Cupcake Inspirations Challenge #95

Hello friends and happy Sunday.  It's supposed to snow around these here parts today, but I'm hoping they're wrong about that.  They are so often you know... wrong I mean.  Don't fail me know weatherpeople!!  teehee!  Seeing it's Sunday, it's time for another Cupcake Inspirations Challenge.  Here's what I came up with this week...

I just love this image with mommy sheep and baby lambie.  I must have bought it two or more years ago, but this is the first time I've inked her up!  Yeesh... that's pitiful!  I know, I know... quit babbling and show us the inspiration.  You ask for it... you got it.

Like I said before, sweet, sweet, sweet.  And fits perfectly with this time of year.  You may have already noticed that I chose my image and embossing folder because of the curly-cue frosting on this cupcake.  I thought they both worked so well.  And I used the inverted side of the embossed paper as that also matches the frosting.  Then I worked in the colors and the little red hearts.  I am pleased with it and had a lot of fun working it  up.

As usual, I have to apologize for the pinks in my photo.  IRL, they match perfectly.  I guess the fabric just photographs differently than paper???  I dunno... just guessing.  Anyway... sorry for what looks like clashing pinks.  Ugh!

Our sponsor for this week is Scrappin Doodles.  The lucky winner will receive a $10 gift certificate.  How's about that???

Other challenges:
The Sweet Stop - the SKETCH w/dry embossing
Woodware USA - pink, red and white
Tuesday Throwdown - valentine
Oldie but a Goodie - bright and cheerful
Fab 'n Funky - animal magic
Fresh Brewed Designs - spread some love
Simon Says - bingo (punch/die cuts, embossing, ribbon)
do you stack up? - think pink
Meljen's Designs - pink and red
Wee Memories - anything goes
Challenge up Your Life - clean and simple
Craft Your Days Away - love
Creatalicious - ribbon w/a love theme
The Fuzzy Wuzzy Challenge - anything goes
Let's Ink It Up - anything goes
Really Reasonable Ribbon - hearts and ribbon
Catered Crop - recipe I followed:  copic markers, chalk ink for sponging, scallop punch, art sponge, sponging with chalk ink
Raise the Bar - NEW (nesties, embellies, white)
Creative Craft World - cute and cuddly
Totally Papercrafts - add a heart

That's about it for today.  Thanks ever so much for poppin' in today.  I hope you enjoyed your visit and will come back very soon.
Denise

Stamps:  Unity Stamp Co Love Ewe (image and sentiment)
Paper:  Crate Paper paper doll collection, Gina K. pure luxury
Ink:  Memento tuxedo black
Supplies:  Nesties, ribbon, red heart brads, non-MS edge punch, VersaMagic chalk ink sea breeze, cuttlebug embossing folder d-vine swirls
Techniques:  Copic markers, sponging

Cupcake Inspirations Challenge #94

Happy Sunday friends!!  I hope your weekend has moved along smoothly and you'll be able to enjoy your Sunday.  I've got a lot going on today, but nothing very strenuous so it should be a good day.  And... when it's Sunday, it's time for another Cupcake Inspirations Challenge and I believe you'll love it!!  Here's my attempt...

It was really fun coloring up this ca-yute Tiddly Inks image.  And I'm pleased with the results.  However, this is nowhere near what I had in mind when I first decided what to work up for this week's challenge.  More on that later.  Right now, here's our inspiration...

Scrumptious-looking right?  That entire thing looks edible, doesn't it?  And great colors to work with.  As usual, pinks in my photo aren't near as 'perky' as those IRL.  So... please use your imagination, 'K?  : )

Now, about this card.  First of all, I didn't even select this image originally.  I was going to use Mo's Digital Pencil's called 'Shy Valentine Nessa'.  I had her all colored up, almost done when I went and messed up her lacy heart!!!  ARGHHHHHHHHHH!!!  I tried to think of anything to try to salvage her, but alas, no luck.  I would have printed off another to replace the bad heart but my printer is still out of whack.  Soooo... I had to toss that idea.  Then I fought and fought with layout and which papers should go where.  As I said, I'm pleased with how it turned out, but yeesh, the process was...... let's just say 'frustrating'!!  : )  I'll bet that's wayyy more than you ever wanted to know.  haha!

