Are you being challenged?

I hope you are because we've been challenging you all day!! How you maybe asking? With our Etsy Design team blog hop challenge. Although I'm just the guest designer this month (and this is my last weekend) Ashley sweetly asked me to join in the festivities. I'm #4 for today so you may want to go back and check what the other challenges are and what the others are going to be because there are going to be prizes all day from all kinds of companies. I'll be giving away something from Rubber Romance. But before we get to what I'm giving away how about I tell you what my challenge is.

Think I can see clearly now. I'm challenging you to use acetate or something like it even transparencies. Clear buttons, or even the clear embellieshments they have now. To give you an idea here's what I made for the challenge.
Sorry for the quality of the picture, I had the worst time getting a good picture of it.

Here's what Ashley, my fearless leader made....
Shannon's sample...

If you play along, please upload to Papercraft Planet afterwards and use the tag EICSara. Then come chat with us afterwards to come find out about all of the other fun stuff going on and the prizes. Speaking of prizes I'm sure you're wondering about the prize I was talking about by now.

VSN Rundown

I didn't get to do as much as I had hope this VSN but I did get to do quite a bit. This is what I did get to do...

1 - Janet aka jknorp challenged us to "Sketch a Little Love". She wanted us to use a sketch and use one big circle and one big heart.

Stamps: Eat Cake Graphics - Main Squeeze, Family Nuts (not sure who makes this); Ink: Palette Noir, Versafine Black; Paper: Basic Grey Bittersweet, PTI Sweet Blush, GA Pacific White; Other: Shaker Box, Beads, clear eP, Copics, Nesties, SU ribbon, fake baubles
What was cool about this was I got to cheat on my heart because not only did I get to use up some on my OLD supplies but it was a premade heart....gotta love that.

2 - Christi Snow aka snowchris was "For the Love of Chocolate". She wanted us to chose our favorite chocolate (white, milk or dark) then from there we had to use the color combo for that chocolate. I chose milk chocolate because for me it was the closest to being my favorite.

Stamps: All CHF - Silhouette Blooms I, Bloom With Abandon, Pretty Pattern Backgrounder; Ink: SU Chocolate Chip, Real Red; Paper: Almost Amethyst, Archiver's Red & Brown, MM's Tweed; Other: SU Elegant Eggplant, Rose Red markers, Michael's ribbon, baubles, Tim Holtz Distresser

3- Paula Laird aka mrslaird challenged us to "New Love". This was to use things that we only purchased in the last two months, do you have any idea how hard it is to remember this?

Stamps: My Cute Stamps - Night Owl; Ink: SU Chocolate Chip, Palette Charcoal; Paper: Archiver's Brown, GA Pacific White; Other: Copics, Shimmerz, Glitter Pen, MS Butterfly Punch
BTW, this is not one of the favorite cards I made.

4- Katherine aka beadfreak22 made us work in one color or monochromatically. I didn't think this would be hard, but apparently this was for me.

Stamps: Rubber Romance - Tuscan Hillside; Ink: SU Bordering Blue; Paper: Archiver's Beige, Deja Views Butcher Block; Other: Misc Ribbon, Horizontal Slot Punch

5- Then Kathy aka kkrab5 challenged us to "Two Hearts Beat As One". Where we did a split negative. I really like doing these but never remember to do them.

Stamps: All by Unity Stamp Co - Dream Tree, Love Birdies; Ink: SU Cranberry Crisp, Rose Red; Paper: Basic Grey Bittersweet, PTI Sweet Blush; Other: Michael's Ribbon

6- Christy S then had us do "As You Wish" where we were to be inspired by the movie The Princess Bride. I made mine based on the scene where they are sailing through the eel infested waters and Inigo keeps telling Vezzini that they are being followed and he keeps saying Inconceivable!!

Stamps: The Greeting Farm - Best Mates; Ink: Palette Noir, Versafine Black, SU Not Quite Navy; Paper: GA Pacific White, Archiver's Blue, Bazzill Blue, Misc DP; Other: Copics, American Crafts Ribbon, Nesties, Corner Rounder Punch, clear eP

7- Sarah aka superglew used the song "These Are a Few of My Favorite Things" from the Sound of Music to inspire us to make our next project.

