JUST ONE at Charisma this week!

hey there, hi there, ho there, chickens.

it's time for another Charisma challenge, and this time *I* set the theme.  you know i LURRRRVE to make the challenge a challenge, right?  well this time, i want to see just ONE of everything.  one image.  one sentiment.  one embellie.  one color.  one patterned paper. 

BRING IT.

i brung it (heh) with this pretty little lady, courtesy of one of our awesome sponsors, Time For Tea Designs... 

she's colored up with my Spectrum Noir pens (getting a little more comfy with them and spent many hours yesterday tinkering around!)...

BUT.  in addition to my image being colored with my Speccies, i've also used them for the frame:

LOVE the way the ink clings to the foam, and what a great way to customize any embellishment!  :)  have i mentioned how much i'm diggin' my Speccies?  and i'm a sucker for Cosmo Cricket's Tiny Text, just so you know.  (swooooooon)

okay, so there you go.  not an easy challenge, i promise you!  heck, i had my card finished when i realized i had stuck WASHI TAPE down, and realized that made TWO embellishments, which simply would not do!  so have at 'er, and CLICK HERE to see what the other Charisma Galz have done to inspire you! 

not only can you win one of the gorgeous Time For Tea Designs digis, but there are 6 digis up for grabs from Digi Stamp Boutique, and 2 digis from Dr. Digi's House of Stamps!  LOADS of fun stuff to choose from!  :D

you've got until next WEDNESDAY to play along, so hop to it!  go rock your craft, and share your brilliance!  :)

annnnnnd we're LIVE! new Sheena stamps at Crafter's Companion!

have you SEEN them?!  oh, they are so nice to color, and you can make so many brilliant things with these new sets.  OH MY GOOMIE.  i know Sheena Douglass does good stuff, but i'm totally doing a little happy dance because *I* get to design with them for Crafter's Companion!  did you like my mushrooms, from The Enchanted Doorway set?  well today, one from the Honesty set (i can see myself using these bottles for LOTS of fun Halloween stuff!)...

what do you think?  birthday card?  girls' night out?  GUYS' night out?  someone with a tummy ache?  :)  lullz.  that might be a little inappropriate, yeah?  ;)  check the close-up:

 all colored up with my Spectrum Noirs:  TN2, FS3, IG6, DR1, DR5, DR7, IG1, IG2, TB1

you can CLICK HERE to see more creations from the team using the new "A Little Bit Magical" stamps - AND right now, you can get the stamps on sale!  any 2 sets for $30 - WOOT WOOT!

STUNNING new Sheena Douglass release tomorrow at Crafter's Companion!

okay, so there's a big, GORGEOUS new release of Sheena Douglass stamps tomorrow at Crafter's Companion, and i am THRILLED to share my project with you today!  the sets are cram-packed with stuff, and there are four different themes, each one with an array of stamps that will allow you to create a scene or mix and match.  i can't choose a favorite!  they're BEAUTIFUL!  and my first creation uses a stamp from The Enchanted Doorway...

are these mushrooms not fab?  i loved coloring them up with my Spectrum Noirs (and only used the following:  TN2, FS3, IG6, DR1, DR5, DR7, IG1, IG2, TB1) - threw down some washi, some chipboard confetti, and a little rubon i've had for some 5 years, a few bubble dots, and DONE.  and i LOVE how this one came out!  the stamp is fun to color, it's easy to make it the spotlight, and the card came together quickly for me (told you i've found some mojo!). 

whatcha think?  wanna see what the rest of the team are doing with these beautiful stamps from Sheena's A Little Bit Magical release?  CLICK HERE to check out the Crafter's Companion blog and you'll see a whole slew of mushrooms today, along with some other pretties that will be released TOMORROW.  and i'll be back tomorrow to share my second card from this release, so i hope you'll come back for a little visit!  :)

oh, and a close-up:

there you have it!  LOVE these new sets.  tomorrow, something i've had "bottled up" inside for the last week!  ;)  have a fabulous hump day, folks!

feeling Sentimental about the holidays!

hiya.  again!  yep, i'm getting back into my groove, folks, and it's feelin' GOOOOOOOD.  not only have i been busy playing with lots of new products and surrounding myself with loads of creative people, but i have been picking up things here and there for my new craft room (yeah, still in progress - lots to do!), and i can't wait to have it all in one designated space.  for now, i'm crafting at the kitchen table (formerly the dining room table), and i'm okay with that.  but it won't be long!

