Welcome to my Chocolate Shoppe!

Hello!

Whew! I've had a very busy week and the rest of the week is even worse.... but today I did have time to play a little. Clear Dollar Stamps is having a Guest Designer Call, and I made this card for it. The challenge was to add something that dangles to your card. My "dangling" item is the "sign" which I dangled from my "awning" with a piece of a chain I had saved from an old key chain.

This card was fairly labor intensive... so the details might be too, but here is the recipe:

Clear Dollar Stamps: Chocoholic

Acetate box top saved from a BasicGrey Brad Purchase

Chain saved from discarded key chain

High Tac Glue (Flower Soft)

Nesties: Small Scalloped Oval for doilies, Label#3 and Circle

Cuttlebug and Distressed Stripes Folder

Two Martha Stewart Edge Punches for "curtains" and "awning"

Sponges

Crop-a-dile

Prisma Pencils and Odor Free Mineral Spirits

Stickles in Cotton Candy, Frosted Lace and Platinum

Stardust Clear Glitter Gel Pen

"SU! Sanded on vanilla" ... a RAK from Peggy which I sponged Creamy Caramel for the shelf in front of window

Paper: Papertrey Dark Chocolate CS, Georgia Pacific White, SU! Kraft, BasicFrey "Blush", Memory Box pink

Ink: Archival Jet Black, SU! Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel

I thought when I bought the BasicGrey Brads that the box top would make a great window some day... today was the day! I cut it to size, then measured the openings and drew and cut the frame around them from Kraft CS. I used a Prisma Pencil to draw in the "pane" lines and did a little sponging for shading. I stamped the cake pieces in Archival Jet Black and the little cupcakes in Chocolate Chip. Because of their size in relation to the cake I'm calling them Petitfours! LOL! I colored them with Prisma Pencils and blended with Odor Free Mineral Spirits, cut them out, then topped with Stickles and set aside.

I cut out my "wall" color from my Memory Box 6 x 6 pack and cut a piece of a RAK from Peggy that was SU!'s Sanded Bg on vanilla for my shelf. I sponged it with Creamy Caramel. I cut a piece of BasicGrey Blush DP and punched the lower edge with a MS edge punch for a curtain and glued all pieces in place. I used my little scalloped oval Nesties and cut little "doilies" for the goodies, cut them just slightly less than half size, and rounded the back corners, then glued my goodies onto them. On the doilies I used a pen to make tiny dots and then topped that with my Stardust Clear Glitter Gel Pen, as I also did on the plates.

My card itself is Chocolate base from Papertrey, then layered with a Cuttlebugged and sponged layer of GP White. My dangling item is my Chocolate Sign... made by cutting a Label 3 in PT Dark Chocolate twice, then stamping my sentiment in Archival Jet Black on GPW and using a Nestie Circle to cut it out. I mounted it on the Label, added a punched hole through which I passed the chain, secured to the back and then added the second layer label 3 to the back to further secure it. I cut another piece of BasicGrey and punched it and scored it to make the awning. I punched a hole at the center point top... and passed the chain through that, using high tack glue inside to secure it. I used the same glue to attach the awning to the top of the card. (Note: I had scored lines to make folds in the awning so it is 3-D. I glued my window in place and then I used another punched edge of BG DP and another sentiment from this fun 12 piece set to the inside. It says "From one cocoa nut to another".

I had a blast... albeit a LONG blast making this card~ it was very nostalgic for me because my husband and I used to own a Candy Shoppe and we sold the best chocolates around!!! Yummy!!! Next to coffee... chocolate is probably my next addiction. I LOVE chocolate!

Check out the Clear Dollar Guest Designer Challenge here if you are interested!

Thanks for taking a look at my blog today... have a blessed day!

Clear Dollar Weekend Color Challenge

Hello everyone! I hope you all are having a wonderful weekend! We are enjoying fantastic weather here in NC... in fact it's down right hot! We are doing some yard work so I'm sure tonight I'll be moaning with pain, but it's so good to have this great weather to get things done!

Today's card was actually made last night. I made this for the Clear Dollar Weekend Color Challenge. Linda instructed us to use Barely Banana, Baja Breeze and Green Galore, with white as an optional neutral. I guess I'm funny but I love the yellow and blue together... and I love the yellow and green together, but working in the bold bright green with the other two wasn't that easy for me. I was tempted to just color my leaves with the green... but in the spirit of a true challenge, a did use one matting layer in Green Galore, and I sponged my sentiment panel with it... so a pat on the back for using a color I'm not fond of! LOL!

Anyway... here is what I did: I used two Clear Dollar Sets. My flowers are the "April Flower of the Month" set, and my sentiment is from "In God's Hands".

