Inky Impressions Challenge 52 "Flower Power"

Welcome to another Wednesday Challenge from Inky Impression. This week we want you to think about Spring and bring out your flowers. Think FLOWER POWER! I went ALL out with flowers and used them on my paper and as decoration.

Our sponsor is the amazing Robins Nest. . If you have a moment, you should go and check out their stock!

We would LOVE to see your card. Upload it to the Inky Impression site and use the keyword IIC52. This could be YOUR week to be selected as the winner of a free digi, the Robins Nest package or the blinkie for being a Top 3 pick.

Challenges submitted:
Party Time Tuesday: Anything Goes

Supplies:
Stamps: LiLi's Stuffed Rabbit
Accessories: flowers, pearls, ribbon, MS leaf punch, nestibilities

Creative Card Crew Challenge "Spring"

It's Tuesday and that means it's another Challenge from Creative Card Crew. Today we are sponsored by Stamp Fairy and the challenge is to think "Spring!" For me, when I think about Spring, I think of wind more than rain. That's because this is when the winds roar down the foothills bringing the warmer weather. And while I LOVE the warmer temperatures ... not so crazy about the wind! Today the wind was soooo strong that my shirt blew up over my head. Excellent, what a great look! Nothing says class like a dork with her shirt over her head!

But back to Creative Card Crew and Stamp Fairy, I wanted to encourage you to take a look at Stamp Fairy's site. They have some REALLY great images.

For my card, I used the sketch from Mojo Monday. I really liked it's simplicity of squares.

Don't forget to "spring" over to the Creative Card Crew site and check out my teamies creations. They are A - mazing!

Challenges:
Mojo Monday

Supplies:
Stamps: Stamp Fairy digital image, phrase: Hanna Stamps
Accessories: pop dots, sewing machine

It's Spring ...

And Easter is just around the corner.

Yikes.

Are you covered for your Easter presents? I wanted to show you what I'm cooking up for gifts. After the harsh winds of Winter, who doesn't need to revamp their skin? That's why I'm making sugar scrub to give my family this year.

One of my favorite Starbucks drinks is Chai tea. I love the smell and so I decided to make a Chai Sugar Scrub. The recipe is really easy. Mix together the following ingredients and spoon into your chosen container.

1 cup brown sugar
the contents of 4 spiced chai tea bags
(I used Celestial Seasonings, but that's just what I had on hand)
2/3 cup olive oil or sunflower oil
2 T. honey
1 T. cinnamon
1 t. ground cloves


This is all the ingredients, except the oil, ready to be combined. The original recipe calls for olive oil but I find that the smell of olive oil can overwhelm the spices. I use either sunflower oil or even just corn oil.







I use a pastry blending tool to mix them together. My brown sugar was a bit lumpy. Make certain that you get all those lumps out prior to adding the oil.




One recipe makes about 10 ounces of scrub. I got these containers from Hobby Lobby. Using my 40% coupon, I picked them up for about $6.

This year I'll be giving this scrub, a cute card and maybe even a Starbucks card so they can get their own favorite drink too.


So what are you waiting for? Get out there and start making your Easter presents!

Don't forget that Angelica's Bunny is on sale at the Inky Impression store.

Inky Impressions Challenge 50 "Sketch"

Happy Wednesday!

This week Inky Impressions has a sketch for you to try. Well, actually 2 sketches! The first one is the "Easy" version.

The second one is the pumped up, "I am a champion and can handle just about anything that comes my way" version.

Feeling spunky today, I chose the "champion" version. I used Nickie Running Late For School and capped it off with my yummy Authentique paper. LOVE that stuff!

Whichever sketch peaks your interest, we certainly hope you join us.

Our sponsors this week are, once again Robins Nest. They have all sorts of cool stamping accessories on their site AND KennyK Digital Downloads. If you have a moment, you should go and check out their stock!

We would LOVE to see your card. Upload it to the Inky Impression site and use the keyword IIC51. This could be YOUR week to be selected as the winner of a free digi, the Robins Nest package or the blinkie for being a Top 3 pick.

I also wanted to mention that there is a sale going on at Inky Impressions. Angelica's Bunny and Lili's Chicks are on SALE right now for $9.50! So hop like a bunny over and get some cute Easter stamps!

Challenges Entered
Cute Card Thursday: Anything Goes

Supplies:
Stamps: Inky Impressions: Nickie Running Late, Studio G phrase
Accessories: brads, copics, Nestibilities: triangles

Baby, I'm born to be wild!

Happy Thursday!

Thankfully this week is nearly over, just two days of school to get through (AND two more playdates - what dork scheduled THAT?!! Oh wait, that would be me) and then it's all downhill toward the weekend.

Unfortunately the weekend prolly won't be terribly restful since it's Caleb's 9th birthday party on Saturday. Yikes, I still have cupcakes and gift bags left to make!

