Gingham and Polka Dots: February 2011

Monday, February 28th

Are you ready for the next's month worth of challenges???

{Eva} is this month's hostess and you are going to LOVE her challenge picks. Not to get TOO ahead of schedule here but her inspiration photo is AMAZING...I love it.

BUT today is about the sketch challenge and I'm really digging on it too. I have a hard time with ovals but once I found the stamps I wanted to use it was easy peasy.

I've been showing some of the older {ippity} sets love and it feels good.

I used the {ippity} stamps sets:

{A Moment in Time}

{House a Home}

and

{Cherish Your Dreams}

I've had red and purple on my mind a lot lately. Have you seen the newest issue of Country Living magazine. This is the room on the cover.

I've never really liked the color purple but my daugther LOVES it and we are gonna be starting her room here soon. I'm gonna paint the walls a pale lavender and then accent in red...I LOVE a pop of red...and all the yummy white.
I think this room may have been on my mind while making today's card :)

Now head over to {Stephanie's blog} to see her {ippity} project.

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

Friday, February 25th

I made this card for a previous magazine call and it wasn't picked up. I don't normally get attached to the idea that it will be choosen because there are always SO MANY submissions it's hard to guess what will be picked. HOWEVER...I LOVE this...and yep...I was bummed. I know the idea isn't completely original but I love the soft postmark stamps from (Rubbernecker) on the red stripes and the blue square. I don't personally have anyone in the military right now but I thought this would be a perfect card to send someone.

The sentiment is computer generated and cut with my Papertrey Ink banner die. All the postmark stamps can be found {HERE} on the Rubbernecker site. Make sure you check out all the stamps on this page...they are some of my faves. I'm digging on vintage images right now :)

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

Thursday, February 24th

Have you noticed the Guest Designer blinkie on the side of my blog for a few weeks now...it was a little teaser ;)

I'm happy that the day is finally here!

I'm today's GUEST DESIGNER for this week's {Play Date Cafe Challenge}...check out these seriously cool colors!

You can draw inspiration from the photo if you like but remember this is a color challenge...make sure you follow as close as you can to the colors choosen. Get creative...this is a fun, happy combo.

I'm also this week's sponsor...these are the the two {ippity} stamp sets you could win for playing along.

{Farm Fresh}

and

{Gurnsey Gingham}

So do you want to see my card using this week's colors??

Of course I had to use {Farm Fresh} since I'm giving one away. The chicken seemed perfect for these colors. The image and sentiment are acutually one stamp...I just inked them seperate and stamped on the designer paper.
Make sure you come join along in the FUN this week and check out what all the other girls did with the colors...there is some major talent over there :)

Thanks to ALL the {PDCC} girls for letting me join in this week!

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

Tuesday, February 22nd

I'm back with another {Rubbernecker} card using this super cool {Postage Heart} stamp. I can't get enough of it. The images are all so cool and you can use it in so many ways.

For this card I took my Stampin Up markers and just randomly inked the stamp. I started with the lightest color so that I wouldn't ruin them when they mixed with the darker colors. There was no rhyme or reason with the inking and I was unsure what the results would be...turns out pretty darn cool though. You coud vary the colors and get some really cool effects. Once I stamped it I tore it out and inked the edges in Antique Linen Distress Ink...I LOVE this stuff. The flower is from Prima and the rest is pretty basic. Not sure what I'm going to do with this one...maybe just add a sentiment to the middle later :)

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

Monday, February 21st

Last week to play along with ANY of this month's H{ippity} Hop Twist Challenges.

Use the sketch....use the colors...and the Final Twist...JUST PLAY!!!

The GRAND PRIZE is seriously AMAZING :)

Today I used the Final Twist to USE RIBBON.

I used the {ippity} stamp sets:
{Life's Little Moments}

and

{Love in Return}

and this this week's {Mojo Monday} sketch.

Now head on over to {Stephanie's blog} :)

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

Friday, February 18th

Getting more uninked rubber dirty around this joint lately :)

Today's card uses the {Unity} KOTM's

{Take Time to Laugh}

and

{To the Moon and Back}

I stamped the flower background multiple time in red...tore around the edges and inked them. The bird was stamped...lots of times...I forgot how many layers there are there but it's quite a few. I left this one sentimentless for that just in case moment.

Make sure you head over to the {Unity blog} and check out the rest of the {Friends with Flair} participants.