In case you can't read it, it says" When we put our cares in His hands, He puts His peace in our hearts". Isn't that a GREAT sentiment... and so true! I love the wonderful Scriptures and verses that CDS have... I have several sets but most of my sets are just sentiments so these challenges are sometimes difficult. This time, the Daisies were a no brainer for me! I stamped them onto Georgia Pacific White, colored them with Prisma Pencils and blended with blending stumps and Odor Free Mineral Spirits. I then cut them out leaving just a tad around the outline, and colored that with my Copic Marker B10.

My layers are: a base of Baja Breeze, yellow gingham from Making Memories, the QuiKutz label with one mat of Baja Breeze and One of Green Galore, and the sentiment on GPW. I added a small layer of GPW which I had punched with my Martha Stewart edge punch and slipped that behind a SU! Baja Breeze ribbon. I also tied a little white ribbon around my daisy bouquet.

It's a simple layout today, but fresh and springlike... and I like how it came out. Hope you do too!

Thanks for stopping by my blog! God bless your day!

EDIT: Yippee! This card was chosen by Linda Borneman, the challenge hostess to be featured on her blog here

Thank you Linda... what an honor!!!

Oh for Two More Hands!

Hello everyone! I hope you all are having a great Friday and are looking forward to the great weather we are having here in NC! The eighty's for the next few days sounds great to me!!!

This card was made for a weekly challenge that a few friends do each week over on SCS. We were to make a coffee themed card, use pink and brown, punches, brads and doodling.

When Dawn and I met for coffee and a trip to our LSS a couple of weeks ago, I had this stamp in my hand and put it down because I just couldn't spend any more money... and that unknown to Dawn... she bought it! In my Easter card were several of these stamped images for me! I was so excited... I just had to use it for today's challenge! Thanks so much Dawn!

I used my new nesties for this... love them!!! I colored the image with a combination of Copics and Prisma Pencils because I still don't seem to have the perfect colors of Copics..... it's a collection in progress! After coloring the image I used Diamond Glaze on the mugs to give them a shine. I sponged Close to Cocoa around just about everything. I also used my Stardust Clear Glitter Gel Pen to doodle the coffee wafts, bunny eyes and buttons. I think if you click on the photo to enlarge it you might see the glaze that you can't see in the regular size.

My sentiment is computer generated. These were the first words that came to my mind when I saw this image! I mean two cups is a given for me.... the real question is how many more will it take to get me cranking! LOL! I just know if I had two more hands they'd both be filled with more coffee!!! I used my punches to punch and layer the sentiment. My doodling is the stitching on the pajama top and the polka dots on the bottoms. This was done with a Chocolate Chip Marker.

Here are the materials I used:

Papertrey Chocolate CS as base

SU! Regal Rose matting, sponged with Close to Cocoa

BasicGrey Blush DP

Diamond Glaze

SU! Ribbons

Stardust Clear Glitter Gel Pen

Copics and Prisma Pencils in colors shown, blender stumps, Goo Gone to blend

Just a final note.... I took my photo before I added some "ground" under her feet, and a little halo around her but I just don't have time this morning to take and edit more pics. Maybe later I'll be able to change it out but for now... this will have to do. I think I met all the requirements of the challenge and I hope it brought a smile to your face this morning!

Have a fabulous weekend and take some time to thank God for all He's done for you!

Wow... what an honor!

Hello everyone! I was busy today and didn't get to make a card, but "Itsabrt" made my day by sending me this uplifting award and such kind words. Check out her fun and inspirational blog : http://inkyfingersrule.blogspot.com/ It will be worth the time! Thank you so much for making my day!!!

Now, the rules for receiving this award:

1. The winner can put the logo on her blog.

2. On your blog, link the person you received your award from.

3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs

4. Put links of those blogs on yours

5. Leave a message on the blogs you've nominated

What a great way to share with the rest of blogland some great blogs they might not have seen yet and might just really want to visit again and again! So here are my nominees:

Barb: http://bsgstamps4fun.blogspot.com/

Janette: http://stampinwithstyle.blogspot.com/

Crystal: http://crystalkbk.blogspot.com/

Sue: http://suessentiments.com/wordpress/

Silke: http://silkeledlow.blogspot.com/

Joan: http://stampingwithapassion.blogspot.com/

Roseanne: http://sumtoy.blogspot.com/

I encourage you to check out these ladies blogs! They all have talent to be envied and will inspire you endlessly! Finally, I encourage you to visit Women to Women for inspiration and blessings for your soul!

Thank you all for visiting! I'll have a card for you tomorrow! Today was a day to work on a variety of duties! Tomorrow I hope will have some play time! Have a great night!!!

2 Red Bananas Favorite Animal and Sketch

Hi there! Thanks for stopping by today!

I made this card for two challenges: the sketch challenge on SCS and 2 Red Bananas "You're an Animal" challenge in which we were to use our favorite animal on our card. If you'd like to play along, click on the 2 Red Bananas Banner on my right side bar!

