly what I would do. I have had this lonely little beat up old box hanging around forever - must revamp, must revamp, must revamp......



This little box has been beaten on, chewed up, thrown around - you name it - it owes me nothing.....so I rescued it and have had it in my scrap room catching this and that - you know - buttons, brads, little things you go to use on your creation and then decide differently?!!



Using Basic Grey June Bug paper and my clear Zva crystals, I altered it to look at least a little prettier on my desk.



I used Waltzingmouse Stamps Little Box Labels for my image and since the box was going to hold "Bits & Bobs" I added a button instead of an image!

I embellished with Zva Creative crystals and used my Martha Stewart Arch Lattice punch to trim it. Did you know that Rachel has all her Martha Stewart punches on sale?!! But you better hurry - they are going fast!!

Take a sleigh ride over to the other Design Team members and let them know what you think about their beautiful creations! You will be floored!!

We also have a new guest designer sweetie this week - please ride that sleigh over to Elena's blog (The Red Haired Girl) and check out her creation!



Carolina - Carolina's Creative Pad
Rachel - Hope Stamps Eternal
Colleen - Glitter Ink
Michelle - Stop and Stamp the Roses
Teresa - Enjoy the VA Sunshine
Natalie - Dougnat Diaries
Jessica - Shamrocks and Seashells
Kelli - Yard Sale Kind of Luck

Cupcake Inspiration Challenge #35

Well, good Sunday morning to you and welcome to another Cupcake Inspiration Challenge! Everyone is invited to play along in the challenge and if you do, be sure to link your creation to Mr. Linky on the Hope Stamps Eternal blog.

Every week, Rachel picks the top 5 links and highlights them on the blog!! If you upload to SCS or PCP, be sure to use this week's keyword: CIC35.

Here is this week's cupcake picture - oh my isn't that snowman just the cutest?? He makes me think of being on top of a mountain of cupcakes! What could be better?




Well, I went with the mountain inspiration and the light blue and white and decided to do a dual challenge and also make a card for Moxie Fab's Christmas in the Old Country challenge!

I used the Cuttlebug negative embossing technique, using the snowflake embossing folder (Rachel is sold out of the snowflake folder but just look at all the other folders available!) While the ink was still wet, I clear embossed the cardstock and since the cardstock is Memory Box which has a white core, the snowflakes just popped!



I painted my chipboard deer and sprinkled glitter over top of the paint while it was wet and then added Zva Creative crystals to form a collar on the deer.

I added a Zva Creative Crystal Flourish to the background and then popped up the deer on top.

The red cardstock has been punched out with a Martha Stewart edge punch and just so you know ALL Martha Stewart punches are on sale at Hope Stamps Eternal right now!!

The sentiment is from Waltzingmouse Stamps Seasons of Love (Nestie Friendly) and I stamped the sentiment and made a little flag to pop up with Zva Creative Adhesive Dots.

I finished off the card with a couple of snowflakes on top of each other topped off with another sparkly Zva Creative crystal!

Edited to Add: BONUS BONUS BONUS!! Tomorrow is Cyber Monday and Rachel has got 30% off everything in the store!! What a deal!!

Thanks for stopping by, and be sure to mountain climb over to the rest of the Sweeties blogs and see how they were inspired by this sparkly little guy!

Carolina - Carolina's Creative Pad (off this week)
Rachel - Hope Stamps Eternal
Colleen - Glitter Ink
Michelle - Stop and Stamp the Roses
Teresa - Enjoy the VA Sunshine
Natalie - Dougnat Diaries
Jessica - Shamrocks and Seashells
Kelli - Yard Sale Kind of Luck

Stamps: Waltzingmouse Stamps
Paper: Memory Box, Pure Poppy, White (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: Vivid Red (Gina K Designs)
Accessories: Little Yellow Bicycle chipboard, Zva Creative crystal flourishes and crystals, Marvy punch snowflake, snowflake embossing folder, Martha Stewart glitter, Martha Stewart checkerboard edge punch

CPS143 and Earth Angel

Well I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving with lots of turkey and ham and squash and pumpkin pie and oooooo I'm making myself hungry and it's only 10:00 am lol!

