Inspiration Tuesday

Happy Tuesday and welcome to another fun Tuesday at Claudia and Company! Thanks for popping in today! Since the challenges at C&Co. have gone to bi-weekly, the design team has cooked up something special for you on the alternate Tuesdays. It's called Inspiration Tuesday. On this day the DT will share cards or projects using some of the sampler packs available at Claudia and Company. There are so many fabulous patterned paper samplers at C&Co; it's one of my favorite things they carry...and at such a great price too!

So for our cards today, we've all gotten to play with the yummy Jillibean Soup Chilled Strawberry sampler pack! For my card I've also used a few of the Puddle Jumper Stamps--Emma, Lucas and Hannah, (designed by the Fabulous LORi Boyd); all can be found in the Claudia and Co. Store.

Be sure and check out what the rest of the ladies have to share for Inspiration today! Thanks again for stopping by!
Piali
Jodi
Joy
Tanya
Taylor
Claudia

Copics new 2011 Colors 12 piece set
The Girls Paperie Jubilee, Kitch, and Vintage Whimsy
Fancy Pants Its The Little Things
Pink Paislee Butterfly Garden, Soiree, and Hometown Summer
7 Gypsies Camden 6x6 paper packs
Melissa Frances 5th Avenue and Attic Treasures

Friend Blend

Hello, Friends! Happy Monday!

And it is a very happy Monday, indeed! I have this friend...a very sweet and dear friend...and it's her BIRTHDAY today!! So, on this very special day, I'd like to dedicate a very special post to one of the most KIND, CARING, COMPASSIONATE, CREATIVE and all around WONDERFUL women that I know... this card and these wishes are for you, KELLY!

Dear Kelly, On this day, we celebrate you...an amazing Woman of God, Incredible Wife, Mother, and Daughter and lifelong SISTAH! You take each moment and truly live it for others...such a bright shining example of Christ's LOVE and how He longs for us to live the lives He's given us. I consider myself truly BLESSED to know you and be counted among your many, many friends. You inspire me each and every day and I'm so so thankful that God brought you into my life. This card was made just for you and it's on it's way to you right now. Remember how I wished I could mail you a latte? :) I figured out how!! heehee

Love you, Love you (a latte), Dear Friend!! HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

A Little Project

Hi Friends!
Happy Friday!
I'm soooooo happy it's Friday. On Tuesday morning I hit my alarm and thought to myself, "why is my alarm going off on Saturday?" Boy, was I in for a rude awakening...Saturday was 5 days away! Alas. At least the week went by quickly though, because now Saturday is less than 1 day away! Yipee!!

I don't have a card for you today, but I thought I'd pop in and share a little item from a project that I've been working on for a while now...a new craft room! We've been planning and plotting for years now (I say 'we', as in my DH and I, but really, it's just been me planning and DH nodding :) and finally the ideas and happenings are becoming palpable! So I'll wait until the room is complete to show snippets of that, but I'll start with this nifty item that is now in use.

My sister gave me this super fun Umbra frame for my bday, that looks like polaroid pics. While I'm sure that I could have found a few photos to put in it, my mind instantly raced to how I could utilize this in my craft space. A while back I bought some of that cool cork board from Stampin' Up and was just waiting for the perfect opportunity to use it. So, when I saw this frame, I instantly thought of that corkboard and how I could use it to make these frames little bulletin boards! Then I remembered I'd also been saving some Maya Road days of the week chipboard and, voila, a concept was formulated!

The first thing I did was to cut the cork and hot glue it inside the frames. Then I got out my Copic Airbrush system and airbrushed the chipboard. After that, I sprayed them with Smooch Spritz, for a little bit of sparkle. Then I used glue dots to affix the words to the frame (just in case I decide to do something different later--the white part can also be used as a dry erase surface!). Originally, I thought I might use the calendar for little "to do" notes, but then I came up with another idea. Normally, I have a few images that I plan to work with each week, or sometimes I have images colored up that I hope to eventually plan on working with...so I decided to use this little frame as a calendar or "to do list" for my immies!



Anyway, just something fun I thought I'd share. I always LOVE looking at how people organize stuff and decorate their craft rooms, so I thought I'd take a gander at sharing something from mine.

Have a great weekend!

Hey Dude

Hiya! Happy Thursday!
I'm back with another fun By LORi Designs card for you today!

This is Puddle Jumper Cole and he is brand new in the store for the month of March. And I think he is TOTALLY COOL, DUDE!! I love his rockin' hair and skater style. If I was back in the 6th grade, this would totally be the kid I had a crush on in my class (actually, that boy's name was Seth. heehee).

