Be Inspired challenge - Cosmo Bella

It's time again for Beate's Inspiration Challenge!

When I first saw this week's inspiration piece I knew I wanted to use the colored dots somehow. Than I started thinking about the different stamps that I could use, after a quick inventory in my head, the only thing I could come up with is 'Cosmo Bella'. As you can see, she's not wearing a dress, but she is holding a drink!

I started experimenting with my scraps and a circle punch but my direction quickly changed towards using a designer paper instead! This is what I came up with!

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies Used: Stamps~ Cosmobella.

Paper~ Wild Wasabi, Whisper White, Pretty in Pink, Spring Fling DP, watercolor paper.

Ink~ Palette Noir Black, Creamy Caramel, Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Blush Blossom, River Rock, Close to Cocoa.

Accessories~ Wild Wasabi Stitched Ribbon, Swiss Dot Cuttlebug Folder, Dew Drops, Mini Glue Dots, Paper Piercer, Blender Pen, Cutter Kit.

Thoughts of Father - WSC

Here we are again at the end of another weekend! Where does the time go? I was up late last night making this card for Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge. I have had this set for a couple of week's now and just got around to using it. I am always drawn to these types of stamps because of the detail and the fact that one of my favorite techniques is watercoloring, I find that it relaxes me. And after a long day I couldn't wait to sit down and color in this image.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Supplies Used: Stamps~ Thoughts of Father, Sanded, Circle of Friendship.

Paper~ Chocolate Chip, Soft Sky, Blue Bayou, Watercolor paper.

Ink~ Palette Noir Black, Blue Bayou, Chocolate Chip and various other colors used for watercoloring.

Accessories~ Vintage Brads, Circle punches, sponge.

Be Inspired Challenge - Pick a petal

I just LOVE the print that Beate is using for this week's 'Be Inspired' challenge. Isn't it Gorgeous? I couldn't wait to get started with this one! BUT, I must say that I feel as though I cheated with this challenge! And I'm not sure I like how it turned out! I had all these great idea's floating around in my head but just couldn't get them to work out on paper. Man, I hate when that happens!
I had a couple of other flower stamps in mind but I came back to my 'Pick a Petal' set that was still sitting out from another challenge and decided to use it again for this one. I went with the same flower layout as the last challenge (this is where I feel I cheated).

I wanted to try to create a soft watercolor background, but that seemed to give me some trouble too! I took a piece of watercolor paper and sprayed it with water, than I sponged on the different colors. After it dried I sponged on more color to give it a deeper look (I think I should have stopped with the softer look). I feel like this is a product of the 70's flower power era! Oh well, maybe next week's challenge will work out better! LOL!
Thanks for stopping by!!

Supplies Used: Stamps~ Pick a Petal, Sanded, Hi & Hello.

Paper~ Cool Caribbean, Shimmery White, Apricot Appeal, Watercolor paper.

Ink~ Basic Black, Tempting Turquoise, Old Olive, Summer Sun.

Accessories~ Dew Drops, Olive Grosgrain Ribbon, small oval punch, sponge

Hockey & Prom

From the Ice Rink to the Prom festivites, what a busy weekend!!! Megan made it though her try-outs this weekend and now we wait to see if she made it though to Lake Placid. The suspense is almost to much to take for her and us! After her try-out session on Saturday we rushed home to get ready for Prom.

As promised here is a picture of her and her boyfriend before they left for Prom.

They went with a group of six other couples including Taylor's twin and his date. This picture was taken at Minnhaha Falls in Minneapolis. To bad the weather wasn't a little warmer for the pictures taken at the falls, the temp was about 53 degrees and yes that is snow formations in the background, burrrrrrr!

2 Challenges in 1

I love doing the different challenges out there, some of my favorites are Beate's -'Weekend Sketch' & 'Be Inspired' challenges, SCS Color & Sketch challenges, Julee's Mojo Monday and Jen's - Saturday's Sketch challenge.



If you read my post below, you know that is was another busy week around here. So to get any of these challenges done this week was a challenge in it's self!





