Gingham and Polka Dots: January 2011

Monday, January 31st - Post 2

***Post 2 of 2 today...please scroll down for my Mojo Monday card***

Are you ready for the second NEW {ippity} challenge. Our AMAZING guest designer {Angie} choose the next 4 weeks worth of challenges and we are showing you the {sketch challenge} today.

Just like last month...we will introduce a new challenge each week. You can try one...combine them or play along as many times as you want.

Here is my card using the {ippity} stamp set:
{Party Hat Wishes}

I got this Fancy Pants paper line at my local scrapbooking store and LOVE it. The shabby soft feel is gorgeous and I've used up half of it already.

Now you need to head on over to {Stephanie's blog} to keep on hopping. If you didn't start at the {ippity} blog {CLICK HERE} so you don't miss any of the design teams blogs.
Then head back there to see all the H{ippity} Hoppers creations.

To purchase {ippity} stamps, please {CLICK HERE} to go to my sales blog!

Monday, January 31st - Post 1

***Post 1 of 2 today...my H{ippity} Hop card will be live shortly***

WOW...take a look at this {Mojo Monday} sketch. Thanks Mary for coming up with such a unique layout.
It didn't give me as much trouble as I thought it might originally.
I was worried how I was going to get the shape along the bottom but in the end I just lightly drew the design with a pencil, cut the line and then covered it with the scrunched ribbon.

The cute girl image is {Kate} from {Rubbernecker}. She was already colored and waiting for a card so the paper choices were quick and easy.
The sentiment is a rub-on from Pebbles Inc. I struggled a little with where to put it...if the color of paper below the ribbon would have been any color other than white I would have put it there.
Make sure you check out the {Mojo Monday blog} to see all the Mojo Makers cards and join in on this super fun sketch.

To purchase {ippity} stamps, please {CLICK HERE} to go to my sales blog!

Wednesday, January 26th

I'm not a big Valentine's card maker...I'm just not. We get the kids a little something but we don't do cards. My hubby won't even be home this year so we won't even be celebrating on the actual day. This year, however, I've already made a few using my {Paper Makeup} stamps.

The sentiment is from {Hugs and Kisses} my all time favorite {Paper Makeup Stamps} valentine set. I love the hearts...ahhh...they are so cute :) Plus...the price of this set right now is seriously a steal so check it out...you won't be disappointed :)

The cute little mailbox is from the NEW RELEASE set {Sending You Love}. The postmark stamp is this set really makes me happy...got to get that inky soon!

To purchase {ippity} stamps, please {CLICK HERE} to go to my sales blog!

Tuesday, January 25th

Something about this faceless girl named {Tara} from {Rubbernecker} kept calling my name. The last time I worked the booth I kept coming back over...picking up the image...putting it back... Obviously she ended up winning the battle and came home with me. I was unsure I would be able to pull off coloring her so I started out by stamping her on patterned paper to give the image some texture.

I used my Copics to color her but the colors looks so soft my color pencils would have probably given me the same effect.

The papers I used are from Making Memories and Webster's Pages.

To purchase {ippity} stamps, please {CLICK HERE} to go to my sales blog!

Monday, January 24th

It's FINAL TWIST week for the newest {ippity} challenge!

So what do you think??

Like it?

LOVE it?

Wonder what in the world we were thinking... :)

I happen to LOVE it...then again I may be a bit partial!

So come on...join in. Pick your fave challenge or combine them all and rock one FABULOUS card. We will draw a winner for the GRAND PRIZE pack of paper, ink, stamps...FUN STUFF!!

This weeks final twist is to use brads.

I used the color combo a little with just a tiny addition of some other colors...and of course brads.

and
this weeks {Mojo Monday} sketch was a FUN one

I used the {ippity} stamp set:

{Farm Fresh}

for that cute little pie

AND

{Moon Beam & Heart Strings}

for the sentiment {I only used half of it}

Getting the bow just right was a challenge...I have a hard time making my tails go different directions. I've got the hang of the bows I typically make but I need a little help with these ones. It just doesn't seem as puffy as usual...and I like puffy bows.
Make sure you swing by the {ippity} blog and join us for this weeks challenge...and visit the H{ippity} hoppers blogs. Then visit the {mojo blog}...this sketch rocks!!!

