Playdate Cafe Challenge 146

What's black and white with a splash of green? Why it's the latest challenge going on at the Playdate Cafe. This is the first time I've entered this challenge. I have no idea why I never entered it, especially because a couple of my blog buds are on the design team!!

Well, I'm entering it now with this lovely card. The quatrefoil background on the bottom and the sentiment are from Pink by Design. The dragonfly is from a package of embellishments I bought a while ago at Tuesday Morning. I just happened to be there when they had a huge supply of crafty goodness available. Score! Although I love white space, I felt I needed to add just a little bit more visual interest to break up all the white and to draw the eye from the sentiment to the dragonfly.

Here is the inspiration photo:

 

School is in Session

Today marks another milestone event at the Spoon household. My son starts 2nd grade. I have mixed emotions. On one hand, I'm glad to have a little extra peace and quiet. On the other hand, my little boy is growing up! Love that kid!

On Saturday, we bought all his school supplies. Wow! I don't remember having such long lists with very specific items. Things have changed. I'm sure many of you have been busy buying school supplies for your young scholar, too. Why not use a few of them on a project?

While you're at it, why not link it up to Pink by Design's current challenge? We are extending last week's Ink it Pink challenge to use school supplies on a project.

Without further adieu, I would like to introduce to you Bobby and Suzy paperclip!! LOL! I usually spend a lot of time thinking about my project before I break out the ink and paper. I knew I wanted to use the supplies in an innovative way. Then it occurred to me that pretty much anything looks cute and fun if you put googly eyes on it!! Ha ha!!


I made Bobby and Suzy Paperclip by first gluing on the eyes using Glossy Accents. I love that stuff. Then, I added the eyeglasses brad from the Eyelet Outlet onto Bobby's face. I gave him a blue bow tie and Suzy dons a cute pink bow in her hair. The sentient is from the School is Cool set and the apple is from Kaiser Crafts. The notebook paper is taped to the card base with ruler washi tape from Love my Tapes. This card is already signed and stuffed in an envelope inside my son's book bag.

Guesting at Skipping Stones and Winners!

I am so honored to be guesting at Skipping Stones Design this month. Today, we are featuring the Healing Wings set. It is so gorgeous. It's perfect for an inspirational pick me up or a sympathy card. I chose to go the inspirational route today, but I will use this again for a sympathy card. As much as I dislike making and especially giving sympathy cards, I always like to have one or two handy. I find it's easier to make one ahead of time when you're not grieving. Blech. Enough of this depressing talk, let's get on to something fun, shall we?

Here is my card based on the sketch below, created by Amy Scheffer. Doesn't the paper by Jillibean Soup complement the butterfly image perfectly? It's almost as if they're made to go together!! The chevron patterned label is from the Silhouette store.

And now, the moment many of you have been anticipating. The big winners from Saturday's blogiversary hop. First, I want to apologize for posting the winners a day late. I actually chose them on Monday evening, but after making my card for today's post, it got so late that I just decided to announce it on Tuesday. And the winners are ...

 

jordanbev5

 

Sheri R

Congratulations Ladies! Please email me at awitherspoon (at) rrohio (dot) com. Thanks to everyone for hopping. I wish I could afford to give you all prizes.

The Party Starts Here!!

Hello everyone!! I am so excited to be hosting my first ever blog hop!! Two years ago, I ventured into a new world, the world of blogging. Wow! It has been so much fun.

Blogging has helped me hone my card-making skills. After all, if you make your work available for the whole world to see, you have to make it look your absolute best.

Blogging has given me a new voice. Before I was a mom, I was a writer. That's right. I wrote newsletter articles, marketing materials, web content, press releases, annual reports, ads .... I wrote a lot during my career as a public relations professional. I chose to give it up because I didn't want to miss those first steps, first words and all the other firsts in my kids' lives. This blog has given me a voice to share my passion ... and I still get to experience all those wonderful firsts.

Blogging has introduced me to many new friends from all over the world. I love the fact that I can share my passion with people in Australia, Europe, Canada ... In fact, this group of talented ladies in today's lineup hail from all over the place. We all share a common love of paper crafting and blogging. I love the camaraderie and community we have.

Here is the card I made for today's hop. I think it's the perfect way to celebrate. I'm toasting to all of you for being so supportive. I love reading your encouraging comments. I love the inspiration all of you give me. Let's raise a glass to all you fabby readers out there! It's time to get this party started!!