I haven't used a sketch from Card Positioning Systems for a great while, so I thought I would give it a shot.




I used the Waltzingmouse Stamp set Earth Angel to make a birthday card - a lovely set with so many different style wings and little this's and that's to pop onto the Angel's gown.

For instance, the smocking is a separate stamp, so you have the option of just the dress or add a little smocked jumper like I did. There is also a garland and seed pounches and lots of fun little stamps to play with!

I used the Martha Stewart Star edge punch that Rachel has at Hope Stamps Eternal. Did you know that all of her Martha Stewart inventory is on sale at her store?? - BIG savings!!

I hope you have a lovely Black Friday with lots of shopping and please buy loads of stamping stuff - to support the economy of course!!


Stamps: Earth Angel (Waltzingmouse Stamps)
Paper: Dark Chocolate, Melon Berry, Vintage Cream, Spring Moss, Green Tea Leaves (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: Rich Cocoa ( Memento)
Accessories: Spellbinders Classic Inverted Scalloped Circles, Papertrey Ink ribbon, Martha Stewart star edge punch, Zva Creative pearls

THIS is the good stuff......

Sorry I am not blogging lately - we have a craft show this weekend and next weekend that we are ridiculously cramming for - sounds like exams!

Here is a project that I made for the August Dirty Dozen gallery and I love it!



The theme was called Back to the Drawing board and we were to use things that you would get from a office supply store!

I used a 6" x 9" clear clipboard that I bought at Staples and attached some Zva Creative Crystal Symmetrical Flourishes and and Zva Creative roses to the front of the clipboard.

I stamped Papertrey Ink Damask Designs with cream coloured paint onto the back of the clipboard.

When it was dry, I added some thickers that I had painted with a lime green dauber and that was basically it! - very easy but such a great background for my little granddaughter Robin!

Hope you like it!

Cupcake Inspiration Challenge #33

This is my second post today, so if you have a minute please be sure to look at the first day of new stamps reveal for Little Paper Shop!

Well good morning again, and I just want to take a minute and thank Jami Bova {sgtStamper} for my new blog banner! It was time for a change and I went back to the chicken - I missed him/her/it dearly and I love it! Thanks Jami!

Well here we are again at another Cupcake Inspiration Challenge for Hope Stamps Eternal!



This week we have pointy little cupcakes that are so yummy-licious looking - and I get so dang hungry when I am typing up these Cupcake posts....lol!




I was totally inspired by the points on the cupcake so I went with my nestabilities friendly Waltzingmouse Stamp set called "Seasons of Love - Tags." I stamped the star in Stamping Up Really Rust to match the autumn theme and then stamped the sentiment with Memento Rich Cocoa.

I love the autumn theme so of course Cosmo Cricket Nutmeg matched up perfectly! I sewed some panels of "Nutmeg" onto my card base, attached the star tag and finished it off with a bow and a button.

This would be perfect for a masculine card because of the colours but would also be great for anyone else! I just love it!

Thanks for stopping by, and be sure to swoosh by the rest of the Sweeties blogs and see how they were inspired by these fabulous cupcakes!!

Carolina - Carolina's Creative Pad
Rachel - Hope Stamps Eternal
Colleen - Glitter Ink
Michelle - Stop and Stamp the Roses
Teresa - Enjoy the VA Sunshine
Natalie - Dougnat Diaries
Jessica - Shamrocks and Seashells
Kelli - Yard Sale Kind of Luck

A Faux Feel Challenge.....

Good morning! The sun is shining and I have got coffee in hand and a day full of happiness ahead of me!