But TODAY, I got time to play. I wanted to use Karen Giron's Sweet Sunday Sketch. It was cute and I needed more (you guessed it) birthday cards. I inked up Blanche from Art Impressions, who is, without a doubt, one of my FAVORITE summer images.

(Sigh) Off to bake the cupcakes.

Inky Impressions Challenge 50 "You Are My Pot of Gold"

Happy Wednesday.

Since it's the middle of the week, you know that it is time for another Inky Impression Challenge. This week we want you to use gold on your card. Although my card does not look all that glittery here but I can assure you that it's pretty sparkly in real life!

Our sponsor is once again Robins Nest. They have all sorts of cool stamping accessories on their site. I encourage you to check them out.

We would LOVE to see your card. Upload it to the Inky Impression site and use the keyword IIC50. This could be YOUR week to be selected as a Winner or even Top 3.

Supplies:
Stamps: Inky Impressions: Angelica's Lantern, Phrase: Stampin Up.
Accessories: Robins Nest Diamond Drops, gold ribbon, gold brads

Creative Card Crew "Vintage"

Yay! My first week as a Creative Card Crew teamie and this time we want to see your vintage looks. I gotta be honest and say that this is sooooo not my thing. I really had to THINK about what IS vintage. And what I thought of was the Victorian age: pearls, swirls, lace, crown molding and brocade. I came up with this ... kinda fussy, but isn't that what that era was all about?!!

Simon Says Stamp is the sponsor for this fortnight's challenge. That means your card has the chance to win YOU a $20 voucher!


So head on over to the Creative Card Crew blog and check out the rest of my teamie's creations. I encourage you to "get vintage" and play along!

More Elephants!

I got this yummy paper over the weekend and I was immediately compelled to USE IT! It's Authentique and it's double-sided and everything matches, says Joanna the compulsive paper hoarder. Ask me ... "Joanna, don't you have drawers FULL of paper?" Yes, drawers, folders and maybe even closets full! But I bought more! And while I'm in full admission mode, I need to admit that the stamp is new too. He's Jellybean from Whimsy.

I'm feeling better today so my mojo is back from its cold hiatus. This weekend when I had 2 cards to create for obligations it was ugly. They were ... well, less than exciting. Be kind when you see them later this week and remember that I was in a Mucinex/Tylenol induced coma.

Have a healthy week!

Supplies:
Stamps: Whimsy: Jellybean, Phrase: High Hopes
Accessories: copics, popdots, ribbon, Authentique paper, silver brads and sewing machine

Creative Card Crew

This week the Creative Card Crew's challenge is humor. I knew that I had to play along if only to finally ink up my new stamps from Art Impressions. These are Lucy and Trudy. How fun are they and frankly, who doesn't love a good donut!

I used the deconstructed sketch #41 this week. I didn't post it soon enough to be eligible for the prize this week (darn you dinner for needing to be made!), but it was a REALLY fun sketch to work with.

Thanks for stopping by!

Challenges:
Creative Card Crew: humor

Supplies:
Images: Art Impression, Phrase: Inky Antics

Inky Impressions Challenge 49 "Luck of the Irish"

It's Wednesday and that makes it time for another Inky Impression Challenge. This week it's the luck of the Irish and we want you to use green on your card. Pretty easy, right?

The wonderful Robins Nest is our sponsor for prizes. I used several of their rub-ons to make this card. The sentiment and the clock are both from their on-line store. Who knew rub-ons could be THAT cool looking.

I am perpetually in need of birthday cards (and sadly, usually they are BELATED cards) so I made this one to reflect that need!

We would LOVE for you to join in the inky fun on the Inky Impressions Challenge blog. Please use the keyword IIC49 when you upload so it ends up in the correct area! This could be YOUR week to be selected as a Winner or even Top 3.

Challenges:
The Pink Elephant: TPE 138 Layers
Papertake Weekly Challenge: Anything Goes

Supplies:
Stamps: Inky Impressions: Angelica's Daydream, inside phrase: Inky Antics
Accessories: Robins Nest Rub-ons, brad, nesties, copics.

Taking Time For Myself

I had some time today (well OK, I SHOULD be doing laundry or cleaning so let me rephrase) I TOOK some time today to stamp. I got inspiration from a whole lotta blurfing this morning and I wanted to play.

Mostly I wanted to use my new stamp set from Humphrey's Corner. How stinkin' cute are they? Having grown up with Babar, I HAD to have this set (frankly, I'm surprised I showed restraint and didn't buy the whole darn line!

Lacey from the Stamp and Create Challenge blog wanted to see some paper piecing. And by the way, this is where I got those cutie patootie stamps in case you wanted to grab some for yourself!

The Sweet Stop had a great sketch to use so I went with the flow! Thanks for stopping by!

Challenges: The Sweet Stop Sketch, SSS148
Stamp and Create Challenge Blog, Paper Piecing

Supplies:
Stamps: Humphrey's Corner, unknown phrase inside
Accessories: MS punch, copics, flowers, sewing machine.