Oh, What a Beautiful Day for a Challenge... or two

How about a challenge card today?? :)


Today's card was inspired by

CAS challenge on SCS - pink, celery, white
Critter Sketch Challenge #99- use 3 embellishments (ribbon, sticker, pearls)
Gingerloft - let it snow
Stamptacular Sunday Challenge #148- seeing spots


This Winter Bear image is just too cute.

Card Recipe -
stamps - winter bear
paper - sweet cheeks, celery, white
ink - white, black
copics - R85, R83, R22, YR04, YR68, YG03, YG06, C1, C3, 0, E29
accessories - nesties, cuttlebug, vagabond, folder, edge punch, ribbon, sticker, pearls, glitter pen, white gel pen


Have an awesome Wednesday and a great, big, beautiful tomorrow!!!

~*Shell*~

Clearly Inspired ... in Pastels

I do love those Clearly Inspired Challenges .... don't you?? I mean, great inspiration AND the chance to win?? :) Awesome. Love it.


So, today our challenge is to use pastels. There was a time when that's pretty much all I used. It was what I was comfortable with, and I seldom reached beyond my comfort zone at that point. Now, though, I really had to stretch to go toward the pastel palette.

Here's my take on the challenge.

I used the Cricut and SCAL to cut the flourish circle frame and cut a white circle to go behind it.

card recipe -

Stamps - Scripture Children, Luke 12:34 (new for January!)

Paper - dp, budding lilac, white

Ink - black, amethyst

Accessories - scal, cricut, ribbon, lace, flowers, pearls, pop dots

Let's see what you can do!! Head over to Clearly iStamp and get the details of the challenge. Join in, and you could win!

Have a fantastic Friday and a great, big, beautiful tomorrow!!


~*Shell*~

Blog Hop Winner!!

Congratulations to Debbie of Debbie's Dash of This and That!! Her name was chosen from Jerusha's blog. Enjoy your prize!!!!



Don't forget to check in tomorrow for the Clearly Inspired Challenge!!


Have a super Thursday and a great, big, beautiful tomorrow!!!


~*Shell*~

Winter Bear Challenge

The new stamp set "Winter Bear" is sooooo cute. I couldn't resist using it for several challenges. I mean, could you??? :)



I made my bear pink this time. What could be cuter than a cuddly, pink little bear. :)




This card meets several challenge criteria. I used the Critter Sketch Challenge sketch, the twine challenge on TLC on SCS, the texture for the Stamptacular Sunday challenge, and the something new for several others.


card recipe -

Stamps - winter bear Paper - blueberry patch, tropical mist, white Ink - black, white Copics - YR07, R81, R83, R85, R22, V12, V17, B000, E37, C1, C3, C5, C7, W5 Accessories - corner rounder, grunge board die cut, Vagabond, snowflake sticker, twine, metal button stickers, crystals, folders, pop dots This is being submitted for these challenges - Gingerloft - anything goes Stamptacular Sunday - texture (embossing, embossing on grunge board, crystal snowflake, twine) Technique Lovers (SCS) - use twine Critter Sketch Challenge - sketch Fairy Tale Challenge - something new (grunge board, stamp set, and Vagabond) Stampin' Sisters In Christ - something new (grunge board, stamp set, and Vagabond)

This was such a fun card to create. I think I may use it for my great-niece's birthday in a couple of week's. Think it works for a 2 year old????




Have a great week!!!! Be ready for the Clearly Inspired Challenge on Friday. Have a wonderful Monday evening and a great, big, beautiful tomorrow.



~*Shell*~

I {heart} Blog Hops!!

Hi!! How are you?? Are you ready to get hopping??? :)

Valentine's Day is coming very soon (less than a month now!), and as card makers, we need to be ready, don't we?? So, our blog hop today should give you some great inspiration for your Valentines this year.


You should have come here from Jerusha's beautiful blog. If not, you'll want to start back at the beginning after you leave my blog. Our beginning is on Lori's blog. She has the blog list and prize details over there, too. I know you don't want to miss those. One big key, though .... COMMENT!! :) The more blogs in the hop that you comment on, the more chances you have to win. Remember ... last month, the winner came from THIS blog!! :) How exciting!