Splitcoaststampers Thursday challenge is called Ways to Use It and this week our challenge is to use texture on our creation, so I sort of copped out and used paper that looked like it had texture to it!

I used Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses 6 x 6 paper pad, Finial and Woodland sheets and, using a simple but effective layout, created a gorgeous Christmas card if I do say so myself haha!!




I love the acetate snowflakes - aren't they pretty - too bad I don't know where they are from! Dang it - I ripped open the package a few weeks ago and then promptly forgot the manufacturer - anyone?anyone? Beuller?

I used Papertrey Ink's Peaceful Poinsettia for the sentiment, stamped in Scarlet Jewel, and then my EK Success edger for the scallops - love it!

I sewed around the edges and for the finale, I added a Zva Creative clear gem that I coloured with my copic marker!

This card was easy-ness at it's best and wonderful for mass producing!

Cupcake Inspiration Challenge #32

Good Sunday morning and welcome to another Cupcake Inspiration Challenge! This week we have another delicious looking cupcake to be inspired by!

Every week Rachel Hope, from Hope Stamps Eternal, uploads a fabulous cupcake and our design team is totally inspired (because we are like that !) and we whip up a card to totally inspire you!


So here is today's cupcake......






and here is how I was inspired.





I used Basic Grey June Bug designer paper and a stamp from my new Bella Blvd Camp Out stamp set- I love this little motor home. My in-laws sold motor homes for years and this sweet set brings back a ton of memories!

I am using this as a retirement card and on the inside the sentiment is "Happy Retirement" (original, I know)......

My trail of "dust" is one of those fabulous Zva Creative flourishes in Jet. So you see how it hangs off the edge of the card? Just make sure if you do this, that you put a bit of baby powder on the back of the sticky part - so that it won't be sticky! a fabulous tip I learned from the wonderful Kim Hughes right here! and then be sure to use a larger envelope so the gorgeous crystals won't fold over and be all yucky.....as my grandson would say....

Don't forget to drive around to the other "Sweeties" blogs and check out how they were inspired!! AND since we are saying good bye this week to the most awesomest Tammy, we have a new member of our design team and that is Teresa Kline! Welcome Teresa!!

Carolina - Carolina's Creative Pad
Rachel - Hope Stamps Eternal
Colleen - Glitter Ink
Michelle - Stop and Stamp the roses
Natalie - dougnat diaries
Jessica - Shamrocks and Seashells
Kelli - Yard Sale Kind of Luck
Teresa - Enjoy the VA Sunshine

Cupcake Inspiration Challenge #31

It's Sunday and that means it is time for another delicious Cupcake Inspiration Challenge from Hope Stamps Eternal. Check out today's pretty cupcake!



I took my inspiration from the mushrooms and lady bugs and decided to use papers from my Cosmo Cricket 6x6 paper pad Earth Love.




I had recently downloaded the Around Town Tote from Papertrey Ink's My Timeless Templates and thought it was the perfect opportunity to put one together.

I also loved the plate that these cupcakes sit on and the little decorations reminded me of the Zva Creative flourishes so I used a pearl flourish and attached it onto the tote.

I added a Prima flower along with some Zva Creative flowers adhered on top with a little bit of added stickles to highlight.



Don't forget to buzz around to the other "Sweeties" blogs and check out how they were inspired!! AND we have a guest stamper for November and that is Teresa Kline! Please take a visit over to her blog to see her creation too!

Carolina - Carolina's Creative Pad
Rachel - Hope Stamps Eternal
Colleen - Glitter Ink
Michelle - Stop and Stamp the roses
Tammy - Stamp Happy
Natalie - dougnat diaries
Jessica - Shamrocks and Seashells
Kelli - Yard Sale Kind of Luck



Paper: Cosmo Cricket Earth Love Accessories: Zva Creative roses, Zva Creative Pearl flourish, Stamping Up scallop punch, Prima flower, stickles, tombow glue

Featured Stamper Rachel!!