Stamps: ATS Wintertime Fun, Unity Stamp Co - Little Reminders Dec KOM; Ink: Palette Charcoal, Versafine Black; Paper: Walmart Paper Pack, GA Pacific White, Bazzill Blue; Other: Brad, Copics, Offray ribbon, DMC thread, Liquid Applique, AI Glitter

8- Denise aka Resqbarbie next had us making "A Wee Bit O' Love". This involved making inchies. Now I have to admite that I have never made inchies before and I'm not sure that ever will again. They're just not my bag baby! Although I did get to break out my new Whiff of Joy stamps.

Stamps: WOJ Spring Kit, Unity Stamp Co - Beauty Flow Through; Ink: Palette Charcoal, Versamark; Paper: GA Pacific White, SEI, Misc DP & Black; Other: MM Ribbon, white eP, Copics

9- "Love Starts With L" was Robyn O challenge which is where everything we used on our card in someway had to start with the letter L. Talk about thinking outside of the box in one way or the other.

Stamps: Rubber Romance - Lulu; Paper: Lollipop line by Basic Grey; Copics: Lipstick Red, Lettuce Green; Other: Burgandy Lace, Lavendar Lace, Label 1 Nesties

10- Then my girlie Taylor aka stagccva wanted us to make a Joy Fold Card. Can't say I've one of these before either. However, this was cool and I plan on making one again.

Stamps: Out on a Limb - PTI; Ink: SU Chocolate Chip, Cranberry Crisp, Palette Noir; Paper: All SEI Oasis; Other: AI Glitter, Anchor, brad

11- Then my girly girl Kim aka nutsymuhl did an "Ode to Jimmi" where we could not use any red, pink, white or hearts to make a love card.

Stamps: SU I swear I don't remember what set this is from; Ink: SU Chocolate Chip, Not Quite Navy; Paper: Archiver's Kraft, Basic Grey - Euphoria; Other: Foof a la Buttons, Twine, Fastenators, Circle Punch, Primas, Misc Jewel

12- Then my other favorite girl Lee aka LuvLee wanted all "Tickle Your Fancy"ed up by using feathers on our cards...even if we're allergic.

Stamps: Unity Stamp Co - Hey Chick; Ink: Charcoal Palette, Versafine Black; Paper: Archiver's Beige & Yellow, K&Co Neopolitian, GA Pacific White; Other: Copics, Feathers, Nesties, Pearls, Bazzill Threaded Guide
I have no feathers in my house, or least not that I really know about (especially since I'm allergic to them). So this one was a real challenge for me. I do have a few down pillows or coats where I guess I could have pulled the feathers (I'm not going to tell you where I got these)

I would have done more but I had to get ready to drive to Pensacola for my Copic class. I hope to be able to write up about that tomorrow. I have so much to tell you about that. EEEKKK!!!

Exhausted

But the good kind...I have had one crazy kind of weekend and a great beginning of the week. If all weeks were like this, things would be wonderful. With VSN weekend and then Copic Certification today I am totally and completely exhausted. I came, I played, I met, I learned...it was a blast!!! I'm not going to be able to give you a full recap right now because I'm too exhausted but to give you a sneak peek, here you go.

What are YOU doing?

I'm playing this weekend. And if you don't know what you can always look back here to see what but I'll give you a recap.
It's VSN weekend so please come join in the fun. I've already made quite a few cards but I'll upload those up later.

Also, it's the Etsy Inspired Challenge. This week's store is Angel Food. And let me give you the same warning Ashley gave us before we went to go check it out, don't go if you're hungry. It all looks so GOOD!!Here's what I used what I used for my inspiration and I did it to fit into the VSN challenge that Sketch for a Little Love. Doesn't it look yummy!!

So here's what I made...

Stamps: Eat Cake Graphics - Main Squeeze, Family Nuts (not sure who makes this); Ink: Palette Noir, Versafine Black; Paper: Basic Grey Bittersweet, PTI Sweet Blush, GA Pacific White; Other: Shaker Box, Beads, clear eP, Copics, Nesties, SU ribbon, fake baubles

To see everyone's more inspired works please go check out the rest of the design team:
Heather Schlatter
Jackie Bowman
Joy Stagg
Kerry Angeles
Shannon Bracken
Tiffany Johnson
Ashley Newell

Now just a reminder since we're talking about Etsy stuff. Next weekend from 9am until 6pm Pacific time we will be having the Etsy Inspired Blog Hop and Chat day!!! What is that you ask??? Well the Etsy Group has their own group on Paper Craft Planet and we will be chatting the day away and each hour there will be another challenge released!!! 10 great stamp related companies have donated prizes for each hourly challenge so you do not want to miss out on the fun and great prizes. Companies like Lime Light and Unity, and The Greeting Farm, and Paper Make-Up, and many more too!!