THEN stop by the {ippity} blog for today's {Fresh Idea Friday} post...by me :)
AND

on Monday...join in with ANOTHER twist to the NEW {ippity} challenge and win THIS:

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

Thursday, February 17th

I was feeling scrappy....needed a male birthday card....and this is what I got :)

I'm really digging on it! The scene in the back is from Graphic 45 paper...I just cut it out and made it my focal image...that I covered up ;) The {postmark stamps} are from {Rubbernecker} and I'm slightly addicted to the right now.
I stamped them in multiple ink colors and inked the edges. I like how well these stamps layer!

The sentiment is computer generated because I'm limited on my Rubbernecker sentiments...until my next order comes ;)

Gotta LOVE new rubber!!
Make sure you stop by the {Rubbernecker} site to check out the FUN stamps!

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

Wednesday, February 16th

Have you ordered your {Paper Smooches} stamps yet?!? I placed my order on the first day and they were in my hands within two...talk about FABULOUS customer service.

I got them inky right away but then submitted them to a {Paper Crafts} call so I couldn't post them until now. Obviously this card wasn't picked up but I'm excited I get to share it here....it totally makes me happy!!

I used the stamp set {Birthday Buddies} for this card. And check out that sentiment! I LOVE {Kim Hughes} stamps...always have. So glad she is back and sharing her art with us. I was on a

NO NEW STAMP COMPANIES ban

because...well you have to draw the limit somewhere...I do have a house payment to make after all :)

BUT these stamps were an exception...I mean it's freakin Kim Hughes!!!

Since I have OLD stamps from her (CHF) I'm going to justify that it isn't technically NEW to me...see how I made that work ;)

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

Tuesday, February 15th

I'm back today with a {Paper Makeup Stamps} card....and sadly...it's my last one as a design team member :(

I stepped down from the design team because...well...things have just gotten CRAZY busy. Between my school work, the kids, teaching classes locally and trying to keep up with everything else...I had to make room.
I'm SO HONORED to have had to chance to work with {Katie} and all the other Makeup Artists.

THANK YOU KATIE...from the bottom of my heart!! Love ya :)

This definately isn't the last {PMS} card from me....I LOVE those cute monsters too much!!

But back to this card...I used the stamps {Swirlie Buds} and the sentiment {If I Had a Flower}.

I stamped the swirls with green and blue ink and I love the layered look. I ended up covering them up more than I intended to get the sentiment on but they are too cute!
Thanks again Katie for letting me be apart of your team... :)

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

Monday, February 14th

Check out this week's H{ippity} Hop inspiration photo from {Angie Blom} who choose all this month's challenges.

WOW...right?!?
I couldn't get hearts out of my head...I had a really good idea in mind but then I came across some patterned paper from Websters Pages that totally made me think of these hearts. So I went with it. See that black swirl paper in the back...LOVE it!

I used the flowers from the {ippity} set:

{Cherish Your Dreams}

and the sentiment from:

{How You Doin?}
The sketch is this week's {Mojo Monday}...and it's one of mine :)

It was inspired by {THIS CARD}

Now head on over to {Stephanie's} blog for her card this week.

And make sure you stop by the {ippity} blog to play along with this weeks challenge. And I can't wait to see what everyone does with this weeks {Mojo Monday} sketch.

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

Sunday, February 13th

Today's card is a special {ippity} dt hop card to celebrate our very own...{Lisa Henke}.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LISA!!!

Lisa's birthday was actually last Tuesday but we are celebrating her today. We each picked one of our FAVORITE Lisa cards to be featured on the {ippity} blog...you'll definately want to stop by and check them out. This chick ROCKS!!

I used the {ippity} stamp sets:

{Life's Little Moment's}
and

{Here and Now}

Now your off to {Stephanie's} blog to check out her birthday card :)

Then come back tomorrow for another H{ippity} Hop!!

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

Friday, February 11th

Friday!!! FINALLY Friday!!

I'm ready for a break...we've all been sick off and on this week. Nothing serious...congestion, headaches, fevers, sore throats. A few days of jammies and sleeping in might be just what we need.

Today's {Friends with Flair} project was actually homework.

My daughter Macy is taking the CSAP tests next week and the school sent home name plates that they wanted parents to decorate to encourage their children.

Cute idea huh?!?!

This is the easiest homework I've ever had.

I used the Unity stamp set:

{School Rock Star}

I left her a sweet encouraging note inside and I hope this helps her do her best!!