In addition to using Puddle Jumper Cole (colored with Copics) for my card, I've also used My Mind's Eye Good Day Sunshine-Boy paper, Martha Stewart Icicle punch, SU tag punch, hemp twine, JoAnn Essentials eyelet, and SU paper distress tool. And those are the deets!
I hope you have a wonderful day! Oh, and a new challenge will be up today over at the BLD Challenge Blog, so be sure to check that out and I hope to see you there!

My Friends

Hi There! Happy Wednesday!
I'm popping in with a quick a card today. This is one I made for the monthly swap group I'm in. February's theme was "something you love" and it was hosted by Barb, who's just a complete sweetheart!

It was such a great theme, so when I sat down to create, I was conflicted because there are so many things (and people) that I love:
Jesus, my DH, my family and friends, my pups, stamping, reading, writing, music, movies, chai tea lattes, sweaters, down comforters, pajamas, the rain, traveling, etc etc. But then I looked over on my table and saw this stamp about 'Friends'...and I knew this is where my card was going to go for this month's theme.
God has truly blessed me in the friendships I have (and have had) and I can't tell you how many times, I've been up, down or all around and one or all of them have rallied to encourage me and lift my spirits. To have one friend that loves and cares for you in the way this little quote speaks of...is truly a gift. And I'm so thankful to be blessed with many wonderfully loving and caring friendships in my life.
So raise your cup of chai tea latte (or beverage of choice) and here here to FRIENDS! :)
Thanks for stopping by today. Big Hugs to you and I hope you're having a great week!

Deets: Flower is Airbrushed with Copics (was plain white originally). My first attempt at this! The paper is AC textured CS (3 diff colors pieced together) and it's been put through the Cuttlebug with the paisley emboss folder and then hand stitched around the edges. I've also used a Nestie for the sentiment and SU! Bermuda Bay Ribbon.

It's Springtime!

Or so they say... (*wink*)

Hello, Friends and welcome to another Tuesday Challenge with Claudia and Company. And since this week marks the first week of Spring, we've got a super fun "Spring" color challenge!

The colors are: Yellow (sort of a butter tone), Rose, Light Green and Lavender. And all you have to do for the challenge is to use at least 3 of them!

In fact, the DT is showcasing the perfect papers for this color combo (love how that happens ;)--Echo Park Paper Springtime!

You can find all items used on my card HERE in the Claudia and Company Store.
Be sure and check out what the rest of the DT have to share for Springtime Inspiration today! Thanks again for stopping by!
Piali
Jodi
Joy
Tanya
Taylor
Claudia

Spellbinders
Bella Blvd.
Echo Park Paper's Playground

Go Green

Hello and Happy St. Patrick's Day!!
I hope you've all got your green on...otherwise beware of the pinchers!!

Today I have a fun card for you that celebrates all things green! And it comes care of this week's Color Challenge #9 over at By LORi Designs!

The Challenge is to use 3 shades of green + white and begins today, ending Wednesday, March 23. For my card I've used SU! colors: Certainly Celery, Wild Wasabi and Garden Green. And it just so happens that I had some patterned paper in my stash in those very colors as well!
And it wouldn't be a BLD party without a cutie pie Puddle Jumper! This is lovely Miss Tabitha. I decided to have a little fun with her (btw, under no circumstances, do these adorable stamps need any altering, they are all perfect just the way there were designed) by giving her shorter pig tails for this card. It was cold in Seattle today too, so I gave her some little sleeves on her shirt as well.
So, Green + Tabitha + a few fun embellishments = a fun St. Paddy's Day card and a new BLD Challenge for the week! Yay!

Thanks so much for stopping by to take a look at my card and I hope that you'll join in on the fun over at By LORi Designs this week! Be sure and check out all of the incredible Green Inspired cards that the challenge team created for today!

Embellishments: Prima Flower, SU! Go Green stamp, SU! Pinch Proof stamp, SU! Wild Wasabi Ribbon, Misc Jewel

Inspiration Tuesday

Happy Tuesday and welcome to another fun Tuesday at Claudia and Company! Thanks for popping in today! Since the challenges at C&Co. have gone to bi-weekly, the design team has cooked up something special for you on the alternate Tuesdays. It's called Inspiration Tuesday. On this day the DT will share cards or projects using some of the sampler packs available at Claudia and Company. There are so many fabulous patterned paper samplers at C&Co; it's one of my favorite things they carry...and at such a great price too!