Other Challenges:
Stamping 411 Saturday Sketch Challenge - the SKETCH
The Crafty Pad - something new (image)
Cutie Sunday - black, gray, and color of choice
One Stitch at a Time - new (image)
Craft Your Passion - let's tie one on
Lexi's Creations - say it with love
Going Grey - love is in the air
Crafty Creations - new beginnings
Fresh Brewed Designs - black + white + one more color
Creative Cottage Challenge - something new
Digi Stamps 4 Joy - button up
The Lollipop Ladies - add some glitter or bling
Scrapbook Sisters - hearts desire
Crafty Purple Frog Challenge - new goodies (image)
Southern Girls Challenge - totally loved up
Stamp Something - anything goes
Wags 'n Whiskers - with love
Scrappy Saturday Challenge - use ribbon
Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - with love
Speedy the Cat's Friends Challenge - hearts
Stamp, Scrap and Doodle Saturdays - anything goes
Craft Your Days Away - anything goes
Creatalicious Challenge - ribbon with a love theme
Really Reasonable Ribbon - hearts and ribbon
Paper Play - cutie patootie

That's about it for this challenge.  Thanks for stopping by and I hope you'll come back soon.  Take care, dear friends!!
Denise

Stamps:  Tiddly Inks who loves you digi image, sentiment Whimsy Doodles
Paper:  BG (but can't remember the collection), Gina K. pure luxury
Ink:  Memento tuxedo black
Supplies:  Cuttlebug embossing folder, ribbon, PTI buttons, pink glitter
Techniques:  Copic markers and prismacolor pencils w/ gamsol

It's so great when you have one of your cards posted on a challenge's site as a 'Featured Card'.  Well... that happened with this card over on The Sweet Stop!!  Thank you so much gals for such an honor!!  I'm still smiling!!!

You know... this is so fun, I think I'll try again this week!  : )  Hope you'll all come and join in too!  The Sweet Stop always has wonderful sketches.

THANKS!
Denise

Super Sweet Sugar Nellie

Hello stamping enthusiasts.  Just a few more hours and we've made it to hump day, right?  Woohoo!!  Last night I worked up a new card using one of Sugar Nellie's wonderful images.

Dontcha just love her... that sweet little face in profile.  This image is called 'Santa's Little Helper'.  She's not new so you've probably seen her on many other blogs/galleries, but this is a first for me.  And how fun it was to color her up! She's a big image and this nestie was the only one even close to resembling an oval that she would fit into!  : )

I'll be entering this gal in  The Sugar Bowl challenge which is a sketch this time.  Here it is...

It's a great sketch, but I sure struggled with it.  Only because of the size of everything.  I used a 5" square card, wishing I'd gone with 5.5".   But I'm pretty pleased with the result so I'm not going to sweat the little stuff.  ha!  I haven't included a sentiment yet, but think I'm going to use it for a winter birthday, rather than for Christmas wayyyyyyy next year.  : )

I glittered up her coat fringe (I always do that!) but also added some of that white fuzzy stuff for something a little different.  OK... OK... I'll fess up.  I mistakenly poured on the fuzzy stuff, was annoyed so added the glitter too.  I actually like it!  I also used my other new Sizzix embossing folder called 'starry nights 2' along with a MS edge punch.

Challenges:

The Sugar Bowl - the SKETCH and embossing
The Pixie Cottage - punches
The Lollipop Ladies - add some glitter or bling
CES Challenge - all creatures great and small
EtsyInspired - La Pomme (my inspiration)
One Stop Craft Challenge - a card for a child
Secret Crafter Saturday - tons of texture
Speedy the Cat's Friends Challenge - use embossing
By the Cute and Girly - bling it on
The Fuzzy Wuzzy Challenge - anything goes
Let's Ink it Up - anything goes
Copic Creations - sparkle
Just Christmas and Birthday - winter

That's it for today.  Hope you enjoyed your stay and will come back soon.  Take care my friends.
Denise

Stamps:  Sugar Nellie Santa's Little Helper
Papers:  Graphic 45 Christmas Past 8x8 pad, Gina K. pure luxury
Ink:  Memento tuxedo black
Supplies:  Nesties, WOC roses, MS edge punch, white fuzzy stuff, white glitter, sizzix starry night 2 embossing folder, small pearls
Techniques:  Copic markers and prismacolor pencils w/gamsol

Cupcake Inspirations Challenge #93

Edit:  Won Top 3 Featured Card honors at The Sweet Stop #90
Edit:  Won Top 3 honors at Fairy Fun Fridays #43

I'm late... I'm late... for a very important date.  It's Cupcake Inspirations Challenge today and half the morning is gone already!!  ARGH!!!  But I'm here now and ready to share how this week's cupcake photo inspired me.

