need to venti?

So I have a few coffee sets... and I'd love to find reasons to pull as many of them as I can out for the Summer Coffee Lovers Bloghop, so I dusted off my Paper Smooches Hot Concoctions set this morning and found inspiration from the June Paper Smooches challenge.  I added some PTI inks to a piece of card stock, splattered water on it and then dry embossed the panel.   Always something fun around here...  right, but really, I need to go back to work!

you rock

So I own a motel, the Outside Inn, and I get all these amazing repeat guests who visit us.  Well this weekend I had a chance to see some guests who use to make cookies, so I may have dropped a hint that I'd love a cookie.  Well low and behold they brought me a whole bag of cookies!  So I made this card as a thank you... coffee and cookies go hand and hand in my world.  Paper Smooches is having a "Fun & Cute" challenge this month, so I'll enter this, since I've used 2 PS stamp sets on this project (plus a Lawn Fawn tag and saucer and May Arts ribbon).

need to venti?

Happy Sunday crafty friends.  So I made this cute tag 12 hours ago and my day has been such a blur that here I am posting this (and about to pour a glass of wine).  I used the leaves as my source of inspiration and the white background...  used the Paper Smooches Hot Concoctions cup and sentiment, a PTI tag, a Reverse Confetti die cut, May Arts ribbon, packaging material and a tin full of coffee beans... oh the leaf is Wplus9.  I am playing with the latest Paper Smooches SPARKS challenge.  Right-o...  over and out.

need to venti?

Happy Sunday crafty peeps.  Because I'm me, I'm playing along (again) with the Coffee Lovers Bloghop, this time I used the new Paper Smooches SPARKS sketch.  Yesterday I used part of the Basic Grey Serenade patterned paper set (I used the front cover sheet), so since it was sitting in pieces, I thought I'd use up the rest of it.  I've used the Paper Smooches Hot Concoctions set (because we all need two cookies, right?).  I also used some printed vellum and a strip of printed cork and added the MFT steam to my mug.  Hope everyone has a lovely day, it's just me and mount laundry over here at the motel.  

tags and more tags

I have a few projects to share, there's a train of thought between them all, but I'll spare you the non-linear agenda.  The first project is for Jen's Blogiversary, prompted by ~amy~'s project at the beginning of the month (can you believe I've been such a slacker that I made this tag and then forgot to post it?).  Here is a link to the original tag that Jen made that I CASEd.    

And since Jen's project was based on last month's Tim Holtz 12 Tags challenge, I got inspired to play along with the July tag.

And for my final project (the non-linear train of thought has to do with ~amy~ and tags) is a card for the latest Paper Smooches SPARKS sketch challenge.  Sending this off to my college roommate who just had surgery for breast cancer-- look, no pink!  There is a lot of fabulous May Arts ribbon on this post, can I tell you that every time I look at my ribbon collection I smile....  (and it's a bit of a mess and it still makes me happy).  So there you go, many projects that have been waiting in the wings, my sense of completion that I actually posted these before the challenge deadlines, woo hooo!

need to venti?

Happy Tuesday crafty friends.  I was inspired by ~amy~'s card this morning, she's was playing along with the Paper Smooches SPARKS inspiration challenge.  Coffee cards are my go to when I'm looking to play in my craft room.  I used the Paper Smooches Hot Concotions take out mug and sentiment and the Paper Smooches polka dot background.  I used a PTI tag and background and some May Arts silk ribbon.

Not related... yesterday the Amgen Tour of California started in our cute little town-- it was so much fun to see this huge amazing event set up shop and the speed out of town.  Click here to see some great photos of the action.  

just a note and thanks card

This card is based off of this one, but instead of a dry embossed background I used a piece of packaging material and added different May Arts ribbon.  Thanks Paper Smooches SPARKS for the inspiration.  I got another card order last wek, so I've got to make some more thank you and birthday cards.  The thanks card below is based off the CAS(E) this Sketch challenge.  Hope everyone is having a lovely weekend.  Spring is definitely in the air here in California, been fun to dust off the tent and go camping.

with sympathy

Happy Wednesday my friends, one of my card class regulars (and A+ Outside Inn blog commenter's) requested a sympathy card for our next crafty gathering next month, so here's my card.  I've used the Sizzix/Stampin Up embossing folder, Unity background stamp and 2 Paper Smooches sets (sentiment and flower and vase) and 2 May Arts ribbon.  The latest Paper Smooches SPARKS challenge is "anything goes" and the CASolgy challenge is blossom.  I was inspired by this big leafy green potted plant I have in my work office.

coffee & friends tag, thanks!

Happy Sunday crafty friends.  So I made it through a fair bit of the Spring Coffee Lovers Bloghop, wow, so many amazing projects... great inspiration for products I already have and a few "humm... I think I need that."  So I'm playing along again...  today's tag uses the Lawn Fawn set Love you Latte set and I just got the cordination dies!  I also used the interlocking background stamp on the MFT tag die.  And of course, three different May Arts ribbons and the Reverse Confetti Be a Barista sentiment.  You can see that I was inspired by the Fusion Card Challenge sketch (sorry no bow ties).
  

And thanks!  I am always thinking I'll play along with the Paper Smooches Sparks team and then never do.... so thankfully I used the Thanks sentiment on one of the thank you cards I just sent off for a card order.  In addition I used the Altenew flower and the PTI embossing plate and spellbinder dies.  Right-o, off to tackle Mount Laundry at the motel.  

thanks

I haven't played along with Paper Smooches SPARKS in awhile, but since I stalk my lovely blogging pal ~amy~'s blog, she reminded me to play along.  One of my housekeepers at the Outside Inn is leaving us in a couple of weeks, so I thought I'd make a goodbye card with the Paper Smooches Squeaky Clean set.  I've used the MFT tag (thanks ~amy~), with some May Arts ribbon, washi tape, an inked up doily (that I stole from work) and a Paper Smooches sentiment.  I have to say in the back of my head I was thinking of this card.