 Not one, but TWO lucky readers will win prizes! All you have to do is:
1 Visit all the blogs in the hop;
2. Leave comments on all their posts;
3. Come back here and leave me a comment.
You do not have to follow my blog, but I would love it if you did. :-) In fact, I would love to get to 200 followers for my second anniversary!!

One prize will include a cute complete scrapbook kit by Crayola and two of the stamp sets below. The other prize will include a Colorbok 12x12 fabrick scrapbook, an eight pack of decorative edge scissors by EK Success and one stamp set. I will pick a winner from the comments using random.org. The winner will be posted on Monday. Thanks to my sponsors - Stampendous, Pink by Design and A. Jillian Vance Design for donating these stamps sets:

Your next stop is Karen Baker. Oh yeah, you probably noticed the new look on my blog. I thought I'd give it a "makeover" as an anniversary present. Karen is the aesthitician (a.k.a graphic designer) who created the new look. Isn't it wonderful!?! I love it. She does fantastic work. Hop on over to her blog and see the fantastic project she created for the hop. While you're there, check out her Custom Blog Design page. I highly recommend her.

Here is the entire lineup:

Annette Witherspoon
http://www.aspoonfullofsugarcrafts.blogspot.com/

Karen Baker
http://thebalddragonfly.blogspot.com/

Bunny Vance
http://www.bunnyrunswithscissors.com/

Jennifer Ingle
http://justjingle.blogspot.com/

Melisa Alzammar
http://melisascraftycreations.blogspot.com/

Annette Allen
http://myclevercreations.blogspot.com/

Melinda Gleissner
http://mynoteworthycards.blogspot.com/

Shelly Kingham
http://myscrapandstamphouse.blogspot.com/

Sarah Hamer
http://www.pinkcricut.com/blog/

Jocelyn Olson
http://redballooncards.blogspot.com/

Annette Witherspoon
http://www.aspoonfullofsugarcrafts.blogspot.com/

Wanna see my bras?

Did that get your attention? I hope so! If you thought this was going to be an X-rated post, well sorry, but it's still a lot of fun despite the G rating.

This month I have the pleasure of guest designing for Skipping Stones Design. Today, they are debuting their newest release, Bras Vol. 3, with a blog hop. What a fun set. While I could use a couple new bras to give my girls a lift, these cute stamp images definitely lifted my spirits. The set comes with two bra images and several fun sentiments.

Here is the card I made based on the sketch below. Some of you may recognize the sketch. Skipping Stones is doing a sketch rewind this month. Today's rewind sketch is from Teri Anderson. Instead of circles, I used the bras. I thought it would be fun to make it look like they were placed precariously along a fence, as if they were hanging out to dry. The outside reads "Bras are like great friends." The inside reads "They help when you've fallen and can't get up."

These bra images are perfect for paper piecing on pretty patterned paper. You'll notice another set in there, too. The "weeds" in front of the fence are from the Dandelion Dreams set.

I hope you're enjoying  the hop so far. Next stop is Joann. Here is the full lineup:

Katie G

Wendy P.

Annette <----- That's me!

JoAnn

Karen

Tenia

Cyndi

Stephanie

And if you're not too tired to hop later this week, I am celebrating two years of blogging with a hop on Saturday. I have a fun lineup for you and I will be giving away not one, but two prizes!!

So much to blog ...

... in so little time!!

Hello everyone. First, I want to apologize to my blog for neglecting it. I'm sorry, blog. My two children have been demanding and since they can yell and scream and you can't, they get all the attention. Don't worry, lil' bloggie. The kids will be in school and we'll have more time together in the near future.

Okay, now onto the fun stuff. First of all, I am super honored to be a guest designer for Skipping Stones Designs this month. Check out this post with a card I made for their sketch challenge.

Secondly, I have a post up at Pink by Design for the Ink it Pink challenge. If you haven't participated yet, you really should. You don't have to use Pink by Design stamps (we like seeing them, but we understand). Each week, one winner receives a $10 gift card to the store. Usually when I make cards for challenges and DT assignment, I put them in my stash to be used when I need it or I give them to friends and family who need a card. This card is different. I will be giving it to a good friend who, after two seizures and a possible stroke, learned she had a mass in her brain. In fact, she will be undergoing surgery tomorrow (Thursday) at 10 a.m. ET. Please, please pray for her. She has a husband and three small boys. She's a wonderful person.

 And now, some lighter and more fun news. My blog is turning two on August 18. I'm celebrating with a blog hop that includes some exciting giveaways. I have a great lineup selected. You won't want to miss it! The hop is Saturday, August 18. It starts here at at 8 a.m. ET. I also have a fun surprise in store for you!!