 

This is an image from Bugaboo (our sponsor this week) and the first time I saw it, I couldn't help but say 'awwwwwwww'!!!  Could you help it when you saw her?  : )  So of course, she was the image I chose for this challenge.  Why, you ask?  Well... here's our inspiration photo for this week's challenge...

Fun, right??  I just love these cupcakes and their colors and cute little baby cutouts.  I don't make baby cards very often so when I'm given the chance to do so, I love it!  As I said, I love these colors and was able to work them all into my card, except for the orange.  I probably could have included some orange, but just thought that would be a bit over-the-top!  And aren't my two DPs great?  I did not buy them together, but ended up with two colors of the same pattern!!  Perfect challenge to use them together!!  hahaha!

As noted above, our sponsor this week is the very fun Bugaboo Stamps.  They have sooooo many absolutely adorable images.  If you're not familiar with them, I would suggest you pop over to the store and look 'em over.  I don't think you'll be disappointed.  Oh... and the random winner will receive 7 images!  Yep... that's right... 7!!!

I hope you'll have time to go visit the other 'sweeties' creations as I'm always blown away by their wonderful projects.  And this week, our Guest Designer is Marjorie at Mommy Scraps.  I hope you'll stop by her place as well.

Other challenges:
The Sweet Stop - SKETCH
Papertake Weekly - anything goes w/option lace (sorry... no lace)
Tuesday Taggers - new beginnings
Fab 'n Funky - anything goes
Simon Says Stamps! - new beginnings
Creative Cottage - something new (image)
Scrapbook Sisters - anything goes
Stampin' B's - use something old (ric-rac) and something new (image)
Do it with Digis - new beginnings
Dutch Dare Card Challenge - new beginnings
Delicious Doodles - new (image)
Stamp Something - January digi day
Fairy Fun Friday - new beginnings
2 Sisters Challenge - gettin' girly
One Stop Craft Challenge - a card for a child
Stamp, Scrap and Doodles Saturdays - new beginnings
The Fuzzy Wuzzy Challenge - anything goes
Really Reasonable Ribbon - something new plus ribbon
Sarah Hurley Challenges - new beginnings
Quirky Crafts Challenge - new beginning
Pile it On - it's all about the cute children
Card Makin' Mamas - girls just want to have fu
Craft Your Passion - anything goes
Woodware USA - something NEW

Thanks for stopping by today, my friends.  I wish you a very fun (or quiet) Sunday, whichever is your preference.  Take care folks!!
Denise

Stamps:  Bugaboo Boo Bugaboo digi, Studio G clear stamps
Paper:  Heidi Swapp tropical smoothie (green) and summer dress (blue), Gina K. pure luxury
Ink:  Memento tuxedo black (sentiment)
Supplies:  Nesties, BG black brads, back ric-rac
Techniques:  Copic markers and prismacolor pencils w/gamsol

Cupcake Inspirations Challenge #92

Hi folks!  After missing last week's Cupcake Inspirations Challenge, I'm tickled to be participating again.  So, without further ado, here's my card...

Isn't this gal just adorable!?!?!  She's a Motivet stamp I picked out  last year and never got around to coloring her up.  Now I have and it was so fun working with her.  Quick and easy to color, yes... even for me!!!  haha!  Now for the CIC inspiration photo...

These are just great, aren't they?  And just about anything in there for us to use as inspiration... butterflies, flowers, hearts, dresses, squigglies and who knows what else is in there that I can't quite make out!  Well... as you can see, I've found my inspiration from the colors.  Red, white and black are always great to work with and my little image worked great for these colors too.