Each hour you can go to the DT member's blog who is hosting that hours challenge and play along to win the prize for that challenge. All the DT girls have really come up with some great challenges of every kind!!! It will be tons of fun so I hope you all play along!!!
You can start out on Ashley's Blog Heart Hugs Designs, or the Paper Craft Planet Etsy group for the Events schedule for the blog hop and Challenge Day. So on February 28th we hope to see you play along with our Team!!!!

Another Post

Those of you that are have been seeing digital stamps and are not sure if you want to invest in them or not. Well here's your chance to try them out. Pink Petticoat which is a British company that I've been following for a very long time has a freebie you can download on their blog. So go check it out if you want to see what the "new rage" is.

ETA: No, I didn't make this card. This is the one on the site, just wanted you to be able to see what the digi stamp looked like.

February Packed...

I have so much going on this month it's not even funny and a lot of it is going on this weekend. It all starts off with...
If haven't done one of these before you SOOO have to join us, they are so much fun!! Then I'm leaving Sunday for Pensacola for my Copic Certification class. I'm so excited. It's going to be at Flourishes so I'm hoping to meet some interesting people.

Then February 28th there's going to be an Etsy Inspired Challenge Blog Hop where each Design Team member including me the Guest Designer hosts a challenge that is being sponsored by all kinds of really cool stores. In between challenges we're all going to be going over to Papercraft Planet to chat about the challenges and what else, life!!

And just in case you're not getting enough of everything, lookie what I got in the mail the other day. I've been doing the Stampin' Up Surveys and I got home from work the other day and found a box on my doorstep. I was giddy!! This is what I found.
Ok, one last thing and I promise this is it. Angela and Unity Stamp Co. are going for a World Record Inspirational Blog to take place on March 28th. Originally it was to get 200 hoppers, now we're going for 1000. SOOOO if you're interested, feel free to join us.

Etsy Inspired (squared)

Do you hear this whizzing sound? Whooshing? That's the sound of my mojo waning out. I'm fighting to keep it but it's fighting to leave. For example this week Ashley gave us another wonderful store for a challenge for the Etsy Inspiration, Jenny Bunny. I had been inspired by all the circles she used in her jewelry. What I had in my head definitely didn't come out on paper.

Stamps: Autumn Leaves - Poppies; Ink: SU Whisper White craft; Paper: Autumn Leaves Poppies, SU Certainly Celery, Misc Red, SU Basic Black; Other: Nesties, clear eP

To see everyone's more inspired works please go check out the rest of the design team:
Heather Schlatter
Jackie Bowman
Joy Stagg
Kerry Angeles
Shannon Bracken
Tiffany Johnson

Now onto the squared part of the challenge. For today's challenge for Rubber Romance I had the girls use these images (click to enlarge) from my sister's store, Artistryinfocus.etsy.com, on etsy for inspiration. I think my sister is very talented. So I thought this would be a super easy challenge especially after the last few that I had that weren't so easy. If you do decide to play with us please upload it to Papercraft Planet and use the tag RRC04. Out of one of the people that decide to play with us this week I will send a surprise little goodie package. Now without any further adieu here is my card.

Stamps: Rubber Romance ; Ink: Palette Charcoal; Paper: Beige Misc, Crate Paper, Bazill Blue, Elegant Eggplant (?); Other: Marvy Circle Punch, Nestie, Threading Water, Copics, Baubles, Shimmerz

It's Friday...

I never thought I would be so happy it was Friday. I know I've been a little MIA but I have a very good reason. I just started a part time job this week. See the thing is I'm going to be going to Munich, Germany and Paris, France in July. The job is helping me pay for my trip and save up money. What it also does is suck away my free time. What free time? I say, the little that I had.

Anyhoo, this Friday's Fun Challenge was made by one of the sweetest people I know, Kim. She's going through a really though time right now so if you could keep her in your thoughts that would be really great. Her father in law has cancer and they don't think he's going to make it much longer.