This card combine's this week's SCS color & sketch challenges. I love the color combination of this week's challenge and right away I knew I wanted to use my new "Bloomin' Beautiful" stamp set for this challenge. If you click on the photo you might be able to see that I added some glimmer to the flowers with my 'Sakura Gelly Roll' pen. I also added dimension by using the paper piercing technique.

Supplies Used: Stamps~ Bloomin' Beautiful, Sanded & Linen background stamps.
Paper~ Shimmery White. Basic Gray, Blush Blossom, Groovy Guava DP.
Ink~ Palette Black, Blush Blossom, Groovy Guava, Going Gray, Mellow Moss, Old Olive.
Accessories~ Dew Drops by 'The Robin's Nest', Groovy Guava Stitched Ribbon, Ticket punch, Sakura Clear Gelly roll pen , dimensionals, sponge.

My girl - the hockey player?

Last couple of days have been very busy around here. Megan is going though try-outs for National Camp, practices with her summer hockey team (they have a tournament next weekend) and Prom is this weekend. Poor girl has alot on her plate right now!!! I have been trying to help her out with her busy schedule in any way I can!

I thought I would share a picture of Megan & her boyfriend Taylor. This picture was taken in February before their Snowdaze dance. I can't wait to see how they look all dressed up for Prom!

This second picture is of Megan and her best friend Alex who is also a hockey player. Both girls have National camp try-outs on Saturday before prom! What do you think, do they look like hockey players?

I'll share Prom pictures next week.

Weekend sketch challenge

Friday already? You know what that means, it's time for Beate's weekend sketch challenge. Can you believe it, I was able to make my card this afternoon, wooohoooo!

I liked the bright colors so well that I used for Beate's inspiration challenge, I decided to used them again for this challenge.

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies Used: Stamps~ Pick a Petal, Aida Cloth, Sanded, Hi & Hello.

Paper~ So Saffron, Pumpkin Pie CS & DP, Bliss Blue, Wild Wasabi.

Ink~ Basic Black, So Saffron.

Accessories~ small oval punch, corner rounder, Pumpkin Pie grosgrain ribbon, paper piercer.

You Cheer Me Up too!

I've been a little slow at posting these cool awards that I received from a couple of my blogging friends. My friend Cheryl sent me two, the first was a 'You Cheer Me Up' award, and the second one is a "You make my Day" award. How sweet this that? Cheryl, you make me smile too, I love checking out your cute animals cards that you have been making, they are just toooooo cute!



Here are just a few of MANY that Cheer Me up:
Jennifer - 'The Buck Stamps Here'

Nancy - I Stamp

Julie - Need to Stamp

Beate - Fresh & Fun

Dawn - Treasurer Oiler Designz

And a few more that Make My Day are:
Amy - Pickled Paper Designs

Jennifer - Jennifer's Sweet Designs

Charmaine - Oodabug Alley

Juile - Addicted 2 Stamping

Flo - Flossie's Follies

Check out my blog roll, every single one of them cheer me up or make my day with their creativity, I nominate all of them tooo!

My Friend Jennifer from 'The Buck Stamps Here" sent me this 'Arte' Y Pico' award. Jennifer is soooo sweet, I just love all of the comments and emails that she sends me, she is one of the nicest bloggers out there! You Rock Jennifer, thanks for the award!

There are 5 rules attached to this award and they are:

1. You have to pick 5 blogs that you consider deserve this award for their creativity, design, interesting material, and also contributes to the blogging community, no matter what language.

2. Each award has to have the name of the author and also a link to his/her blog to be visited by everyone.

3. Each award winner has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that has given her/him the award itself.

4. Award winner and the one who has given the prize have to show the link of "Arte Y Pico" blog, so everyone will know the origin of this award.

5. To show these rules.

Here are my nominations for this award:

Cheryl - God & I on the Railroad Tracks

Julie - Addicted 2 Stamping

Amy - Pickled Paper Designs

Jenn D - Stamp Your Heart Out

Dawn - Treasurer Oiler Designz

Julie - Need to Stamp

Thanks for stopping by today!