today, a quick project to share using Christmas Magic, one of the new and SO, SO versatile Sentimentals stamp sets from Crafter's Companion...  i didn't have a lot of time, but wanted to launch my holiday crafting as soon as the stamps arrived, so i put this little cutie together in NO TIME FLAT (not the greatest photo, taken late at night):

i stamped the sentiment multiple times to create a simple background, once more to highlight, stamped the tree, embellished with a few gems, a strip of paper, and a chipboard flourish, and that, as they say, was that.  easy peasy, right?  CLICK HERE to check out the new Sentimentals stamp sets, and if you grab them by TOMORROW, you'll get 25% off!  Our whole list of Birthday Week Specials can be found HERE, and there are free gifts to be gotten when you spend $50 or $100 (not to mention the FREE shipping and double loyalty points - holy WOWZA!).  GO SHOPPING! : )

Charisma's got ICE CREAM on the menu this week!

hey there, chickens!  hope the weekend's off to a great start for you!  just checking in today to let you know about the new challenge at Charisma - our sponsors are KICK-BUTT and the theme is super easy.  we ALL love ice cream, right?  :)  i have a place right around the corner that makes their own homemade ice cream, and it is HOPPIN' all season.  they use fresh fruits from our town (the blueberry capital of the world!) and they've made quite a name for themselves! 

so to inspire you, we've got ICE CREAM themed projects to share this week, and you could win £20 to spend at Meiflower (who have some seriously gorgeous ribbons, gems and pearls to embellish your crafty projects!), or $20 to spend at Freckled Fawn (and i KNOW you're familiar with their fab selection of washis and wood veneers!)...

here's what i created, with LIME SHERBET on the brain ('cuz it was on sale and i can't stop eating it!):

simple, but just what my coworker needed, and sometimes simple is good for me to clear out my brain from all the ideas swimming around!  :)  CLICK HERE to see what the rest of the lovely Charisma Galz have done to inspire you, and link up your projects by WEDNESDAY to get in on the action.  who wouldn't want to spend all that money on embellies?!  :) 

Bamboo loves Graciela!

i'm attending my niece's christening on Sunday, and the whole family is pretty smitten with this little miss.  Graciela will be 2 months old that day, and she's full of smiles and sweetness.  oh, and she LOVES her Tia (that's me)!  she's always quiet when i hold her, so her mommy and daddy can catch a break once in a while when i visit.  :)

anywho.  of COURSE i had to make a card using some of my new goodies from Crafter's Companion!  i went for super clean and simple here, with a little sliver of paper embossed with my Darice "Chevron Background" folder and Love From Bamboo from the Party Paws collection, colored up with my Speccies (IG1, IG2, IG4 and PP1):

 and Bamboo, up close and personal:

it's weird coloring soft and subtle, compared to my usual pencils approach, but for this occasion, it definitely made sense! 

have you checked out the huge array of embossing folders available at Crafter's Companion?  i'd put my folders away for a long time, but i'm showing them the love again.  the new ones in the Christmas Shop are FABULOUS and i'm actually DYING to make holiday cards!  :)  yeah, i don't usually get that bug until late October.  :)

Project Life at Paper Issues!

so.
new issue at Paper Issues and people are eating this ess up!  i haven't jumped on the bandwagon 'cuz i'm not a scrapper, as you know, but lemme tell ya, when i said i'd get in on Some Odd Girl's Project Life project, i kinda really TOTES dug it.

i can see myself getting addicted - if ever i get myself a proper photo printer, or order my Instagram prints from one of the many sites out there.  (Paper Issues was recently sponsored by Origrami, and they have TOTES cute packaging and awesome quality, from what i'm told!)

anywho.
Project Life.
i know LOTS of you do it.
so you wanna get in on the latest ISSUE at Paper Issues, because that's what it's all about.

here's my (unofficial) Project Life spread, Some Odd Girl style:

SO.  am i doing it right?  :)  they're probably more like little mini-pages than actual PL pages, since i don't leave room for journaling and whatnot.  but they DO represent me, and my life, and who i am and what i dig.  and i had FUN making them!

details:

 

 

as you can see, not much negative space.  bit of glare, too.  but how DO you photograph those things if they're tucked into plastic sleeves that give off a GLARE?!  

so yeah.  PL fans, CLICK HERE to see our new issue - Project Life is our sponsor! 

and you could win a CORE KIT or one of  6 sampler packs like this:

and now, i'm off to do the hokey pokey.  :)  actually i'm off to Cape May, where hubbin and i tied the knot nearly 8 years ago.  we're going to eat crazy hot dogs and stick our feet in the ocean.  later, chickens!  :)

Less than 5 HOURS to play at Paper Issues and win UM WOW GORGEOUSNESS

PLAY!
you haven't played yet?
you mean to tell me you've never made ANYTHING using chipboard?  what are you, nuts?
do you own any THICKERS?

come on, folks!  this is a FABULOUS hop, with some surrissly amazing talent, and 9 prizes to be won from UmWowStudio.  they have awesome CHIPBOARD (not your average chipboard, i assure you), and FLAIR.  and i'm giving away a $5 gift certificate to spend, but so are all of the other 6 Paper Issues designers on the hop, ANNNNND there are two $20 gift certificates to be won from Paper Issues and UmWowStudio.