I totally {heart} this little bunny and his friend. The fact that the little mouse is sharing a {heart} just made it perfect for my card today. :)





I chose, this time, to decorate the inside of the card a little, too.


Card Recipe :
stamps - you lift me up, heart hugs
paper - turquoise gem, gray, white, saffron, grunge board (heart)
ink - black, turquoise, pink, white
copics - R37, R20, C1, C3, E31, E33, E37
accessories - elegant accents dies, sponge dauber, cuttlebug, dies, Vagabond, folders, doily (cut), heart lock, gold dots, pop dots, oval punch, corner rounder



Now, you should comment on this blog. After that, pack up your fingers and hop on over to see Kathy's amazing creations! Comment over there, too!! Remember that if you didn't start at Lori's blog, you'll want to hop over there for the blog roll and the prize details. :)


I hope you have a simply amazing Sunday and a great, big, beautiful tomorrow!!!!


~*Shell*~

Teapot Tuesday .... a little late ....

Teapot Tuesdays is a challenge that occurs over at SCS every (yeah, you guessed it ....) Tuesday. This card was made for that challenge (last week's) - as well as for a couple of other challenges. I had a great time making it ..... and I'm so glad to be able to honor a very special friend of mine with it.

Here's the challenge, so you can learn all about it and about the wonderful lady this card honors.

I met Sonja online (SCS) back in 2005 when the "Quackers" first began quacking. :) In 2006, we met in real life for the first time. We've seen each other just about every year since then. She lives quite a ways from me, so seeing her once a year is a big deal. Sonja is a wonderful, sweet, loving person, and I am so honored to call her my friend ... and even more honored that she considers me her friend. :)


Sonja's 2011 was a very rough one, and I'm hoping that her 2012 is going to be an amazing year for her and her family.

Sonja loves angels, teal, and hearts. I also know that she loves our Lord, and I wanted to add some verses just for her.




The background is embossed with snowflakes because I needed to add my own special touch. Sonja knows just how much I love snow.


I hope that all of the cards sent to Sonja help her to know just how special she is and what a wonderful friend she is.

Card Recipe :

stamps - Mini Verses, You Lift Me Up, God Is Love, Patchwork Angel (no longer available as a clear stamp, but here as a digi)
paper - teal, brown, white, celery
ink - black
copics - Y000, Y02, E43, E47, BG18, E00, E02, R20, R81
accessories - glitter gel pen, Vagabond machine, cuttlebug, folders, nesties, oval punches, tag punches, pearls, pop dots


Challenges -

Stampin' Sisters In Christ - Thinking of You card

Cute Card Thursday - Something New (used my Vagabond and a new color combo)

Just Us Girls - Sketch

Fairy Tale Challenge - Something New (used my Vagabond and a new color combo)

Phindy's Friday - Color Challenge (brown, teal, celery, white)



Hope you've enjoyed the Product Parade this week and the challenge I showcased, as well. Remember that Sunday is our monthly Blog Hop! You don't want to miss that or the chance to win!!!! :)



Have a wonderful Tuesday and a great, big, beautiful tomorrow!!

~*Shell*~

Clear Dollar Stamps' January Product Parade .... Day 4!!!

Our last day of our Product Parade ... and today, we have the wonderful Stamp of the Month sets. You can get one of these free with a qualifying order at Clear Dollar Stamps!! **FREE** :) What could be better than FREE STAMPS?!



card recipe -
stamps - Winter Bear
paper - Tickled Pink, gray, white
ink - black, white
copics - 0, R81, R83, E31, E33, E37, B00, C1, C7, Y38
accessories - cuttlebug, folder, pop dots, felt snowflakes, snowman die, ribbon, white gel pen, crystals





card recipe -
stamps - Sweet Heart
paper - Strawberry Jam, black, white
ink - red, black
accessories - felt flowers, circle punches, edge punch, pop dots





card set recipe -
stamps : Mini Verses
paper : Wild Huckleberry, Strawberry Jam, Fresh Papaya, Raging River, white
ink : black
accessories : cuttlebug, edge folder, ribbons (Wild Huckleberry, Strawberry Jam, Fresh Papaya, Raging River), flowers


That's it for our January Product Parade. Wow ... what awesome stamps for this quarter!!! :) I hope you enjoyed the parade as much as we enjoyed showcasing the sets for you. Make sure you leave some love on all of the design team members' blogs. I know they appreciate it. And, make sure you grab some or ALL of these great sets over at the Clear Dollar Stamps' site!!