Now off to the talented {Stephanie's blog}!

To purchase {ippity} stamps, please {CLICK HERE} to go to my sales blog!

Friday, January 21st

I finally had the chance to get some of my {Unity stamps} inky again. I've been so busy with so many things lately and my craft time has been paying the price. I have so many uninked stamps right now...it's painful.

Time to get back on track and creating just because.

I've been on a bit of a home decorating (or redecorating) kick. So I dug into my canvas stash and old denim jeans and came up with this:

I'm SO happy with the way this turned out!!

I used the {Blossom Nestabilities} in my Cuttlebug to cut both the felt and the canvas. Once I stitched the edges of the canvas they now look like circles which would be cute too!! I randomly stitched each flower on and then stitched the buttons before I sewed together the pillow.

I used Stazon ink for the canvas...here is a list of the stamps I used.

{ippity} stamp:

{Thoughts From The Past}

Unity stamp set:
{Confession: I luv Unity}

Both the circle ring and the alphabet stamp are from this set

Unity stamp:

{Game of Chance Bingo}

I cut the leg of a pair of jeans up the side and then opened it up to cut a panel for the front. I like the look of the seam on the pillow front :)

I can't wait to try more nestie shapes....maybe canvas stars on denim for my son...oh the possibilities!!

Make sure you check out all the NEW release {Unity} has available right now. TONS of new Unity artist stamps, TONS of new co-brands....you won't want to miss out :)
And stop by the {Unity blog} to see all the rest of the FWF participants.

To purchase {ippity} stamps, please {CLICK HERE} to go to my sales blog!

Thursday, January 20th

I broke out an oldie but goodie {Paper Makeup} valentine stamps...these are my FAVES...I just love those hearts :)

{Hugs and Kisses} is a perfect stamp set for all those valentines.

This simple one layer card would be easy to mass produce. Well...there is a cardstock mat...but it's about as one layer as I get. I REALLY loving the twine bows lately...I have even started tying them onto things around the house. It's an addiction I tell you :)

To purchase {ippity} stamps, please {CLICK HERE} to go to my sales blog!

Tuesday, January 18th

I picked up a copy of {Paper Crafts} newest special issue Color Inspiration this weekend. I LOVE the color combinations featured in it. So FUN, so FRESH!

I really want to give most of these combos a try...

The PC girls issued their {first color challenge} yesterday and I thought this would be the perfect chance to get started on it.

I used the {Rubbernecker} stamp {Garden Border}.
I love the polka dot paper pieced planters...wish I had a few :)

There are TONS of cute flower stamps from {Rubbernecker} and I have my eye on...ummm...all of them. Can you ever really have TOO MANY flower stamps?!?

I don't think so :)

To purchase {ippity} stamps, please {CLICK HERE} to go to my sales blog!

Monday, January 17th

This is going to be my favorite week of the new H{ippity} Hop {twist challenge} for sure!!

I REALLY love inspiration challenges...and since I got to pick this weeks photo you KNOW it really spoke to me.

Check out that gingham and polka dots!!

I WISH I had this bedroom...I would wake up happy EVERYDAY!!

Here is my card inspired by this weeks picture:

This weeks {Mojo Monday sketch} was perfect for the polka dots.

Julee choose two NEW Mojo Makers and they are debuting with us today. They are CRAZY talented ladies so make sure you swing by the {mojo blog} to say welcome.

And then off to {Stephanie's blog} for more YUMMY {ippity}!

To purchase {ippity} stamps, please {CLICK HERE} to go to my sales blog!

Wednesday, January 12th

So I was cleaning yesterday...blah...but LONG overdue.

I don't know about you but cleaning makes me crabby....I LOVE to have a clean house...but the whole process of getting there....well SUCKS!

BUT I was starting to go crazy looking at all the clutter so it was time...I spent ALL day cleaning :(

During my few (or more) Facebook pit stops...I stopped by my friend Angie's new blog. She has this SWEET mixed media canvas project that I was dying to make. You can see it {HERE}. Anyway...I was CRAVING creativity...plus cleaning my house always makes me want to decorate. So...instead of buying something new I altered something old.

I've had these birdhouses since before I was married and have always loved them. The problem was the colors really didn't go with the living room anymore.