My fearless leader, Rachel Hope, was the Featured Stamper last Sunday on Splitcoaststampers and the idea is to case one of the cards from her gallery, so I chose this one and used another The Greeting Farm stamp - Snuggle Stamp.

My card uses the Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses for my designer paper, and I use it a lot and LOVE it!



I also used The Greeting Farm sentiment from Keep Cozy and stamped it in Memento Tuxedo Black on a Spellbinders Ribbon tags trio die.

These white Zva flowers are so gorgeous!! and I love to use them, so I adhered one to the edge of the tag die and tied a bow with the Papertrey Ink ribbon.

Not feeling the greatest and I hope I am not coming down with the stupid virus - don't even want to say it.....

Cupcake Inspiration Challenge #30

Don't forget to enter my 100,000 hits blog candy in this post here! You can win some Basic Grey and Cosmo Cricket and more things as I find them in my scraproom - yes I am sadly disorganized - bad for me - good for you!!

Good Sunday morning to you and since it is Sunday that means another day of inspiration from a delici-o-so cupcake photo...... YUMMY!




Please play along with us by being inspired by our photo and make what every you want - you don't even have to use cupcake stamps!! - although this week I was kind of stumped and almost went the cupcake route!! When in doubt - use a cupcake - you can't go wrong!





After MUCH consideration, ie - asking everyone what they were using - I decided to use the Basic Grey Junebug paper since it has all these beautiful colours in it and make a notepad!

On the kraft paper I stamped the grid stamp from Off Beat Backgroundbackgrounds from Waltzingmouse Stamps in Vintage Cream ink, just to make a subtle background image.



Then I glued two of the June Bug designer papers on top. A few of the June Bug pages have some beautiful patterns that are pretty easy to cut around so I decided to go that route and trimmed around some of the flowers with my Cutterbee scissors and using my Tombow glue, glued the design on top of the designer paper.

Of course I used Papertrey Ink's Take Note stamp set for the sentiment and cut it out with the Spellbinders circle nestabilities and then trimmed it with Basic Grey June Bug buttons.

These little notepads are so simple to made and the 6 x 6 designer paper pads are all co-ordinated that it is pretty easy to make up a few note pads with a 6 x 6 Basic Grey pad!!

Cupcake Inspiration Challenge #29

Well, good Sunday morning to you and welcome to another Cupcake Inspiration Challenge! Everyone is invited to play along in the challenge and if you do, be sure to link your creation to Mr. Linky on the Hope Stamps Eternal blog.

Every week, Rachel picks the top 5 links and highlights them on the blog!! If you upload to SCS or PCP, be sure to use this week's keyword: CIC29.

Here is this week's cupcake picture - oh my aren't those witches just the cutest?? And since they are so cute, I had to use The Greeting Farm's Megan because she is so cute too!



I thought that Cosmo Cricket's Earth Love was the closest designer paper to those colours that I owned, so I cut some up, sewed it together and adhered it to my card base.



I stamped Megan with Memento Tuxedo Black ink, which is such a great ink to use when colouring with copics, which I did and NO smearing yay!! and then I used a sentiment from a My Favorite Things stamp set that I picked up in July (so long ago and so warm ago....) at the Craft and Hobby Supershow, although the set may be discontinued because I can't find it on the MFT site anywhere.....but I can just picture this little sassy girlie saying just that!!

I added a little punched border to the Earth Love paper with my Apron Lace punch and then sewed it onto the rest of the designer paper.

Thanks for coming around to the Cupcake Inspiration Challenge and why don't you take a peek at the other Sweeties' cards and how they were inspired by the sweet little witches!!

Carolina - Carolina's Creative Pad
Rachel - Hope Stamps Eternal
Colleen - Glitter Ink
Michelle - Stop and Stamp the roses
Tammy - Stamp Happy
Natalie - dougnat diaries
Jessica - Shamrocks and Seashells
Kelli - Yard Sale Kind of Luck