Paper Sweeties November Inspiration Challenge #61

Hey, y'all!  November will be upon us before most of you ever read this; and that means a fabulous, new, inspiration challenge is up over at Paper Sweeties.  The graphic below inspired me to create a little number in celebration of the upcoming, Thanksgiving holiday here in the United States.  Here's my take on it.

 

I started this card by stamping and masking Jake; the wagon and leafy pumpkins, fittingly, from Sweeties Wagon; and basket of apples from Stand Add-On: Fall Harvest on a 3-1/2" x 4-3/4" piece of watercolor paper.

All of the images, including the pumpkins from Stand Add-On: Fall Harvest and Jake's clothing from Gobble Gobble, which were stamped on scrap pieces of watercolor paper and hand-cut out, were stamped in Jet Black, waterproof ink and watercolored.

The hand-cut set of pumpkins were popped up, with foam tape, in front of the wagon and basket images; and the apples received a healthy dose of Glossy Accents.  The "Happy Turkey Day" sentiment from Gobble Gobble, which, too, was stamped in Jet Black ink, creates a playful wish for such a special day.

The buckles around Jake's waist and on his hat were given a hint of shine with a glitter Jelly Roll pen.  Before his hat was popped up with foam tape, the top edge of the prepped piece was dressed up with a strip of multicolored, floral, patterned paper; the entire thing was framed with Ruby Red cardstock and red-threaded, straight, machine stitching; and a length of Baker's Twine was wrapped around it three times, just below the patterned print, before being tied, in a bow, near its left edge. 

The watercolored piece itself was then popped up, with more foam tape, in the center of the Kraft, cardstock, card face; and a length of white, seam binding ribbon, tied in a double bow and embellished with a lone, red gemstone, complete the look.

Here's this month's Inspiration Challenge #61 graphic to get you creating in the right direction.

 

Be sure to stop by the challenge link above to get all your challenge details.  Thanks so much for stopping by; and, to those of you right here in the good, ol' U.S.A, may your Thanksgiving holiday be extra blessed!

Debbie Marcinkiewicz – Paper Sweeties
Jinny Newlin  * November Guest Designer *

Julie Tucker-Wolek
Karen Letchworth

Kathy Schweinfurth

Larissa Heskett
Lilian Forsyth 
Lisa Bzibziak
Lori Turner

Mackie Robertson

Maria Patrick

Michele Henderson
Michelle Bala
Nancy Salkeld

{Supplies & Tools}

Stamps: Gobble Gobble, Sweeties Wagon, Stand Add-On: Fall Harvest, & Jake (Paper Sweeties) Paper: watercolor (Kuretake); Kraft (Wplus9); Riding Hood Red (SU!); multicolored floral (MME) Ink: Jet Black (Ranger) Other: red thread (Coats & Clark); sewing machine (Janome); foam tape (Scrapbook Adhesives); white seam binding ribbon (Hug Snug); red gemstone (Paper Studio); Baker's Twine (Clean Country Paper Supplies); white & glitter Jelly Roll pens (Sakura); watercolors (Kuretake); Glossy Accents (Ranger)

For the Love of Books

Welcome to the work week, y'all!  I trust you had wonderful weekends.  Ours was as busy as I predicted it would be in my Friday Faves post.  It was super fun to spend some time alone with my big kiddo on Saturday, though.  It always reminds me that he's a pretty decent kid ;).  He struggles with being a big brother sometimes... okay, A LOT of times.  I think it's just typical, first-child syndrome.  My older sister struggled with her position, too; but I sooooo long for my kiddos to have a better relationship with their siblings, as adults, than my husband and myself have with ours.  Needless to say, Ezekiel has been occupying a lot of my prayer time.

My younger two have ordinary, sibling squabbles; but they're manageable.  Adina may need creative ideas to play or work alongside Kaden sometimes, but she puts up with his annoyances and loves showing him how.  One time, a friend of Adina's picked Kaden up and accidentally scraped his arm along the corner of a counter top.  Kaden lost it.  Unfortunately, we got a screamer with that one.  Sigh.  My hubby stepped in and comforted him, but Adina thought her friend was smiling about the whole thing and was nearly ready to take her out.  We've taught our children that violence is never the answer; and Adina never would've laid a hand on her, but the mama bear in her had definitely made an appearance.  I couldn't help but smile proudly.  I'm so glad to know that even when they pick on one another sometimes, they still love one another in a way that no one else can.