I went with the simple layout, an embossed strip (with my latest embossing folder) and some roses to add a little bit more pretty.  Everything went together so well on this.  That's pretty unusual for me.  I so often struggle with what paper and what design, etc, etc.  Not so much with this card.  This DP came to mind immediately when I saw the photo for the first time.

Our sponsor this week is Karber Digital Images.  The winner of this week's challenge will get to choose two images of your choice!  I hope you'll have time to join in this week.  Karber's has some really cute images!!

Other challenges:
Unscripted Sketches - choose any previous sketch (I used #50)
Cupcake Craft Challenge - thank you
The Pink Elephant - winter wonderland
Papertake Weekly - be thankful
Creative Craft Challenge - anything goes
Stampavie and more - red
7 Kids College Fund - anything goes
C.R.A.F.T. Challenge - thank you
Cute Card Thursday - thank you
Meljens Designs - something cold and snowy
Southern Girls - anything goes
Stamp Something - something with glitter
Winter Wonderland - thank you
Allsorts - thank you
CES Challenge - anything goes
Speedy the Cat's Friends Challenge - use something new (embossing folder)
By the Cute and Girly - bling it on
Copic Creations - sparkle
Aly's Sunday Challenge - anything goes
Christmas Card Challenges - embossing
Cutie Sunday - winter
Paper Sundaes - something new (embossing folder)

That's all for today.  I hope your Christmas was wonderful and your new year will be just as you'd like it to be.  Blessings.
Denise

Stamps:  Motivet Girl in snow, SU greetings
Paper:  BG jovial, Gina K. pure luxury
Ink:  Memento tuxedo black
Supplies:  Nesties, WOC red roses, white glitter, diamond stickles, Sizzix embossing folder (sugar)
Techniques:  Copic markers and prismacolor pencils w/ gamsol

Friday Mashup #24

Good morning all and Merry Christmas Eve.  As you're reading this, I'm probably traveling to my sister's.  This is the big day for me and my family as we've always celebrated on Christmas Eve.  It's a great night and we all try to not miss it!  Now, that means Christmas is pretty quiet, but that's OK too!

I was the Friday Mashup winner for their challenge #22, making me a Mashup Maven!!  : )  That also meant I could join along with their challenge as a Guest Designer.  I jumped at the chance as I love doing GD gigs!!  They are just plain fun.  

 The challenge this week is a color challenge using marina mist, real red and old olive.  That's a great combo, don't you think??  Anyway... I enjoyed using those colors together.

I made up this little sweetie for today.  Doesn't he look to snug in that little stocking?!?!?!?  I purchased him last year, but didn't have time to work him into a card.  Well... I made it juse in time this year!  YAY!!!  As you can see, I went with a really simple layout.  I've been doing that more and more lately.  Especially during Christmas season when I'm so darned busy!!

I chose BG's jovial collection for my background as it has all three of the colors I was needing.  It really does have some olive included, but you sure can't see much of it, can you?  hahaha!  The sentiment is computer-generated.  I added pearls to the top and bottom, then gave it some sparkle with a bit of glitter.

Other Challenges:
Allsorts - anything goes
CES Challenge - anything goes
Copic Creations - sparkle
The Crafty Pad - anything goes
One Stitch at a Time - anything goes
Paper Playtime - anything christmas
Picture Perfect Creations - anything christmas related
Anything Goes Challenge - the letter C (christmas)
Fresh Brewed Designs - merry christmas
Papertake Weekly - anything goes
Creative Craft Challenges - anything goes
Simon Says Stamp! - anything goes
7 Kids College Fund - anything goes
ABC Challenge - k for keep it simple
Aud Sentiments - anything goes
Crafts and Me - anything goes
Alphabet Challenge - h for hats
Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge - your choice
Stampin' for the Weekend - christmas

That's it for today stamping friends.  I want to wish you a very Merry Christmas!  Be safe and be well.  See you after Christmas.
Denise

Stamps:  Stampavie christmas stocking, sentiment computer generated
Paper:  BG jovial, Gina K. pure luxury
Ink:  Memento tuxedo black
Supplies:  Nesties, ribbon, pearls, glitter
Technique:  Copic markers w/ prismacolor pencils and gamsol

Cupcake Inspirations Challenge #90

Edit:  This card won Top 3 honors at Aud Sentiments challenge #18.

