Paper Smooches SPARKS March Cool Shades challenge {post1}

Hello, friends:}

**After 9amEST--please click HERE or scroll up/down for my Mama Elephant highlight post! 

Today we start another weekly challenge over at Paper Smooches SPARKS blog!! The third week of the month is always a Cool Shades challenge.  

This week we are inspired by the following color story "Fiesta" {which by the way is my favorite car ever-- my first car was an '89 Ford Festiva that I often called the Fiesta! LOL! And now they have a new version out- -LOVE IT!}:

Tangerine, Dark Orange, Lime, Lemon

I couldn't help myself for my creation-- when I see oranges and greens together, I instantly want to make a carrot card:) My friend Ashley knows that this is my FAV sentiment too! I also pulled out my best inner-Teri Anderson. I said, "What would Teri do?" I wanted to make a modern card with some embellishments.... I don't think I matched Teri's style (she is WAY CUTER than me! I don't know how she does it-- I want her talent!) but I think I channeled a bit of her creativity into it:)

I used some Simple Stories and My Mind's Eye papers for this card. I also used my new favorite cardstock by Bazzill Basics Paper. I paired several stamps from the Paper Smooches  Vegtastic, Giddy Bugs, and Smoocheroos to create the sentiment, as well as the PS  die Alphawhimsy. Super fun! **NOTE:: I also used the Pint-Pint-Pint-Dash balance for these colors! LOL! I used just a tiny bit of each and a dash of the dark orange. 

That's it for me today--but be sure to stop by the other Paper Smooches SPARKS DT members' blogs and leave them some love. 

Ashley Marcu

Jessica Davis

Lori Tecler

Nina Yang

And don't forget to stop by the Paper Smooches SPARKS blog for more details!!!! This challenge ends March 24th. I cannot wait to see what you make--I just LOOOOOVE my Paper Smooches stamps. 

THANKS so much for stopping by! Be blessed:}

Another Baby Prayer Journal with Momenta

Hello, friends:}

I have ANOTHER baby prayer journal to share today. ***I told you that several of my friends are having babies! LOL! My Momenta papers are PERFECT for prayer journals!  I love that this 12x12 pad of paper is perfect for these journals--not only is it big enough to fit as the cover for the journal, but these papers have patterns on both sides of the paper! PERFECT:)

This specific prayer journal is for my friend, Ashley. She is having her third child and first little girl. I wanted to give a "family" themed journal because I wanted this gift to be for all three kids. **You can start praying for your children at any age! I love the pink, grey, and hints of green/blue for this book! LOVE how it turned out wit those Momenta alphas (my FAV!!!)!!! 

Be sure to stop by the Momenta shop and Facebook page. You can also check them out on Pinterest!  

Thanks so much for visiting! Be blessed:)


Momenta product
PA-2384 CHG Pyramid Paper Pad
ST-2561 R2
ST-4826 Black LC Mini Puffy Alphas
St-3269 R2 Hearts
ST-3204 Black Mini Puffy Alphas

Sweet Stamp Shop creations

Hello, friends:}

I'm back with another Sweet Stamp Shop creation. It's my day over on the SSS blog--so be sure to stop by there and leave some love! 

I had a friend over the other day and we got crafty using several stamp sets from the Sweet Stamp Shop. Laurie used both the Spring Fling and Sweet Victoria stamp set for her Thank You cards. This was her FIRST time creating cards! She made 10!!!!!!!! She stamped and colored the tulips and then stamped the sentiment. LOVE it! **Her design was inspired by Loll Thompson on SCS. 

We had a great time crafting together. While Laurie was inking up those two SSS sets, I was inking up the SSS Perfect Match set. I created a miniature sized card for one of my best friends, Ashley!! **If you haven't seen THIS post on her blog, check it out:) Ashley and I decided a couple of days ago to make cards for one another. Ash requested the peanut butter and jelly images--and I think they turned out SUPER cute! I added glitter to both for extra bling! The peanut butter with the glitter looks like it's the crunchy type (that's what Laurie said! LOL!). I stamped the sentiment several times to make the extra long banner. Super simple. So cute! Hope Ashley likes it! 

Also, the SSS has partnered up with Timeless Twine to offer a Sweet Sampler designed just for the shop. SO FUN! Be sure to stop by Timeless Twine to check it out!

One more thing!!!!!!! SSS has started a monthly challenge! Be sure to check out the first challenge HERE! I hope you will play along:)

That's it for me today-- if you have some extra time, we would love for you to stop by our YouTube channel, our FB page, follow us on Twitter  and link up any creations you have made using SSS images on Flickr. 

Thanks so much for stopping by! Be blessed:)

Paper Made Bakery--Guest Designer 2

Hello, friends:}

After 8am...

**Please click HERE or scroll up for my Sweet Stamp Shop post!

I'm back with another Paper Made Bakery Guest Designer project. I used my PMB December kits {available HERE} for these two cards. You really can make so many creations with these papers, buttons, twines, and stamps!! 

I was thinking about what card I could make next...and decided to find some inspiration in the latest Paper Crafts 365 Magazine. I found a card by Sarah Martina Parker that I just knew I had to CASE. I literally cased her entire card! I used the orange themed paper from my December kits paper pad {My Mind's Eye Honey Cake}. I also used the sentiment stamp from the kit {Memory Box}. LOVE the black and orange color combo! I love how this card turned out!!! 