All that said, the latter relationship is what inspired this month's For the Love of Books pick.  It is written for children ages four to eight and simply, sweetly, and sensationally illustrated by the talented Peter H. Reynolds.

Little Miss, Big Sis, written by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, begins with the momentary hesitation of a young girl learning that she is going to be a big sister but quickly moves on to her anxiously anticipating baby's arrival.  She's a champion helper through the "Sleep.  Fuss.  Eat.  Repeat," phase and genius entertainer as baby grows.  Baby's messes, stolen treasures, and annoyances don't phase this big sister.  She rolls with the punches and, from beginning to end, is the picturesque example of "the most wonderful big sis!"

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Happy reading; and have a safe and blessed rest of your October, friends!  Hugs!

Friday Faves

Evening, y'all!  Just stopping in super quick, as the day is just about over, to share a list of goodies that have caught my attention this month.  Let's kick things off with a couple of new"ish" collections from Carta Bella.  Welcome Home has my name written all over it for its woodgrain, gingham, watercolor, and floral prints.  I'm totally in love with the dusty blue infusion, too; and the cardstock stickers and journaling options are pure perfection.  I just love it ever so much!

So much so, that I'm tossing in the Frames and Tags Ephemera, too.  Those botanical bits are perfectly scrumptious!

Country Kitchen speaks to my country-loving heart.  I adore the rainbow of colors and vintage images; and, once again, their fabulous, coordinating, cardstock stickers...

and Frames and Tags Ephemera are completely swoon-worthy.

I can't quite put my finger on it.  Maybe it's the heart filament or punny sentiments, or maybe it's just the simplicity of those dainty blooms.  Whatever it may be, I couldn't resist including Pinkfresh's Shine stamp set.

 

You all already know how much this girl loves her essential oils; but until recently, the wide variety of essential oil, lava stone jewelry had slipped past me.  My favorite find right now is Escentric Boutique's Tree of Life Locket.  So pretty!

And just because I couldn't possibly close an October edition of my Friday Faves without including something deliciously fall, Wild Garden Designs' Forest Moon Necklace is making the cut.  Swoon!

Thanks so much for stopping by to check out a little of what makes my heart go pitter-pat.  I hope you found something here to love, too.  My big kiddo and I are getting CPR certified/re-certified tomorrow.  We've also got some birthday shopping to do for one special, little lady who lives in our house and will be turning nine-years-old in just a few, short days.  On Sunday, we'll be back to teaching Kaden's Sunday school class and Adina's Awana club after taking a trip to Omaha, Nebraska, last weekend.  We never lack for things to do.  Oh, and Ezekiel, as of today, is, officially, braces-free.  Woohoo!  Have a fabulous weekend, friends!  XOXO

Pretty Little Studio: My Heart Belongs to You

Morning, y'all!  I'm up on the Pretty Little Studio blog today, sharing a card I made just because I was feeling romantic.  Fortunately, Pretty Little Studio has a plethora of products to satisfy that "love"ly feeling.  The most dominant collection I used here is Blooming Hearts; however, that fabulous, metallic, background print is from With All My Heart.  You'll also see hints from Beautiful Day, Summer Vibes, and Marigold.  Enjoy!

I started this card by backing a 3x4 Currently Card, which I had die-cut the phrase from for another project back here, with a piece of Raining Love Vellum.  I then stapled a couple of Soul Mates Die-Cut phrases to its bottom edge.

Before mounting the prepped piece, on white cardstock, with foam tape, I used the die-cut, circular opening to create a shaker pocket which holds Sunsational, Seaspray, and Clear Skies Sequins, as well as three heart die cuts from the June 2017 Freebie package.  The darling Wedding Day Vintage Die Cut was then popped up, with foam tape, in its center.  Both a Blooming Die Cut and Butterfly Bush Sticker, backed with white cardstock and hand-cut out, dress up the bottom left edge of the shaker; and a couple of Acrylic Words hearts rise from the handsome couple.