So for our cards today, we've all used one of the two Lily Bee sampler packs. My card is made from the Lily Bee "Lovely" papers and features a chipboard flower from that line as well. I've also used the Lollipop Butterfly digi (designed by the Fabulous LORi Boyd) and Up/Down Sentiments; both can be found in the Claudia and Co. Store.

Be sure and check out what the rest of the ladies have to share for Inspiration today! Thanks again for stopping by!
Piali
Jodi
Joy
Tanya
Taylor
Claudia

Basic Grey's Hello Luscious and Life of the Party

Studio Calico's State Fair and Wood Veneer Shapes

Lily Bee Design's This & That, Happily Lost, & Picket Fence Tiny Tablets

The Greeting Farm's Creepin Creeper Crew Set is back in stock

You're My Kind of Cool

Hello There!
I hope this post finds your Monday off to a nice start.
Thanks so much to those of you who sent me a message and/or sent up some prayers for my sweet pup, Charlie. He was able to have his surgery on Thursday and we brought him home Friday. We've discovered that it's a very long process of recovery though and it's extremely hard to keep a dog from moving about...especially when he thinks he's all okay now! And Charlie, it seems, is a sly one...he keeps taking off his cone! baaaad! Anyway, that's the update on Charlie. Thanks again for thinking of us over the weekend.

The card I have for you today features another of those awesome Creeper Crew kids (or two) from The Greeting Farm. This is Creeper Noah. But as I was looking at the rest of the "gang" I thought, hey, I bet Noah would love to try on Creeper Harlow's beanie and goggles! So, I gave it a whirl. :) Noah is a hip, slightly androgynous, earth-loving kind of guy; so I decided to pair him with this new Salt Air paper from Cosmo Cricket. I also chose to go with one of my all time fave layouts that I originally cased from a card my dear friend, Sandra sent to me.

The Creeper Crew set is back in stock at Claudia and Company right now or available April 1st at TGF. Woohoo!! To check out more of my Creeper Crew creations, click here.

I'll see you back here tomorrow for "Inspiration Tuesday" with Claudia and Company!!

Recipe for a Whole Lot of Cuteness!

Happy Tuesday and welcome to another fun-filled challenge over at Claudia and Company!
Your challenge, should you chose to accept it (heehee, couldn't resist), is to create a card using this RECIPE:
2 or more Patterned Papers+Buttons+Ribbon+Stitching+Scallops+Sentiment+Circles

Phew! You got all that? :) Well, I'm hear to tell you, that's it's easier than it sounds. In fact, once I sat down to pour these ingredients into my card, I end up with TWO cards! But just in case you needed a little more to get your mojo going...there's a totally fab prize for the winner of this challenge (see the Claudia and Company Blog for details).

For my first card I've used Creeper Leslie from the new Greeting Farm Creeper Crew set. Oh my goodness, the Creepers have always been my favorites at TGF, but this set is beyond CUTE!! I love Leslie's curly pigtails and well worn ball cap. For this card I grabbed the Jillibean Soup Dutch Mustard Papers and paired those with some May Arts Wrinkle Ribbon, Basic Grey Kioshi Buttons and So Random Sentiment.

For my second card, I went ahead and used the same layout, but this time changed it up by using the Echo Park Paper Little Girl Sampler Pack. Oh and of course, I colored up another adorable Creeper!! This is sassy Sasha. I just get such a kick out of her boots and those gorgeous eyes! For this card, I've also used some May Arts Mesh Ribbon, Basic Grey Kioshi Buttons and So Random Sentiment. I also gave Sasha some little barrets, using Stickles. Oh these stamps are so much fun!

You can find all the cool products I've used in the Claudia and Company store. You may have to wait a little bit to get your hands on these Creepers though. I've heard there's a waiting list. But in the mean time you can pop over and check out the "new additions" featured below. AND don't forget to check out this week's challenge and all the FANTASTIC inspiration provided by
Piali, Jodi, Joy, Tanya and Taylor!!