CLICK HERE to go to the Paper Issues hop, and CLICK HERE for my hop post!

but before we close up hop (hee hee), i have another UmWowStudio project to share.  i can't stop using these diamond confetti chippies, and i've used up all my flair (so i've conveniently placed another order!):

 

YUM.

i never thought i'd love chipboard so much.

you can win this:

 

OH.  and.  i'm also slightly obsessed with Lily Bee Designs papers and ALPHAS (mmmm), and Chic Tags.  BOTH can be gotten at the Paper Issues store (new and improved!) - behold, Mini Birthday Tags:

 

the ANIMAL in you! Crafter's Companion challenge this month!

goodness me, my first REAL submission for my Crafter's Companion spot, and i'm a little nervous, to be honest!

we have an ANIMAL-THEMED CHALLENGE going on for the month of August, and all you have to do is create a project with an animal on it and use ANY Crafter's Companion product (if you're using Spectrum Noir pens, you must use at least one other CC product) and tell the world what you've used in your blog post.  there is a TON of fabulous stuff carried by Crafter's Companion - you might already own something but you didn't know it!  (for the record, i'm rather crushin' on the Darice embossing folders)

you have until the 25th to link up, but pay attention to the rules (there won't be a quiz, but we hate to disqualify people if we can avoid it!)...

heeeeeeeeeeeeeere we go!

my card features the UBER-STINKIN'-ADORBS
"Flowers From Bamboo" stamp with sentiment from the Party Paws line
Chevron Background 5"x7" embossing folder from Darice
Spectrum Noir pens:
ears - PP1
fur - IG1, IG2, IG4
flowers - FP3, FS6, PP1, TN2
leaves - FS3, TN2, EB2, IG4
butterflies - TN2, EB2
background for sentiment - FS6

annnnnnd a close-up, for good measure:

so.

that's how i did it, folks.  and really, you know you wanna do it, too!  there's a store voucher up for grabs, and just think of how much awesomeness you could get with £30 / $30!

CLICK HERE - check out the challenge, be inspired by the rest of the team's creations, and JOIN US!  :) 

hello, hello, i have a Crafter's Companion winner!

HELLLOOOOOOOOO chickens!  

busy stuff here, and i'm just checking in because i promised a WINNER and i've got me a WINNER!  

thanks for all the love you left when i announced that i'm now on the Crafter's Companion USA Design Team!  i certainly do feel privileged and honoured to be doing this with such a talented and inspiring bunch (and in general, i feel UNWORTHY!), and i'm so grateful for you lovelies who share in my excitement.  MWAH.

so i have a winner to announce!  as promised, one lucky commenter gets THIS beauty sent to her doorstep:

SO.  from 42 sweet and appreciated comments, #28, as chosen by Random.org, wins "Tipsy" - one of the gorgeous Frou Frou sets from Crafter's Companion!  and who is the lucky #28?  why, it's none other than....

KELLY MASSMAN!

 congrats, Kelly, and thanks for the lurrrrrve!  please shoot me an email at quiteorange@yahoo.com with your mailing address, and i'll have it sent out to you so you can make gorgeous things with it too!

watch this space for a post in the morning - US Team A is sharing their ANIMAL creations for our current challenge.  you're invited to play along, and we've got more goodies to be won!  see you in 7 hours! ;)

 

still making stuff with chipboard - Paper Issues giveaway!

hi again!  yeah, i told you i was baaaaaack!  (i warned ya!)

checking in to share a couple of relatively quick and easy projects using CHIPBOARD, because our current Issue at Paper Issues features CHIPPIES!  somehow, lately, i've been using this stuff a lot in my craftin'.  i HAVE a lot of this stuff.  all kinds.  shapes, sizes, thicknesses, simple or detailed.  LOTS OF THIS STUFF.

if you haven't already checked out the hop, it's sponsored by the totally wow UmWowStudio, and i think you just might fall in love with it if you're not careful.  :)  we've got prizes at EVERY stop on the hop, as well as a big one on the main hop post. 

all ya gots to do is link up those projects using any goodies from UmWowStudio, or using chipboard and check out the hop for the rest of the "rules" (they're totally simple!).  here's what i made, in keeping with our theme:

 (chipboard from Cosmo Cricket as well as Make it Crafty)

(chipboard from Making Memories)

annnnnnd that's it.  i'm in the process of putting things in their temporarily proper places in my craft room so i can clear some space and get some painting done.  yep, TOTES procrastinating with that - i haven't painted in a bazillion years, and i'm using the excuse that the bedroom still needs a bit of reorganizing.  :)  off i go.