At this point, the entire piece was set aside to secure a scrap of the Be Mine Gold Metallic print, with gold-threaded, straight, machine stitches, to the Bashful Blue, cardstock, card face.  A length of white string was wrapped, three times, around the horizontal center of the card face and tied, in a bow, to the right edge of the card face.  A snippet of cheesecloth was then tucked in behind the string; and the previously set-aside, prepped piece was adhered, with foam tape, over such, in the center of the card face, to complete the look.

Thanks so much for visiting!  Have a blessed weekend, friends!

{Supplies & Tools}
Paper: Bashful Blue (SU!); white (Paper Studio); With All My Heart: Be Mine Gold Metallic 8x8 & Blooming Hearts: Raining Love Vellum 8x8 (PLS) Other: gold thread (Coats & Clark); sewing machine (Janome); foam tape (Scrapbook Adhesives); cheesecloth (Dritz); white string (Hobby Lobby); staples & stapler (office supply store); Beautiful Day: Currently Journaling Card, Acrylic Words hearts, & Clear Skies Sequins; Summer Vibes: Sunsational Sequins & Seaspray Sequins; Blooming Hearts: Soul Mates Die Cuts & Blooming Die Cuts; Marigold: Butterfly Bush Stickers; Wedding Day Mini Vintage Die Cut & June 2017 Freebie (PLS)

The Studio Sketch Challenge

Hey, y'all!  Just stopping in to share this month's second challenge over in The Studio.  Anna has whipped up a playful sketch to get your creative juices flowing.  I tapped into my newest October Citrus Twist kit and came up with this.

 

I started this page by smudging and speckling Cherry and Patina Glimmer Mists onto the "LOVE THIS DAY!" patterned paper, base page.  I then splattered everything with Ballet Pink, Pure Black, and Titanium White acrylic paints before matting my photo with white cardstock; backing it with a snippet of cheesecloth; and adhering it, with foam tape, in its respective location.  Hand-cut, from patterned paper, black and white blooms were tucked under three of the photo's four corners.  A colorful, floral die cut was also tucked under its bottom left corner which was further embellished with "MAGICAL" arrow and bunny die cuts, both of which were popped up with foam tape.

A "yes to this" label, etched with the Easter 2016 date, was stuck fast to the top edge of the photo itself...

 

and several more floral die cuts, as well as a copper, butterfly die cut, dress up its bottom right corner.  Die-cut and chipboard tags, laced with white string, tied in a bow and knot respectively, were then tucked under the floral elements; and a glitter, BINGO card brings us full circle.

A "whole lotta lovely", chipboard banner, as well as a couple of stamped, in Jet Black ink, phrases...

which carry over to the top of the design, and both glitter heart and bird die cuts, popped up with foam tape, complete the look.

 

Further inspiration for this page came from Citrus Twist's October 14th 3-to-Inspire Challenge to use (1) four or more die cuts, (2) patterned paper for your background, and (3) stamps.

 

And here's this month's Sketch Challenge to get you creating in the right direction.

 

Be sure to stop by the challenge link above to see what my talented teammies have cooked up just for your viewing pleasure.  Then, you have until Sunday, November 5, 2017, to link up your takes, on this Sketch Challenge and/or our previous, October Colour Challenge, in the right-hand column of The Studio blog.  Thanks so much for stopping by!  Have a blessed week, friends!

{Supplies & Tools}
Stamps: (Citrus Twist) Paper: white (Paper Studio); black & white floral & "LOVE THIS DAY!" (Maggie Holmes) Ink: Black PITT artist pen (Faber Castell) Other: foam tape (Scrapbook Adhesives); cheesecloth (Dritz); Ballet Pink, Titanium White, & Pure Black acrylic paints (FolkArt); Cherry & Patina Glimmer Mists (Tattered Angels); "MAGICAL" arrow, bunny, bird, butterfly, multicolored tag, & floral die cuts (Paige Evans); glitter heart & BINGO card die cuts (Maggie Holmes); "whole lotta lovely" & heart tag chipboard Thickers (American Crafts); white string (Hobby Lobby); "yes to this" scallop label (Citrus Twist)

September Recognition

Evening, y'all, and welcome to the weekend!  I hope you all have fabulous plans for your weekends.  Adina's horse camp and Ezekiel's fall baseball season have officially come to an end; so before basketball season begins occupying every one of our weekends, we're sneaking in a few fun activities.  This weekend's agenda will carry us straight through into next week; but before that gets started and since it's been awhile since my last post, I thought that today I'd share a memorable page that was named the August 19th 3-to-Inspire Challenge Winner over at Citrus Twist.