Join us on January 15th for our monthly Blog Hop and on January 20th for the next Clearly Inspired Challenge. Two great chances to win a prize!!



~*Shell*~


Pin It

Clear Dollar Stamps' January Product Parade .... Day 3!!!

More beautiful scriptures .... a really big boat .... and lots of love from our Lord. :) That's what we have for you today. Welcome to Day 3 of the Product Parade!







card recipe -
Stamps : Psalm 46:10
Paper : dp, black, white
Ink : brown, black
Accessories : photo, ribbon, designer labels dies, swirls die, cuttlebug, flowers, pop dots
Technique : photo card





card recipe -
stamps : God Is Love
paper : gray, ,white, dp
ink : ruby
accessories : cuttlebug, swirls dies, nesties, ribbon, pearls, sponge dauber






card recipe -
stamps - Eternity
paper - red velvet cake, toasted almond, caramel, dp
ink - white, gold
copics - R59 (colored lace)
accessories - elegant accents dies, cuttlebug, swirls, lace, pearls, sheer shimmer




card recipe -
stamps - Ark of Faith, Psalm 37:23
paper - deep sea, tropical mist, black, white, dp
ink - black
copics - C3, C7, W1, W3, W5, E31, E33, E37, B21, B24, E43, E47, E49, E71, E77, B00, E11, E15, R81, R83, R85, G24, Y02, 0
accessories - cuttlebug, folder, pop dots, Tabs and Tags dies, raindrop stickers, corner rounder, decorative trim, white gel pen






card recipe -
stamps - Walk By Faith
paper - white, gray, blue (raging river, I think)
ink - black
Copics - B21, B24, B28, C5, C7
accessories - Designer Labels dies, ribbon, brads, cuttlebug, folder, pop dots




After all of these great sets, what could we possibly have for you tomorrow???? How about stuff you can get *free*? Yep ... just wait for the great stuff we have for you on Day 4 of our Product Parade.

If you just can't wait, head on over to Clear Dollar Stamps and look at the January releases. Each of these sets are available NOW!! I can't wait to see what you do with them!



See you back here tomorrow for one more amazing day of our Product Parade!!


~*Shell*~
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Clear Dollar Stamps' January Product Parade .... Day 2!!!

How about some flowers, a pick-me-up, and something that's 'cute as a button?' :) Welcome to Day 2 of our Product Parade!





card recipe -
stamps - Josephine Clematis
paper - white, yellow, dp
ink - black, yellow
copics - YR00, YR04, YR07, W5, W7, 0, B93, B95
accessories - ribbon, cuttlebug, nesties, crystals, sponge dauber






card recipe -
stamps - Glamorous Dahlia
paper - white, dp
ink - black
copics - G24, G28, W7, BV00, BV04, BV08, C3, G00, G02
accessories - edge punch, cricut, scal, ribbon, gold dots, pop dots






card recipe -
Stamps : Cute As A Button
Paper : turquoise gem, sweet pea, white
Ink : white, black, turquoise, fog
Accessories : cricut, scal, cuttlebug, folders, blooming bouquet dies, nesties, pop dots, buttons, ribbon




card recipe -
stamps - You Lift Me Up
paper - sweet cheeks, white, gray
ink - black, blue
copics - R81, R83, R85, C1, C5, C3, R02
accessories - Nesties, cuttlebug, pearls, ribbon, flowers, pop dots
technique - CAS



Don't forget to check out the blogs of the others who are sharing some inspiration this week. The sets highlighted today, as well as those from yesterday, are available TODAY!! You can also find all of the other January releases available now on the Clearly Dollar Stamps' site.

Here are the links to the other DT members' blogs -
Candy
Cassie
Laurie
Linda
Trudy
Barb
Christi
Lisa
Sarah


More highlighted products will be shown in tomorrow's Product Parade! Don't miss it!!! :)


~*Shell*~

Clear Dollar Stamps' January Product Parade .... Day 1!!!