Inspiration challenge at Designed to Color - win some cute digis!

howdy chickens!  'sup? 

we've nearly made it through the week, and i'm looking forward to a good, solid day of NADA this weekend.  :)  i've been running around like a chicken with my head cut off for two straight weeks, and i'm in dire need of some down time (and HOPEFULLY i can squeeze in time to get my craft room primed, so i can paint it!)...

but since it's the beginning of the month, i have some crafty bidnizz to take care of!  let's get to it, shall we?

it's CHALLENGE TIME at Designed to Color!  for the Glitter Crew's round for August, we are sponsored by Rhoda Design Studio - and i had never played with her images before, but i was QUITE pleased at the possibilities!  the image i used is a freebie that you can grab along with a couple of others by clicking HERE - just customize it as you like, and have fun with it!  here's my card:

it took me a minute to think about what i wanted to do with the image, but when i fished through some of my brand new stash from Paper Issues, the Lily Bee Design "Sweet Shoppe" line was all it took to inspire me!  this one's coloured with Copics:   

Donut - E31, E33, E37; 

Frosting: E50, E53; 

Sprinkles: Y19, RV14, B14

 

and i went totally simple with the rest of the card...  see that green hexie strip?  yeah, that's a piece of brand new 6x6 ADHESIVE PAPER (aka WASHI) from We R Memory Keepers, courtesy of one fine fella named Melvin - he and i shared some stories, some laughs, and some PRODUCT at CHA!  thank you, Melvin!

SO.  my card.  it goes along with our current challenge, which is to use THIS photo as an inspiration...

your mission is to pull inspiration from this photo...  color any image in the medium of your choice and use at least 3 (but more if you like) colors from this palette.  create and share your project with us!  HERE is where you'll find the rest of the Glitter Crew's projects, should you need additional inspiration (or just because they're super fun, spunky, and terribly cool crafty chicks!), and you have until August 14th to play along, and you are welcome to combine challenges (as long as your project is NEW)...  you could win a $15 gift certificate to spend on cute digis from Rhoda Design Studio!  :D

SOME HUUUUUGE NEWS, a card, and a giveaway!

okay, so seriously, it's been a BUSY summer, chickens!  the new house, the lack of internet for too stinkin' long, the trip to Vegas for CHA, the visit from the Smudge-Paw, the crafty room shopping (it's SO happening!), and now back to work.  but life is GOOD, and i'm making one heck of a comeback!

so i've had this news for, like, EVER, and it's been SLOWLY coming together for a while.  well TODAY.... it's ON.

ready?

(i certainly am!)

can you handle the excitement?

(i've been bursting at the seams!)

folks, you're lookin' at one of the brand new members of the Crafter's Companion USA design team!  EEEEEEP!  and ERMAH!  yep.  Crafter's Companion.  they make these:

and these:

and i'm just a little over the moon about the whole thing! 

so in celebration of the new team, we have something special for YOU!  each one of the designers is giving away a stamp set.  at EVERY. SINGLE. BLOG.  THESE girls:

Chrissie Tobas -- http://harvestmoonpapiere.blogspot.com

Christiana Reuling -- http://christygetscrafty.blogspot.com/

Denise Coulter -- http://lalasworldblog.blogspot.com

Kendra Wietstock -- http://kendrawietstock.blogspot.com

Khristen Foss -- http://khristenscraftroom.blogspot.com

Leah l'Orange -- http://thechroniclesoforange.blogspot.com

Mary Dawn Quirindongo -- http://mypinkmexico.blogspot.com

Stacy Harper-Watson -- http://scrapwithstacy.blogspot.com/

Stephanie Severin -- http://ingeniousinkling.typepad.com

Taylor Usry -- http://taylorusry.blogspot.com

Trena Brannon -- http://trenastampinhq.blogspot.com

Tenia Nelson -- http://jazzypaper.blogspot.com

the Crafter's Companion website and the Crafter's Companion blog...  you won't believe all the amazingness being shared, and all the fabby new products!

so for my little introduction, i made a card:

and she's gorgeous, right?  this is one of the Frou Frou stamp sets, and they're seriously tough to resist.  colored her up with my trusty pencils, paired her up with one of the sentiments from the set, added in a border punch flower, some pearls, a little distressy stitching on the paper, and voila.  here she is, a little closer:

and all you have to do is leave a comment below by Sunday, August 4th at midnight EST (bonus points if you "like" Crafter's Companion USA on Facebook, but not necessary!) and one person will win this uber-sensational Tipsy set i used!

so there it is!  the cat is FINALLY out of the bag, and i can't tell you how wonderful it's been getting acclimated in the group with the rest of the designers.  :)  i hope i can rock the Crafter's Companion, and i hope i'll somehow inspire you!  have a fabby Thursday, chickens.  xo