 

I sooo wish that I could allot more of my time to playing with my Citrus Twist kits.  Who knew that being a homeschool mom would keep me so busy?!  LOL!  But thanks so much for humbling me with a win anyhow, Trina!  I can't wait to play with my new goodies!  And thanks ever so much, to my faithful followers, for your continued visits and comments!  I know that I've been a terrible blog friend lately.  Please know that I'm trying and love each and every one of you.  I'm just continually overwhelmed with life and all that it takes to balance such.  I know that all of you who have or have had teenagers understand completely ;).  Deep down, I know that I'm so blessed and wouldn't change a thing.  Hugs!

Paper Sweeties October Release Rewind

Hey, y'all!  I'm back today to help wrap up another release for Paper Sweeties.  I mixed the new Home Is Where Your Story Begins stamp set with a couple of oldies but goodies and came up with this sweet scene.

I started this card by stamping the house image from Home Is Where Your Story Begins and the basket of apples, from Stand Add-On: Fall Harvest, on a 4" x 5-1/4" piece of watercolor paper.  I then masked the basket of apples and stamped the tree image again from Home Is Where Your Story Begins.  Finally, I masked the tree and stamped the sun image from Island Time.  All images were stamped with Jet Black ink and watercolored.

 

The apples were then given a kiss of shine with Glossy Accents, the sun lots of sparkle with Dazzling Diamonds fine glitter, and the windows a few highlights with a white Gelly Roll pen.

 

The entire scene was then grounded with the stamped, in Jet Black ink, "Welcome to the neighborhood" sentiment, which is just another one of the scrumptious phrases found in Home Is Where Your Story Begins.

A strip of a teal, floral print dresses up the top edge of the prepped piece, which was then anchored, with teal-threaded, straight, machine stitching, to the textured, Ruby Red cardstock, card face; and a length of Baker's Twine, tied, in a bow, around the card face, between the watercolor and printed pieces, completes the look.

Further inspiration for this card came from Sunday Stamps' Challenge 163: Bold and Beautiful.

Now, if you haven't done so already, run get your new release goodies while they're hot!

 

 

 

 

And be sure to stop by to see what the Design Team has created today, too.  Thanks so much for all your visits and sweet comments!  You all have blessed me so very much this month.  I'm honored to get to be a part, even a temporary part, of all the fabulousness that Debbie has created and continues to create over at Paper Sweeties.  Have a wonderful, work week, friends!  XOXO

Debbie Marcinkiewicz – Paper Sweeties
Jinny Newlin  * October Guest Designer *
Karen Letchworth

Kathy Schweinfurth

Larissa Heskett
Lisa Bzibziak
Lori Turner 

Maria Patrick

Michelle Bala
Nancy Salkeld 

{Supplies & Tools}

Stamps: Home Is Where Your Story Begins, Stand Add-On: Fall Harvest, & Island Time (Paper Sweeties) Paper: textured Ruby Red (SU!); watercolor (Master's Touch); teal floral (Jenni Bowlin) Ink: Jet Black (Ranger) Other: teal thread (Coats & Clark); sewing machine (Janome); Baker's Twine (Clean Country Paper Supplies); Dazzling Diamonds (SU!); watercolors (Kuretake); Glossy Accents (Ranger); white Gelly Roll pen (Sakura)

Paper Sweeties October Release Party

Welcome to the weekend, y'all!  I'm so excited to have you back to see more of what October has brought to Paper Sweeties!  I'm showcasing more of what the For You stamp set and its coordinating Sweet Cuts die has to offer today.  Enjoy!

Each of these tags was die-cut, from white cardstock, using the new For You Sweet Cuts die; stamped with sentiments from the coordinating, For You stamp set; and laced with Baker's Twine.

I then personalized each with a simple, single, paper-pieced image.  The sweet bunny comes from Hippity Hoppity.

The Kansas sunflower comes from Stand Add-On: Fall Harvest...

and the festive turkey fittingly comes from Gobble Gobble.

The floral one, attached to a loaf of Pumpkin Banana Bread with Creamsicle Seam Binding Ribbon, already made its way next door to my neighbor.  Yum!