Happy Sunday morning folks!  I hope your weekend is going well.  Are you still baking Christmas goodies, or wrapping the presents, or shopping?!?!?  Not me... I haven't started these things yet!  I know!!!  But, I don't have tons to do this year, so it should be fine.  {fingers crossed}.

As you know, if it's Sunday, it's time for another Cupcake Inspirations Challenge.  Let me tell you, you're going to love this week's inspiration!!  I know I did!!  This is my take on the challenge.  And this is the inspiration...

 

Isn't he just wonderful?  I don't know where Rachel, our leader extraordinaire, found this but it's awesome!!  And perfect for our last challenge before Christmas.  He's got the happiest face, doesn't he??  Now the image I decided to go with is from Sassy Cheryl's .  I just thought he was one great santa!  Oh... and by the way, Sassy Cheryl's is having a Merry Christmas sale from today until December 24th

 

This image was so fun to color up.  But the rest of the card was very, very frustrating!  Of course, no one's fault but my own.  I couldn't decided which DP to use, then accessorizing wasn't working out very easily as I was using a different sentiment which was a little longer than this one and just didn't look right no matter how many ways I changed it around!!  Whew, that was quite a sentence!!  So, I selected a smaller sentiment and things began to go a little better.  Not much, but a little!  {smile}

Our sponsor this week is http://www.sparklecreationsrubberstamps.com/">Sparkle Creations.  They are not only offering a Cupcake Ruby stamp to the random winner, but also 10% off to those who participate in our challenge.  Great, eh??  So, no excuses... come on and play!

Other challenges:
Stamp with Fun - christmas
Just Christmas and Birthday - traditional christmas colors
A Spoonful of Sugar - christmas card
Fresh Brewed Designs - merry christmas
Creative Card Crew - anythings goes
Fab 'n Funky - quick and easy does it
For Fun Challenge - christmas - not winter
ABC Christmas Challenge - z for zero time left
Cute Card Thursday - one for the kids
Hanna and Friends - just a little christmas
Stamp Insanity - holiday card - our way
Alphabet Challenge - h is for hats
Crafy Catz Weekly Challenge - our choice
Stampin for the Weekend - christmas
2 Sisters Challenge - christmas
Allsorts - anything goes
CES Challenge - anything goes
Aly's Sunday Challenge - anything goes
Christmas Card Challenge - christmas card
The Crafty Pad - anything goes
Cutie Sunday - christmas
One Stitch at a Time - anything goes
Stamptacular Sunday - TREEmendous
Aud Sentiments - anything goes

Thank you for coming by today.  Have a great day and in case I don't get to post again before next weekend... Merry Christmas.
Denise

Stamps:  Sassy Cheryl's santa and his tree digi, computer generated sentiment
Paper:  October Afternoon very merry (stripes), BG eskimo kisses (trees), Gina K. pure luxury
Ink:  none
Supplies:  BG buttons, white twine, VersaMagic chalk ink sea breeze
Techniques:  Copic markers and prismacolor pencils and gamsol

Love these snowmen...

Edit:  This card won Top 3 honors at 4 Crafty Chicks challenge #16.

Hello again my friends.  Welcome, so glad you've stopped by!  Are any of you like me and just love snowmen??  I have recently discovered that I am truly and deeply in love with Sassy Cheryl's wonderful ones!!!  I just can't get enough of them... they simply make me smile!!  : )

This one is called Snowman Baring Gifts.  Isn't he just great??  Once again I've used my prismacolor pencils to work him up.  I chose the colors from some new DP I got at my fave store, Archiver's.  I thought this paper was so bright and cute!  I was going to go with Merry & Bright as my sentiment, but I printed it off too danged big so I went with joy instead!  : )

As usual, my pinks don't look anything like real life!!  My camera or lighting or whatever it is, just doesn't capture it properly.  Would you believe the ribbon is actually hot pink, not red??  {sigh}  As you can see, I'm still not over my snowflake fetish and am pasting them on everything I can!!  : )  That's OK... I like 'em!