Welcome to the January Product Parade!!!! Are you excited?? We have some super fun stuff to show you over the next 4 days. I know you don't want to hear me ramble on, so let's get started.


Today, we feature several scripture stamps. I love scripture stamps. They are soooo useful in my cardmaking.




card recipe -
stamps - Deuteronomy 6:5
paper - pink, purple
ink - white pigment
accessories - Cuttlebug, combo folder, crystal butterflies, pearls, pop dots





card recipe -
Stamps : Psalm 116:1
Paper : black, gray, white, Glory 2 God dp
Ink : white
Accessories : sheer shimmer, swirl dies, cuttlebug, nesties, ribbon, vintage stickers







card recipe -
Stamps : John 15:12
Paper : dp, worn parchment, billowing clouds, gray
Ink : brown, black
Accessories : cricut, scal, cuttlebug, elegant accents dies, flowers, pearls, pop dots




card recipe -
stamps : Luke 12:34
paper : black, silver, white, dp
ink :black, brown
accessories : Cuttlebug, folders, dies, crystals, pearls, pop dots, sponge dauber, corner punch, gold dots, brads







card recipe -
stamps - Romans 5:8
paper - Pretty Porcelain, black, purple, gray, dp
ink - black
accessories - elegant accents dies, cuttlebug, combo folder, doily, flourish crystal stickers, pearls, pop dots




A couple of love/Valentine's stamps are being featured today, too. Better get started on those Valentine's cards ... it will be here before you know it!!!





card recipe -
stamps - valentine john 3:16
paper - white, red
ink - red
copics - R46 (flowers)
accessories - cuttlebug, folder, pop dots, edge punch, flowers, ribbon






card recipe -
stamps - toucans of love, tou-can pray
paper - dp, pink, gray, green, white
ink - black
copics - C1, C3, C5, C7, YR68, G21, G24, 0
accessories - nesties, cuttlebug, Cricut, scal, crystals, pop dots, ribbon

Remember that all of the stamps featured today are available ... TODAY! :) The sets being featured in the next few days are, also, available today!! Head on over to Clear Dollar Stamps to see all of the new stamps and to grab some of these awesome stamps to create your own amazing cards and projects.





Come on back tomorrow to check out the next day of our Product Parade!!!


~*Shell*~

Clearly Inspired ... for the new year!! :)

Are you ready for another challenge?? Clearly Inspired has a great one for you today.

CIC43 -- Valentine's Day -- Make a card for Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day is not so far away, so we need to get started on those, don't we??




The image is from a Clear Dollar Stamps' set called Loving Critters. The heart corners were cut using cardboard ... on the Vagabond. :) My mom gave me the Vagabond for Christmas! Yippee!!!!!


card recipe:
stamps - loving critters
paper - white, cherry go round bubble gum
ink - white, black, red
copics - c1, c3, c5, c7, r46, rv06, b00, b21, 0, y38
accessories - circle punch, Vagabond, cardboard, edge punch, cuttlebug, folder, pop dots, sticker embellie

Head over to the Clearly iStamp page to get all the details on how to enter this challenge and the great prize you can win!!



Tomorrow!!!! Yes!!! Tomorrow starts our Product Parade ..... for our January releases. I know you don't want to miss all of the great things we have to show you. The design team has worked hard on some inspiration for you on all of the new sets.


Have a beautiful Friday and a great, big, beautiful tomorrow!!!


~*Shell*~

CPS challenge ... Are you up for it??

Clear Dollar Stamps is sponsoring this week's Card Positioning System's challenge and some members of our design team have created some wonderful inspiration for you.


Here's mine ....


This card features one of the October 2011 releases - Mark 16:15. A bit of distressing was used to enhance the background.


Card Recipe :
stamps - Mark 16:15
paper - deep see, gray, dp
ink - white, brown
accessories - lace, nesties, cuttlebug, pearls, folder, pop dots


Come back on Friday for some CIC inspiration ... and on Saturday for the January Product Parade!! I can just see the excitement on your face!! Can you see it on mine???? :) :) :)




Have a blessed Wednesday and a great, big, beautiful tomorrow.


~*Shell*~