Be sure to stop in to see what the Design Team has been working on.  Thanks, as always, for visiting!  Enjoy the rest of your weekends, friends!

Debbie Marcinkiewicz – Paper Sweeties
Jinny Newlin  * October Guest Designer *
Karen Letchworth

Kathy Schweinfurth

Larissa Heskett
Lisa Bzibziak
Lori Turner 

Maria Patrick

Michelle Bala
Nancy Salkeld

{Supplies & Tools} 
Stamps: For You, Hippity Hoppity, Gobble Gobble, & Stand Add-On: Fall Harvest (Paper Sweeties) Paper: white (Paper Studio); green polka dot & solid pink (unknown); gray stripe (K&Company); yellow checkered & newspaper print (Jenni Bowlin); woodgrain (Jen Hadfield); black gingham (Pink Paislee); orange circles (SU!); red plaid (Crate Paper); green plaid (MME); pink polka dot (Fancy Pants) Ink: Jet Black (Ranger) Other: Baker's Twine (Clean Country Paper Supplies); For You Sweet Cuts die & Creamsicle Seam Binding Ribbon (Paper Sweeties); Big Shot (Sizzix)

Paper Sweeties October Sneak Peek

Evening, y'all!  It's the middle of the month, and that means a new Paper Sweeties release to wet your creative appetites.  Debbie's rounding up this month with two sweet, new stamps sets, both with coordinating dies.  So, let's just get right to it.  Shall we?

I started this card by framing a 3-1/2" x 5" piece of ivory, text, patterned paper with white cardstock.

Before securing the two together with pink-threaded, straight, machine stitching, I stamped a strip of vellum, in Jet Black ink, with the "Home is where your story begins" sentiment from the new Home Is Where Your Story Begins stamp set and attached it near its base.

Everything was then adhered, to the Ballet Slippers cardstock, card face, with foam tape.  I then die-cut the tag, from the new For You Sweet Cuts die, using a blue, gingham print; adhered it in the center of the card face; and laced it with a length of white string.  It was topped with images from Home Is Where Your Story Begins, all of which were paper-pieced; die-cut, using the coordinating, Sweet Cuts die; and popped up with foam tape.

A double, Cupcake Seam Binding Ribbon bow, embellished with beige lace and a pink button, laced with a hemp twine bow, crown the tag and complete the look.

That gets us rolling, but I'd love to see you all right back here at the same time and place tomorrow to see even more of what Paper Sweeties has to offer this month.  In the meantime, be sure to stop in to see what the Design Team has whipped up for your viewing pleasure.  Thanks so much for peeking; and have a wonderful start to your weekends, friends!

Debbie Marcinkiewicz – Paper Sweeties
Jinny Newlin  * October Guest Designer *
Karen Letchworth

Kathy Schweinfurth

Larissa Heskett
Lisa Bzibziak
Lori Turner 

Maria Patrick

Michelle Bala
Nancy Salkeld

{Supplies & Tools}

Stamps: Home Is Where Your Story Begins (Paper Sweeties) Paper: white & vellum (Paper Studio); Ballet Slippers (Wplus9); blue gingham (Pebbles, Inc.); pink damask (MME); pink polka dot & gray woodgrain (Fancy Pants); blue glossy (Nikki Sivils); aqua diamond & ivory text (SU!); red plaid (Crate Paper); green floral (Jenni Bowlin) Ink: Jet Black (Ranger); Jet Black (StazOn) Other: pink thread (Coats & Clark); sewing machine (Janome); foam tape (Scrapbook Adhesives); Home Is Where Your Story Begins & For You Sweet Cuts dies & Cupcake Seam Binding Ribbon (Paper Sweeties); Big Shot (Sizzix); white string (Hobby Lobby); pink button (unknown); hemp twine (SU!); beige lace (JoAnn Fabrics)

PLS Pinterest Inspired: Happy Birthday, Beautiful!

Evening, y'all!  I'm up on the Pretty Little Studio blog today, sharing a page inspired by the watercolored background in the Pinterest photo below.  I took the scrumptious shades of green, blue, and purple from it; pulled a few photos, depicting Adina's 7th birthday celebrations; combined everything with Zinia Amoiridou's Tales & Dreams Collection; and came up with this.  Enjoy!