SO...I altered them

I've had a slight obsession with white in my house for awhile...especially shabby chippy white. I think they work so much better this way. The keys are from Tim Holtz {HERE}...and they have just been taking up space in my craft room.

I tied them on with some twine...which I'm addicted to right now...and ta-dah!!
NOW...the house is clean...ALMOST ;) and my need to be creative yesterday was accomplished. This took about 20 minutes because I brushed the paint on really thin and then just sanded the edges down.

I'll be back soon with another card :)

To purchase {ippity} stamps, please {CLICK HERE} to go to my sales blog!

Tuesday, January 11th

I'm back today with a {Paper Makeup Stamps} review card. I was looking forward to this image the most...they are so stinking cute!! And they were so FUN to color :)

{Billy and Bianca} are the two cutest love bunnies I've ever seen. The rest of the NEW release is just as cute so make sure you stop by the {Paper Makeup blog} to see what the other girls came up with...then head on over to the website and pick up a few. If you are in need of stamps for Valentine's you won't be disappointed :)

To purchase {ippity} stamps, please {CLICK HERE} to go to my sales blog!

Monday, January 10th

Okay...I REALLY need you to use your imagination here today :)

This is today's {Mojo Monday} sketch....

and this is my card...

see...if you flip the sketch on it's side...imagine that the scallops are a seperate layer and squint ever so slightly at the screen...it's EXACTLY the sketch.

Do you see it?!?!

Well...it's there...but this card sort of ran away with itself but it is based on the sketch...just a looser interpretation. I'll do better next week...PROMISE ;)

I used the {ippity} stamp sets:

{Sing a New Song}

AND
{How YOU Doin?}

It's ALSO a card for this weeks second part of the {Final Twist Challenge}

Last week we gave you the sketch...this week's challenge is a
COLOR CHALLENGE

I'm this month's hostess so I got to choose ALL the elements...but I'm warning you to ENJOY these colors while you can. I've been warned...I'm mean asked nicely...by my {ippity} design team members to lay off of this color combo :)

No one likes it but me...I hope you all play and blow this color combo out of the water so I have someone on my side ;)

Now head on over to {Stephanie's} blog for her card today...and then it's back to the {ippity} blog to check out all the H{ippity} Hop posts :)

To purchase {ippity} stamps, please {CLICK HERE} to go to my sales blog!

Sunday, January 9th

I have some really FUN news to share today :)

After working the {Rubbernecker} booth for a few summers when Dave traveled to Colorado he asked if I would like to join the design team....OF COURSE!!

AND

I'm even more excited that my friend {Jenny} is joining with me!!! Her and I became instant friends through stamping...we went to CHA together and she worked with me in the Rubbernecker booth. Of course Dave loved her too and I'm super pumped to be on a design team with her...make sure you stop by and give her a big CONGRATS too :)

NOW

How about my first official card made just special for the occasion....

I used the {Rustic Cheesecloth} background stamp...it's really faint but it's there :) It gives the card great texture.

Then I stamped that FABULOUS {Postage Heart}...I LOVE that stamp!! The butterfly stamp is called {Patty's Butterfly} and I already have some scrapbook layout ideas in mind :)

It was suppose to be for this weeks {Moxie Fab Trigger}...I mean check out this beauty.

BUT...mine turned out NOT so monochromatic. I told you I have a hard time with that. I had to add color...and I think this cold and congestion are screwing with my head because I reached for PURPLE again! I think that must be some kind of record here on my blog...purple is just NOT my color....but I think I like it for this card. I typically use red when I want a splash of color but that seemed to obvious...so purple it was :)

To purchase {ippity} stamps, please {CLICK HERE} to go to my sales blog!

Friday, January 7th

It's {Paper Makeup Stamps} release day....lots of CUTE images...fairies...critters and LOTS for Valentines day!! If you are here from {Andrea's} blog then you are in the right place....if you didn't start today's hop from the beginning {CLICK HERE} to start at the {Paper Makeup} blog. If you go through the whole hop...collecting all the letters...you will get a discount code. Plus...tons of inspiration from the makeup artists.

I have Fiora the Ferret to share with you today. I blew off my copics and reached for my colored pencils. Well not totally true...I reached for my copics first and accomplished nothing. I couldn't get them to work for me with this image so I decided to give the pencils a try.