Coffee Lovers Blog Hop

Hi there. You probably came to my blog from the Coffee Lovers Blog Hop that starts at Chaitali Narta's blog. If not, then I highly recommend you go there and participate in the hop. There are tons of prizes from multiple companies. Some of the goodies will be given away during flash giveaways throughout the day. Check here for details!

 By now, you probably know that we're having a blog hop celebrating coffee because today is International Coffee Day! When I told my husband about it, I said "We'll have to celebrate by drinking a cup of coffee. Ha! We drink coffee every morning, and my husband drinks it throughout the day.

Here is the card I made to celebrate the occasion. I created this little number with my husband in mind. That man loves his coffee. I like it, too, but my limit is two cups. After two, I have to stop, but dear hubby keeps on going. He also wears glasses, so this is a perfect representation. (Well, maybe not perfect. He is human and he is not purple.)

This post wouldn't be complete without a picture of my cup of joe. Here it is. My brand of choice is Crimson Cup. It's locally roasted here in Columbus, but it's available in several states and online. My husband and I consider ourselves coffee connoisseurs so when I say Crimson Cup is the best, I mean it. Our flavor of choice is called Dark Reign. It's a dark roast with a bold flavor. Mmmmm!!

Now go on and enjoy the rest of the hop and don't forget about the prizes!

Ooh La La!!

Hello friends! I am playing in another challenge called the Cure for the Monday Blues. It's hosted by my friend Taheerah Atchia, who is totally talented.

I made this fun shaker card based on the inspiration photo.  I loved the photo Taheerah chose. As you can see, I pulled several elements from it. The fan flowers, the gold triangles and the sentiment are the most obvious. However, I was also inspired by clear round back of the chair. That's where I got the idea to do a shaker card with a clear, round window.

Here is the inspiration photo. Isn't it just gorgeous. There were so many elements to use!

I'll be back tomorrow for the Coffee Lovers Blog Hop.

Exotic Thinking of You

I'm at it again with the challenges. I'm going for a two-fer this time. I'm entering this card into the current CASe This Sketch Challenge 94, as well as the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge featuring Hero Arts stamps.

Following the sketch below, I heat embossed the floral image from the Hero Arts Exotic Decor set in gold onto water color paper. I water colored the image and added some bling to the flowers for a little extra oomph. The sentiment is from the Thinking of You Kite set.

I flipped the sketch because I felt like the flowers were a little too top heavy turned the other way. I feel like they're more weighted down this way.

That's it and have a great day. I'll be back in a couple days for the Coffee Lovers Blog Hop on September 29. Come back for the hop. There are tons of prizes to be won!

Halloween Cards

Hiya! I'm up on the Eyelet Outlet blog today with a couple fun Halloween-themed cards.Want to know more about what brads I used to make them? Visit the blog here.

Did you know Eyelet Outlet has a monthly sketch challenge? Use the following sketch with Eyelet Outlet products and you could win some goodies. Click here to enter.

Here is a card I made following the sketch.

Paper Sweeties September Release Rewind!

Now that we've showed you the new releases, we're going to show you how they work with existing sets. In the card below, I used the new Fun Shapes Sweet Cuts to create the big, sparkly stars. Then, I stamped the cluster of stars from the Be Happy set in a lighter ink so I could stamp the sentiment over it. Hip Hip Hooray is from the ConGRADulations set.

I think they complement each other very well!

Come see how the rest of the design team paired the new releases with existing sets.

Amber Kroening
Annette Allen

Annette Witherspoon

Debbie Marcinkiewicz – Paper Sweeties

Kerin Sylvester

Kristi Schurr
Larissa Heskett

Lesley Croghan

Maria Patrick

Michelle Bala
Mynnette Kitchen

Nancy Penir

Paper Sweeties September Release Party!

Release day has finally arrived at Paper Sweeties. All the adorable images we've been using to tease you are now available for purchase!

Remember the adorable tutu Sophi was wearing a couple days ago? Here it is again, except I've used it as a banner in this card. Both the tutu image and the sentiment are in the brand new set You Are Tutu Sweet available here.

Want to see some more projects using the new releases? Please visit the rest of the design team's blogs.

Amber Kroening

Annette Allen

Annette Witherspoon

Debbie Marcinkiewicz – Paper Sweeties

Kerin Sylvester

Kristi Schurr
Larissa Heskett

Lesley Croghan

Maria Patrick

Michelle Bala
Mynnette Kitchen

Nancy Penir

Creative Blog Hop

I was honored to be nominated by my blog friend, Susie Moore, to be part of the Creative Blog Hop that's been going on in blogland. It's a fun way to get to know other bloggers around the world by answering four simple questions.

1. What are you working on now?
   Currently I serve on two design teams. In fact, one of them, Paper Sweeties, is having a new release right now. I've been working on projects to showcase the new stamps and dies, which coincidentally, are available today. You can see my project here.
   
   I also serve on the Eyelet Outlet design team with Susie. A couple times a month, I create projects with their adorable brads, bling, enamel dots, ribbon and washi tape.
   
   Here is a project I made recently that uses both products.
   
   
2. How does my work differ from others in my genre? This is a hard question for me. I guess before I can answer how my work is different, I have to figure out what my genre is! I make cards and occasionally other paper projects. I like bold colors. I like trends. I like bling. I like stamps. I like ink and I like patterned paper. I like clean and simple designs, but I'm not afraid to explore other styles. If I had to pick something that made me a little different, I guess that would be it. I don't commit to one style. Although I lean toward CAS, if I'm inspired to create a project with layers and embellishments, then I will. I think what's most important is to create original, clever designs and execute them as best as you can regardless of the style.
   
3. Why do I create what I do? Twenty years ago, if someone said "You're going to be creating cards, taking pictures of them and posting them on your own blog," I would probably laugh in their face. Although I've always had an appreciation for art and creativity, I can't draw my way out of a paper bag! That's why I love stamps!!
   
   I first became interested in card making when my fiance (now husband) and I hit the craft stores looking for supplies for our wedding. I loved looking at all the fun pretty things! Then we got a handmade wedding card made with some of those pretty things. But I didn't really start making cards until after I became a full-time, stay-at-home mom. I needed something that gave me pleasure and a sense of accomplishment. (Not that motherhood doesn't do that, but I wanted something that could give me immediate satisfaction!) Cardmaking is something that I do just for me. I give everything else to my family, whom I love dearly, but I make cards for me and I think it makes me a better mom in the long run.
   
4. How does my creative process work? I don't have a specific process. Sometimes I look at a stamp set and try to think of different ways to use it. Sometimes, I see something and think "Hey, that would be great on a card." Sometimes I participate in challenges in which the sketch, inspiration or color palette are predetermined.

I now have the privilege of introducing you to next week's featured blogger. Her name is Kathy Gillon, but she also goes by the Crafting Chemist. We "met" a few years ago when we were on a design team together. She has since become one of my best blog buddies. Here's her bio:

I'm a mom to 3 wonderful kids. I'm a chemist by profession, but a crafter at heart. Both my mom and grandma were  crafty and have passed in their love to me.  I love to create and share my passions, and hope to inspire others to be crafty as well.  Here's my blog: http://kathyand3kids.blogspot.com