I thought I would share how I created that ribbon treatment on my card--it was really simple! There are three ribbon pieces. 1. I wrapped the bottom piece and taped it on the back. 2. I did the same thing to the top. 3. I used the third piece to make a bow. EASY! 

For my second card, I made a simple card using scraps from my other creations. I used the scraps to make the banner. Then I stamped my sentiment from the December kits across the top and added alphas [Ashley told me to put teacher--SMART!]. I really like how this card turned out--SO SIMPLE! LOVE!

Here is another pic--I have tried several times to get a good photo of these cards! Silly sun was missing the past couple of days! LOL! 

That's it! I cannot wait to make more cards using my Paper Made Bakery December kit!! Please make sure you stop by the PMB blog {HERE} and check them out on Facebook {HERE}. ******Be sure to become a fan on Facebook--there's a giveaway once they get 100 fans {they are SOOOO close!!}!!! Be sure to like them and share it on Facebook for a chance to win!!!! 
***ETA::: Another giveaway is going on over at the PMB blog--leave a comment on THIS post with some organizational advice for your chance to win!!! 

And if you are in the San Diego area--there are classes available at the PMB!! Check out the schedule HERE. 

And get this--PMB has a Twitter page!! Be sure to follow them there! LOVE all these ways to stay in touch with this fabulous company!! 

That's it for me today! THANKS so much for stopping by and don't forget to stop by the Paper Made Bakery blog and leave some love there:) Be blessed! 

RAK...love my friends:}

Hello, friends:}


I just wanted to pop in and share some RAKs that I've received in the past 2 months. I just love receiving cards from friends. I am in awe of everyone's talents! LOVE LOVE LOVE these cards!


First up--cards by my friends and teammates over at The Play Date Cafe! LOVE this team!!! Cards are by Colleen Dietrich , Ruby 2 Shoes, and Jaclyn Miller. LOVE LOVE LOVE each of these! My fav part is seeing these creations on their blogs and commenting on them and then opening up an envelope with the exact card I was gushing over:} LOVE it! 

The card on the left was included with some goodies that I won from Audrey Yeager's blog. I also received this card from a good friend on the EIC team--Ashley Nguyen Newell. 

Imagine my surprise when I saw this beautiful tag and card come in the mail from She!! Just stunning!

And this last card came about three weeks ago.... totally unexpected! I was so happy to see this beautiful card created by my friend, Julie Campbell. OH MY! LOVE it!!! 

I cannot even begin to tell you how much each card and creation made me smile and encouraged me. I was so excited to open these packages! THANK YOU sooooo much!!!! 


If you haven't sent any RAK lately....I challenge you to send some today! I just sent some out this weekend--and it feel so good! I cannot wait to hear what my friends' think of their cards! 


Thanks so much for stopping by today! I will be sharing some creations soon!! Be blessed:}

FWF--LOTS of pics and info about a giveaway!

Hello, friends:}


It's Friday--which means FWF over on the Unity blog!! Be sure to stop HERE for a complete list of participants!! We sure do love all your comments and support! 


I've got lots to share with you...so hang in there! Plus--I've got some news at the bottom for next week! Giveaways....just saying!!!

My first creation was inspired by the FWF72 card by Ashley Newell [on the left]. I was inspired by her colors and simplicity of the card. I was actually skyping/crafting with Ashley when I made this card! She helped me out--I was flustered because my misting didn't work and she helped me "regroup" and create this beauty!! Also--I found out that Ashley does not like embossing--which I did for the blooms {Unity: Wayword Blooms} and the butterfly {Unity: Small Things Matter Most}. I just love that teal embossing--I just got 12 new colors! And the sentiment is from Unity: Encompassed Grace}. The white around the embossed blooms is a technique that I read about over on SCS. I used my finger instead of a tissue **NOTE:: I cannot think of what this technique is called! Sorry! LOVE how this turned out!

My next card is a special birthday card for a friend! She loves my cards--and I knew this year I had to make something extra fun! I used the Card Positioning Systems sketch for my design. I also used my new S.E.I. Happy Day papers. I inked a lot of Unity stamps:: sentiment  and heart {To The Moon & Back}, butterfly and sentiment {Small Things Matter Most}, clouds {Could I Be Any Cuter?}, tag {Togetherness Icons}, tickets {Simply Magical}. Whew! That was a lot of stamping--and of course, I think of this AFTER the Stamping Royalty challenge ends over at Paper Crafts! That is how It works! LOL! 

For my last card, I used the inspiration photo for Cupcake Inspirations. I have missed playing along with them! Love these super cute animals and gnome cupcakes! I used Unity's Autumn Pals stamps for this card. I paper pieced everything--and that tree trunk is made of cork. I love the distressed tag--makes it a bit softer with that bright red paper {Bo Bunny Ad Lib}. 

Close up of the stitching on the squirrel. 

That's it for me today! Be sure to stop by HERE for all the players this week!


And if you've made it this far.... be sure to stop by my blog next week! I'm Growing In Unity!! And I will have some giveaways for my friends, followers, and for all the comments! You won't want to miss out! LOVE Unity!!

My week::: April 17-23

Be sure to stop back here and leave comments! LOTS of giveaways!

Thanks so much for stopping by! Be blessed:}