Her challenge this week was to make a set of 3x3 cards. You could make a holder for them or not, that was up to you. I choose not simply because my time is so limited anyway and I have plans for these cards to go in different directions. These were so easy to make it wasn't even funny. I ended up making 10 and I don't think it took me 30 minutes. How awesome is that?

Stamps: Unity Stamp Co - Love Grows, The sentiments were taken from many different kits; Ink: PTI Sweet Blush, Versafine Black; Paper: Basic Grey - Sugared, PTI Sweet Blush; Other: Copic (outline the bracket & heart), stickles, clear eP

Now, don't forget for more inspiration go check out my other girlies to see what they made. And Kim is also offering up some prizes for those who play along with us this week. So make sure that if you do play to post your project at Splitcoast Stampers with the keyword FFC22.

Kathi
Kim
Jimmi
Sherry

WoW

I have, well for me a huge announcement, and I am super excited and honored and it's been hard for me not to say anything. Ashley asked me to be a Guest Designer for the EtsyInspired Design Team. This is my very first design team (well other than the one I created) so I'm uber excited. She finds the most wonderful stores to inspire us every week that she posts on Saturday. Here's my very first submission on the Design Team.

This week's challenge was to be inspired by Scrap n Scribe.
She makes some adorable hairbows. I was inspired by the prevalent polka dots and the big flowers she uses. This is what I made.

Stamps: My Favorite Things - An Owl for All Seasons; Paper: SU Certainly Celery, DP ?, GA Pacific White; Ink: Palette Charcoal; Other: Primas, clear eP, American Crafts ribbon, Copics, Horizontal Slot Punch

Are We Having Fun Yet?

I am, are you? If not maybe you should be joining us in our weekly challenge then. This week's Friday Fun Challenge was my turn. I decided we should do a one layer. These aren't easy for me. Since this week is Challenge 21 and you want to play with us, oh come on you know you want to, you can upload it to Splitcoast Stampers with the keyword FFC21.

Stamps: Unity Stamp Co - Simply Said, {love, etc} Jan KOM; Ink: SU Perfect Plum, Pale Plum, Almost Amethyst, Lavender Lace, Versafine Black; Paper: SU Pale Plum; Other: Clear eP

You can check out the other Friday Fun Gals stuff at:
Kathi
Kim
Jimmi
Sherry

Finally Catching Up

I've been so behind this week. I've been in a funk and I think it has a lot to do with the fact that I've been having so many problems with my back recently and I'm afraid that I'm going to have to resort to surgery and I'm dreading it. I'm too young for these kind of problems. Or at least that's what I keep telling myself. Because of that I haven't been in the mood to do that much, including crafting.

Here's my late Unity's Addict Challenge. This week Carole challenged us to use a non-valentine (not a problem for me since I don't have any) stamp and use it to make a love card. Then use buttons and ribbon.

Stamps: Unity Stamp Co - Mix Up of Cuteness; Ink: Versafine Black, SU Creamy Caramel; Paper: We R Memory Keepers - Urban Window Collection On the Dot Avacado, GA Pacific White; Other: MM Ribbon, Mike's Dots & Dashes, Copics, Foof a La Buttons, Clear eP

Then there's something I'm wanting to send someone I know so I wanted to make a card special for her. This is what I came up with...

Stamps: Hambo - Checklist; Ink: Versafine; Paper: MM Boho Chic, SU Tempting Turqouise; Other: Nesties, Misc Ribbon, Target $1 Jewels, clear eP

Rubber Romance Monday

I know it's Tuesday but I didn't get a chance to put this up yesterday. I've been a slight slacker and a slight busy, so take your choice on why it wasn't but up ;P. The challenge for yesterday was to use yellows and grays. I admit that I am the one that came up with this challenge. Now when I come up with challenges I don't come up with challenges that are easy for me, they're challenging for me as well. I had a hard time digging up things I wanted to use on my card, but in the process I was able to use things I've had for a while so I was super happy about that.

Stamps: Rubber Romance - Tuscan Hillside, ? Diva, MFT Going Places; Paper: Barely Banana, Apricot Appeal, Basic Grey Black Tie Collection Die Cuts, Misc Oval Cut; Ink: Paris Lights, Charcoal Palette Ink; Other: Copics, Pearls, Spicas, Gelly Roll Pens