Happy Halloween!!  For photos of some of the over the top Halloween fun we have in Nevada City, click here.  The only bummer is that it's raining....

Congratulations and Happy Fall, more WCMD cards

So, I'm a total sucker for a good challenge and World Card Making Day has provided a few extra opportunities to play along.  The top sketch is part of the Butterfly Reflections sketch, plus because I used the Paper Smooches sentiment I'm adding it to their Anything Goes Sparks challenge.  I started the panel with a piece of washi tape and then added a layer of glitter tape and May Arts satin pleats.  The flower is from Altenew, with a circle punch a PTI die.

The second card was from Butterfly Reflections WCMD inspiration board, I went for the leaves and had lots of fun playing with some Core'dinations card stock and Lawn Fawn leaves.  Yesterday I spent the day touring local art studios as part of the Open Studios Tour, so much fun.  So I had to squeeze in some overflow WCMD fun the day after.

decorated coffee bag

Can you see my train of thought?  Paper Smooches SPARKS challenge stripe jars….Can you smell the cup of coffee next to me on my messy craft desk? I will admit that I used the decorated coffee bag again (click here for the first go around), but I tried the notebook die on a card base and it just wasn't working…  I've used the Paper Smooches Hot Concoctions take out coffee mug on this project, plus Hero Arts Stamp Your Story brushstrokes and circles, plus PTI notebook and tag dies and a piece of May Arts burlap string.  The hexagons are with embossing paste and a splatter of white mist.  Happy Sunday friends…  I've been MIA on my card blog this week (b/c yes not posting for 4 days= MIA in my world) because I've been working, backpacking and enjoying a fabulous art walk in town….

make a wish city scene

Make a wish city scene... so there's (another) new challenge and this one is called The Cutting Edge Challenge, and I love finding inspiration from Lynn's blog (so since she posted a card this morning I decided to play along-- plus I found the PTI skyscrapers she'd sent me and this challenge used fun watercolors, so I thought that'd be perfect since I don't actually have the stamps that go with these die cuts.  In addition to a bit of sparkling water colors I spritzed the buildings with Tattered Angles mist and then added them to the Simon Says star background die.  My Paper Smooches sentiment on vellum, so I can play along with the Paper Smooches SPARKS Anything Goes challenge (once again, thanks Lynn!).  Can I just tell you that I am not a city girl?  Check out this fabulous photo I took this morning of the little town I call home.

that sucks

The new Paper Smooches SPARKS challenge led me to try several different attempts to create the fun gradient background (I tried watercolors, embossing paste and stencils) and in the end used this tag for a CAS card to give to one of my housekeepers who's leaving us at the Outside Inn.  I've used the Paper Smooches Squeaky Clean vacuum and sentiment, plus a stencil, water color pencils, May Arts ribbon, PTI tag and vellum.  I added the texture on the card base with my scor-pal.  And for some visual proof of the amazing place I live in, check out my work blog post on our backyard local river.  Thanks ~amy~ for the reminder about the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, "stencils."

with gratitude

Playing along with the duo challenge of Runway Inspired and CAS(E) this sketch!  I've used a stencil and black embossing paste, May Arts leaves, WMS Funky Flowers and a Paper Smooches sentiment.  The card is a bit dark for me, maybe it's the CAS lover of white on white...  but being the literal person I was trying to work with the color palette of the inspriation photo.  Paper Smooches SPARKS is having an anything goes challenge, so I'll add this to that challenge too.  Happy Tuesday.

let's chat wine bottle

We all know I love making wine bottle tags... today's card was motivated by a box of recycled letterpress pieces from Full Circle Press, I used part of a wedding invitation for the tag and then stamped the Paper Smooches chair on the blank side of the heavy cardstock.  I added some embossing paste to the tag, using the PTI coverplate as a stencil (super excited about Virgina's View new Stencil challenge, so many options).  And Paper Smooches is having an anything goes challenge this week.  It's hard to tell, but take my word that I used 6 different May Arts ribbon on this project (two colors of faux canvas, burlap string, 4 inch burlap, 3 inch sheer and burlap stripe ribbon).  

new digs

One of the reasons I love all these fabulous card blogs and card challenges is that they jump start my creative process… even when I'm half asleep and drinking coffee.  Today's card came from Lynn's card for the One-Layer Challenge "Road Trip".  I've used a Paper Smooches sentiment, so it'll work for their  "anything goes" challenge this week too.  The caravan is my friend Lindsay's RubberMoon stamp.  I find one layer cards hard…  maybe it's because they all seem too flat after years of adding many layers to my generally simple cards?  Or is that you can't hide your mistakes?  Time to hit the road…. happy Tuesday!

love coffee, let's chat

Happy Sunday!  I love coffee cards... and this morning's project was inspired by this week's Paper Smooches SPARKS sketch, but instead of a card I've just decorated a bag of coffee, I've got a fun wood accent (thanks Lynn), Paper Smooches Vogue Abode sentiment, Cosmo Cricket paper, PTI coffee stamp, a coffee filter, a scrap from a coffee take out holder and 3 different May Arts ribbon (burlap, faux canvas and new favorite metallic ribbon).  Many of you I know are Pinterest addicts, and I have to admit I've been resisting jumping in with two feet for my crafty agenda (I seem to be okay with dedicating time on Pinterest for my work agenda)...  but is there such a thing as too many boards?  Can I lump all my crafty projects into one place?  Here's a link to my not-so-populated crafty board.