Have you joined us yet for the NEW {ippity} Final Twist Challenge???

Check out February's GRAND PRIZE....seriously COME PLAY!

And check out February's Kit of the Month...I'm super excited for mine to get here.

LOTS of great stamps in this kit....and only $26!!

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

Tuesday, February 8th

I finally broke into my new Sassafras paper. I'm embarrassed to admit I ordered it a month or so ago...put it away...and completely forgot about it. This organized thing doesn't ALWAYS have a benefit you know ;)

The colors of the paper inspired how I colored {Tesa} from {Rubbernecker Stamps}. They aren't an exact match but I went with the closest color Copics I had.

The flowers in the bottom corner were actually a cover for an inky mistake ;) I tried overblending with my copics and the ink bled. I was so ticked because it took forever to color her. Quick fix...cover it up :) I LOVE that about the whole creative process. Sometimes you have to just roll with it and you never know how it will end up. I rarely use flowers on my cards so it was a happy accident.

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

Monday, February 7th - Post 2

{Post 2 of 2 today...please scroll down to see my Paper Makeup Stamps hop post}

Another FUN week of NEW H{ippity} Hop challenges...
this week a color challenge

I got some serious craft time over the weekend...probably too much!! I know that doesn't sound possible but it is. I have such a terrible kink in my neck from sitting at my desk so long but it was well worth it. I got a bunch of cards done to submit for publication and am weeks ahead on blog posts.

My mojo was flowing big time and the layouts came easily. This was a fun one...

...and quick and easy.

My scrap pile got some serious work this weekend too and I'm happy to say that I used a TONS of scraps. However...my scrap stash is still overflowing ;)
The {ippity} stamps I used on this card are:
{A Bit of Burlap}
{Cherish Your Dreams}

and
{Fall For You}

LOTS of {ippity} love on this one :)

Now it's {Stephanie's} turn to WOW you...click on the button below to head to her blog. From there you will go back to the {ippity} blog for more inspiration.

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

Monday, February 7th - Post 1

{Post 1 of 2 today...I will be back in a bit with my H{ippity} Hop card}

Welcome to a SUPER special {Paper Makeup Stamps} blog hop. {PMS} is turning 2 years old! And to celebrate the occasion, they are having a super fun VIP blog hop with the theme "the things we love". The entire design team invited special crafters to play along in this hop. To see everyone involved, please go back to the {Paper Makeup Stamps company blog} for a master list as well as to enter your self to win a super fabulous prize!

(I have also included the list at the bottom of this post)

For today's hop we each got to make a card using something we love. Since I happen to LOVE the stamp set {Raindrops and Rainbows} I knew I just had to use it. The sentiment and the cute little clouds are all included in this set.

I used this weeks {Mojo Monday} sketch.

Next up is MY super special guest...my friend {Jenny} :)

Here is the full list just in case you need it.

Happy hopping!

Katie Cotton
Elaine Hughes
Tangii Crain
Kristin Beuter
Lauren Meader
Christi Thorsen
Lisa Kind
Cheryl Rowley
Randee Elsing
Tiffany Heilman
Shaela Odd
Peggy Toole
Tina Hale
Cindy Haffner
Andrea Vernagus
Nicole Anderson
Anita Hovey
Cabio Tse
Christi Snow
Amber Hight
Dawn Barrett
Jenn Cochran
Ginger Schwerin
Carma Shawger
Jami Bova
Cheryl Valadez
Lisa McKinney
Carisa Zglobicki
Maria Gurnsey
Jenny Erichsen
Michelle Van Patten
Nancy Bush
Stephanie Zito
Angie Blom

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

Friday, February 4th

My Unity KOTM's have been screaming at me...GET US INKY!!!! They have been neglected for too long and I'm happy to say I had a chance to make more than just one card with the new kits. BUT...I only have one for you today. I'm submitting a few for publications so if they aren't picked up I'll be back with them for more {Friends with Flair} fun.

I need some masculine birthday cards and made a few variations of this same card because I didn't have the desire to work one more than one. Masculine cards are mojo suckers for me so when I find one I like I just repeat it. Cheating...maybe...but at least I don't have to make any for awhile.

The stars and sentiment are from January's Kit of the Month {to the moon and back}.

I stamped the stars in a light yellow, green, blue and brown and then stitched around the edges and zigzag stitched twice through the stars. I tried to get a close up shot but with the weather being cold and dreary around here lately my pictures haven't been turning out very well.