Crate Papers Emma's Shoppe, Toy Box, Portrait, and Neighborhood

Cosmo Cricket Upcycle, Social Club, and Salt Air

Jenni Bowlin

The Greeting Farm's March Release

S.E.I.'s Corinne, Couture, Sunny Day, and I'm An Athlete

My Minds Eye Lush and 6x6 paper pads

Bo Bunny Ad Lib, Gabrielle, Blast Off, Timepiece, and Vicki B

BLD March Release

Helloooooooooooooooooo!
It's finally Friday!! Yipee!
I have been bursting at the seams in excitement...eager to share one of the new Puddle Jumpers with you!!!
This is Lyla Puddle Jumper and she's brand new in today's release at By LORi Designs! Eeek, I'm in love...she's so adorable and so classy! And just wait until you see the rest of the stamps being released today--you're sure to fall in love too!!
For my card I've used DCWV "Green Stack" Papers, Making Memories Brads, Offray Ribbon, Basic Grey Button, Papertreyink Sentiment and Copics.

Your next stop is the talented Mercy Kerin

And just in case you'd like the full list, here are all of the AMAZING artists, I have the pleasure of joining. Be sure and leave a comment for all of these lovely ladies, because a $10 BLD gift certificate is up for grabs!!
By LORi Designs Blog
Joni
Jen
sherryann
Andrea
Jennifer
Jacquie
Jayne
Arielle
Angela
Kadie
Mercy
Hannah
Linda
Lori
Silvia
Tracy
Jane
Sheri

Love You Friend

Hello, Friends!
I'm back with another fun color challenge from By LORi Designs! As I mentioned yesterday, I've been working my way through them and I'm almost caught up. :) This is color challenge #6 (White, Pacific Point, Old Olive and Pretty in Pink) and while this one came to a close yesterday, you can check out challenge #7 later on today on the BLD Challenge Blog! Have I mentioned how much I love color challenges? :)

For my card today, I've used Sugarsticks-Love You Friend. I just can't get enough of these BLD images (designed by the Fabulous LORi Boyd); I think they're all SO SO SWEET!
Originally, I thought maybe I'd design a wall for these kiddos to stand in front of and then have a graffiti-like sentiment...but in the end I decided to keep it a little more simple. I find that it's really hard for me to just "go simple," so I hope that it's an okay card. :)

Thanks for stopping by to take a look AND be sure to come back TOMORROW to see the NEW STAMPS being released for By LORi Designs!! Yipee!!

Oh, Nellie!

Good Morning, Good Afternoon (and if I don't see you, Good Evening)!
It's Wednesday!! Yay!
I have another fun card for you today from By LORi Designs. I'm a little slow on the draw for this one though, because it features the colors from challenge #5 and come tomorrow, challenge #7 will be showcased.
But you know, I'm like the turtle...slow and steady. heehee
If you'd like to play along with the BLD Color Challenges, check them out HERE!

Soooooooooo, for my card I've used cutie pie Nellie and she's from the Spoonful line at BLD. I've matched her up with the colors Certainly Celery, Pink Pirouette, Soft Suede and Rich Razzleberry and added embellishments from Prima (flower), Kaiser Craft (ribbon), Martha Stewart (tag punch) and The Greeting Farm (sentiment). I keep trying to find fun ways to use the colors from each challenge...I think I may need to dip into my patterned paper stash for challenge #6 though! :) Thanks so much for stopping by today AND AND AND...

be sure and stop by on FRIDAY to see the new stamps being released at By LORi Designs!! Yipee! I can't wait!!

March has Arrived

Hello, Friends!
Welcome to the Release Day Party for Claudia and Company!
If you're just joining us, you'll want to pop over to the C&Co. Blog and start the hop there. One lucky winner will win the ENTIRE DIGI RELEASE!! You'll have until 11:59PM EST on March 3rd to comment and the winner will be announced on Friday.

My first card for you today showcases one of the 4 images created by artist John Grutta and it's called Spring Flowers. I think this image is so lovely and I already have several ideas in my head for how to use it! For today's card though, I chose to keep the stamp completely as is and pair it with this Cosmo Cricket Circa 1934 paper and Jillibean Soup Ribbon that made me think of sunflowers.

My second card showcases Easter Teddy Bear, also designed by John Grutta. Although, heehee...I turned Mr. Easter Teddy into Mr. Birthday Teddy for today! :)
Isn't he cute! When I saw those balloons, I instantly thought this Teddy would make a very sweet birthday card for a wee little one. The layout on this card was also inspired by the Mojo Monday 176 sketch a couple weeks ago. I've used Basic Grey Hopscotch for papers and embellishments; cutting out the flowers from one of the pages and using the coordinating buttons as well. The "happy" is made from K & Co. dimensional stickers.

And those are the cards I have for you today! If you'd love to get your hands on these stamps to play with too, be sure and complete the hop---you could be the lucky winner of ALL 5 of today's stamps! You're next stop on today's HOP is

TAYLOR

Have a great day, Everyone!