I started this page by adding green, blue, and purple watercolor puddles and splatters to the 12" x 12" watercolor paper, base page.  I then rubbed Spun Sugar Distress Ink through a heart stencil for a little added texture and dimension and splattered everything once again but this time with Pure Black and Titanium White acrylic paints.

 

I then matted my photos with white cardstock; backed them with trimmings from Faded Dreams, Sweet Dreams, Night Thinker, and So Dreamy, all anchored with teal-threaded, straight, machine stitching, as well as a folded sheet of Don't Grow Up Vellum and snippet of cheesecloth.  The foundation of the celebratory banner came from a combination of the Live in Color Cut-Apart Flags and Dream Mix Garland Flags, popped up with foam tape and dressed up with an "I love you" Adore You Phrase Strip; a Dream Shipping Tag, laced with white string, tied in a bow; watercolor pennant from the June 2017 Freebie package...

Make It Happen Wood Veneer pennants; and Always Fun Word Flags.

The centers of a couple of Floral Dreams Die Cuts were dressed up with embroidery-floss French knots.  I just love the texture this creates!  They were then adhered, with foam tape, to the bottom right of the center photo.  A Beautiful Day Bookmark Journaling Card butterfly; Blooming Dreams Flair Button; and split, floral Soul Mates Sticker round out the cluster.

A secondary cluster, near the bottom of the page, includes another Floral Dreams Die Cut, dressed up with those same embroidery-floss French knots and popped up with foam tape; another floral Soul Mates Sticker; and another Blooming Dreams Flair Button, backed with a tangle of teal thread.  In addition, it includes a You & Me Bracket Die Cut bear and Spring Fling Animal Die Cut butterfly...

and grounds the left side of my "happy birthday beautiful" title, which was created from "happy" and "beautiful" Rainbow Vibes Die-Cut Words and Doodle Diary Clear Alpha Stickers to spell "birthday".  The addition of a Love Clear Word Art strip and "you" Daily Dream Die-Cut Word, popped up with foam tape, finishes things off perfectly.

Another Rainbow Vibes Die-Cut Word, popped up with foam tape, and a Beautiful Bookmark Journaling Card, tucked behind the far right photo and stapled with a length of white string, tied in a bow, to help with the ease of its removal from behind the photo itself, complete the look.  Tip: Create a hidden journaling pocket behind your photo by adding tape to three of its four backside edges.

 

The journaling card was used as per its original intention and reads, November 1, 2015, From lunch, after church, @ Red Robin to a short trip to pick up an extra special, birthday gift, your 7th birthday celebrations carried long into the night to coconut bunny cupcakes & the biggest smile ever.  Happy birthday, beautiful!

Thanks so much for stopping by, friends!  Have a terrific Tuesday!  XOXO

{Supplies & Tools}
Paper: white (Paper Studio); watercolor (Kuretake); Tales & Dreams: Faded Dreams 8x8, Sweet Dreams 8x8, Night Thinker 8x8, So Dreamy 8x8, & Don't Grow Up 8x8 Vellum (PLS) Ink: Spun Sugar Distress Ink (Ranger); Black PITT artist pen (Faber Castell) Other: teal thread (Coats & Clark); sewing machine (Janome); foam tape (Scrapbook Adhesives); watercolors (Kuretake); Pure Black & Titanium White acrylic paints (FolkArt); heart stencil (Jenni Bowlin); staples & stapler (office supply store); cheesecloth (Dritz); white string (Hobby Lobby); blue embroidery floss (DMC); Tales & Dreams: Make It Happen Wood Veneer, Live in Color Cut-Apart Flags, Dream Mix Garland Flags, Blooming Dreams Flair Buttons, Always Fun Word Flags, Doodle Diary Clear Alpha Stickers, Daily Dreams Die-Cut Word, Rainbow Vibes Die-Cut Words, Floral Dreams Die-Cuts, & Dreams Shipping Tag; Dream Big: Beautiful Day Bookmark Journaling Cards & Spring Fling Animal Die Cuts; With All My Heart: You & Me Bracket Die Cuts; Blooming Hearts: Soul Mates Stickers; You & Me: Adore You Phrase Strip; Love Clear Word Art & June 2017 Freebie (PLS)