Be Inspired challenge - Life your Dream

I LOVE this week's 'Be Inspired Challenge'. The colors and the flowers in this dress are soooo cool. I couldn't wait to get started. As I was making this card I came up with two other ideas I can't wait to make, hope I can get to them soon!

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies Used: Stamps~ Live Your Dream, Sanded,

Short & Sweet.

Paper~ So Saffron, Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie DP.

Ink~ Ballet Blue, Wild Wasabi, Chocolate Chip, So Saffron.

Accessories~ Mustard Brads, Jumbo eyelets, Hodgepodge Hardware, Ticket punch, Crop-a-dile, sponge

WSC - Close as a Memory

Sorry for not posting in awhile but life somehow seems to come first at times. The kids were home for a three day weekend and Megan and I took some time to shop for a prom dress and accessories on Friday & Saturday. I'm happy to say that we found a BEAUTIFUL dress at Bloomingdale's in the Mall of America. Of course it was one of the first dresses we found, but had to make sure there wasn't anything better out there! After a full day of searching (remember the snowdaze dress search) we made a second trip back to the MOA to pay for it and get the alterations done. I must say, even though it was a full day of shopping, it was a fun day, with lots of laughs, (you wouldn't believe some of those dresses out there). It's always fun spending the day with Megan, I cherish those days as I know they are going to be harder to do the older she gets. I will be sure to share Prom pictures with you!

Well on to my card for Beate's weekend sketch challenge. I was finally able to find some time last night (late last night) to stamp. This is what I came up with. I love those jumbo eyelets but sometimes I have a hard time making sure they are straight when lining three of them up. This time was no exception!

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies used: Stamps~ Close As a Memory, Sanded, En Francais.

Paper~ Blue Bayou, River Rock, Soft Sky, Very Vanilla, Blue Bayou DP.

Ink~ Blue Bayou, River Rock.

Accessories~ Markers-Not Quite Navy, Old Olive, Mustard brads, Antique Brass jumbo eyelets, Very Vanilla Taffeta ribbon, paper piercer, Ticket punch, Crop-a-dile, Marvy scallop & circle punch, sponge.

Be Inspired Challenge - Vintage Butterfly

WOW, look at these gorgeous lanterns, do they inspire you? They did me and these lanterns are the inspiration this week for Beate's 'Be Inspired Challenge'.

This is what I came up with for the Challenge. I love this Stipple Butterfly (retired) and I love coloring it in.

If you click on the lantern images you will see that it has butterflies & leaves swirled around. I knew I wanted to incorprate both in my card. I embossed the butterfly on Whisper White cs with detail black embossing powder and colored the image in with Radiant Pearls (remember those?). I really need to start using them again, they are so easy and fun to work with. I also embossed the 'Leaves a' la Carte' in Gold on Chocolate Chip cs, I thought that gave me the bronze look I was going for.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Supplies Used: Stamps~ Stipple Butterfly, Leaves a' la Carte, Holidays & Wishes.

Paper~ Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Au Chocolat DP.

Ink~ Black Color box, Chocolate Chip, White Craft.

Accessories~ Radiant Pearls, Vintage brads, Chocolate satin ribbon, Su punches: Ticket, Large Oval, & Key Tag, Nestabilities.

Happy April Fools Day!

APRIL, just the sound of that word makes me HAPPY! Yesterday we had a snow storm and today it's sunny and the snow is melting away!!!!! YEAH! I am sooooo ready for spring and today's card is bright and spring like.

I didn't have a chance this last weekend to stamp because I was sitting in a hockey arena most of it. But last night I finally had a chance to work on Beate's weekend sketch challenge. A day late, but, like I say better late than never, right! Now off to try Beate's 'Be Inspired Challenge'

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies Used: Stamps~ Fun & Fast Notes, Stitched.

Paper~ Certainly Celery, Bliss Blue, Pretty in Pink, Pink Passion, Whisper White, Flowers for You DP.

Ink~ Palette Noir Black Hybrid ink, Certainly Celery,Bliss Blue, Cameo Coral, Pretty in Pink, Old Olive.

Accessories~ Three for you punch, Die-cut Blooms, Photo corner punch, 1/4" circle punch, yellow & silver brads, Nestabilities.