Watch for another snowman card over the weekend.  I just found Sassy Cheryl's Designs blog!!  What a great place to go look around.  She has a COLOR ME challenge every Tuesday that sounds really fun, plus you can get her brand new images at a reduced price.  I can't believe I didn't know about this before, but so glad I found it now.

Challenges:
Scrapbook Sisters - non-traditional christmas colors
7 Kids College Fund - winter wonderland
Frosted Designs - use ribbon
Stamp Something - December digi day
Wags 'n Whiskers - snowflakes
Allsorts - last minute christmas projects
Stamptacular Sunday - winter wishes
Cupcake Craft Challenge - non-traditional colors
Paper Playtime - snowmen
Stamp with Fun - christmas
Stamps R Us - anything goes     I was the random winner!!!   WOOhoo!
A Spoonful of Sugar - christmas card
Sassy Cheryl's - snowmen
ABC Christmas Challenge - your favorite challenge from the past year.  F - Frosty; N - Noel; P - presents.
4 Crafty Chicks - snowmen
Cute Card Thursday - one for the kids
Hanna and Friends - just a little christmas
Moving Along with the Times - let it snow
Stamp Insanity - holiday card -- our own way

Have a great day and enjoy your stamping!!  Come back soon, 'K?
Denise

Stamps:  Sassy Cheryl's snowman baring gifts digi, sentiment computer generated
Paper:  Doodlebug Design all wrapped up, SU certainly celery, Gina K. pure luxury
Ink:  none
Supplies:  snowflakes, silver balls, paper piercing tool
Techniques:  Prismacolor pencils and gamsol, paper piercing

Cappuccino Anyone?

Good morning friends.  Goodness... it's less than two weeks until Christmas and I've still got so many images I wanted to work up for cards!!!  ACK!!  I think some will have to hold over to next year, don't you!!  But, I'll get a few of them done.  Like this wonderful digital image from Sassy Cheryl's called 'Cappuccino Snowman'.

Isn't he fab-u-lous???  Actually ALL Cheryl's snowman are super cute and so fun to work with.  I'll warn you... it'll be very hard to decide which is your favorite!!  You may have to get more than one, which you'll see in a few days is exactly what I was forced to do!!!  : )  For this card, I decided to switch to my prismacolor pencils and it was really fun to use them again... really fun.

Snowflakes, snowflakes, snowflakes!!  I can't seem to get enough of them!  I think this is the third card in a row I've added them!  Well... I love 'em and think they add lots of wintery character to our creations.  These are a little different for me.  I bought them Saturday at my favorite stamping/crafting store in Kansas City... Archiver's.  They are foam.  You folks have probably already seen these, but I'm always a little behind the times!  : )  I plopped them on then added a blue gem in their centers.

I also got this great paper at Archiver's.  The images about cover them all up, but there are Christmas greeting running through some of the stripes.  I really need to get better at figuring out how to size my digis so as not to take up the entire card, but not so small as to make coloring very challenging.  Does anyone have some hints?  I guess I just have a hard time visualizing.

Challenges:
A Spoonful of Sugar - christmas cards
Digital Tuesday - baby it's cold outside
Creative Card Crew - anything goes
Riley and Company let's think christmas
Fab 'n Funky - christmas is for the children
7 Kids College Fund - winter wonderland
ABC Challenge - j for jewels and gems
Stamp Something - December digi day
Wags 'n Whiskers - snowflakes
Allsorts - last minute christmas
One Stop Craft Challenge - sassy christmas
One Stitch at a Time - anything goes
Paper Playtime - snowmen
Stamp with Fun - christmas
Just Christmas and Birthday - traditional christmas colors
The Pink Elephant - winter wonderland

Well... that's all I got for you today.  Thanks so much for stopping in and to those so kind as to leave me a comment (which I love), an extra special thanks.  Take care and have a great day!!
Denise

Stamps:  Sassy Cheryl's cappuccino snowman digi, Bizzy Bec's digi sentiments - FREE
Paper:  Fancy Pants tradition, Gina K. pure luxury
Ink:  none
Supplies:  Nesties, dazzlers (snowflakes), MS blue gems, doily, VersaMagic chalk ink aloe vera
Techniques:  Prismacolor pencils and gamsol, sponging