The sketch was a fun block layout and I used a Fiskars Texture plate that has the cutest little butterflies and flowers on it, which I thought were perfect for the little kitty chasing that butterfly image I was using. I ran GPW through the Big Shot with this texture plate but didn't feel the texture would show up in a photo, although irl it was very cute. At any rate, I ended up using my embossing stylus to add some depth to the embossed images and then outlined with a clear glitter gel pen.

My image is stamped with Memento Black ink and colored with Copics. Isn't this the cutest kitty? The stamp is from Rubber Stampede, and the little paw prints are from Hero Arts. I layered my image on basic black and ran my Yo Yo Yellow marker around the edge, clipping the corners with the ticket corner punch. My blocks are layered on YoYo Yellow and mounted on basic black base. I think it came out cute and I know just who is getting this!!!

Thanks for having a peek! Have a great day!!!

Praying for you with sympathy color challenge and Mojo Sketch

Today I used the color challenge from SCS which was to use Pink Pirouette, Rose Red, and Basic Grey. I also used Julee's Monday Mojo Sketch. See a link to her challenge in my right side bar and play along!

I need two sympathy cards this week and they are the hardest cards for me to make. These however are going to friends whose loved ones knew the Lord, and we have the assurance they are now resting in the arms of their Savior. No more pain and illness... just pure joy in Jesus! We miss our loved ones here and now, but how wonderful to know we will be reunited one day!

I used designer paper by SU!: Bella Rose, and SU! Rose Red. My grey is The Paper Co. and the white is Georgia Pacific. I stamped my sentments in Archival Jet Black and the K&Co butterfly in Rose Red. I stamped the butterfly twice and glued one down, then glued only the body on the second one, lifting the wings slightly. I used a Martha Stewart edge punch and a ribbon slot punch for my Rose Red Ribbon. I also added some silver Dew Drops for the side in two sizes, and in the small size for the butterfly trail.

My sentiments are: Sweet 'n Sassy (With Sympathy), Verve (Praying for you) and on the inside I used a sentiment from Verses Rubber Stamps. I stamped that sentiment right on the Bella Rose DP. I hope it will bring some comfort to my friends to know they are in my prayers!

Thank you for stopping by! I so appreciate it!

House Mouse Springtime Monday Challenge

Hello everyone! I feel like I have been gone for a month!!! I am totally exhausted to the point of hardly being able to put one foot in front of the other, but I'm thankful that I was able to help my daughter and son in law move into their own home. They are very happy to be out of their rental, and into their home. They have beautiful mountain views in every direction! I had a hard time prying myself from the windows!!! God is so good!!!

I really had a hard time getting back into stamping this afternoon for some reason.... I guess the long absence made me lose my mojo. I saw the House Mouse Monday challenge to use a Springtime theme, and that is what got me going.

I used my "Singing in the Rain" stamp by Stampabilities, stamped it in Archival Jet Black on Georgia Pacific White. I colored the image with Prisma Pencils and blended with Goo Gone... a trick shared with me by my in real life stamping friend, Dawn. It seems to slide over the GP paper a bit smoother than odor free mineral spirits.

Once I had the image colored I still wasn't quite feeling a great layout for it, but I kept thinking "umbrella".... but I don't have any umbrella images. I decided to try hand drawing one, and this is the result. I drew the umbrella on DP by Daisyd's. I love this pack of dp! I drew in the seam lines in pencil, then pierced them closely, and then doodled in faux stitching. I erased the pencil lines and drew a handle on a scrap of tan cs, cut it out and glued it behind the umbrella. I stamped the sentiment (Studio G) and matted it in the violet I used for my base (a textured cs from Walmart... unknown brand). I used my SU! slot punch to punch this panel, then "hung" it on the umbrella handle and mounted it on dimensionals. This little mouse has cast off her umbrella and is just enjoying every drop of spring rain!

My white panel is cuttlebugged with the bubbles embossing folder. I wanted to add ribbon but couldn't make it look uncluttered with it... so left it as is. I added Stickles to the Violet, the raindrops, and her little toenails. I know the night time photos never show the cards well, but I just wanted to post this tonight. I hope you enjoy it and thanks so much for taking the time to look and leave me a comment! It means ever so much!!!

Happy Easter to you all!

Hello everyone! I didn't get to stamp today but I thought since I'm going to be gone for a little over a week, I'd show you a couple of Easter cards I made with the new Verve set that I won. It's called Everlasting Life and I just have loved using it! I have already used it 'til it looks old!!! Anyway... here are a couple cards I made and mailed out.

I started out making everyone a different card... but after about the first 8 I decided I needed to streamline the process. The clean and simple card on the left is the one I settled on for a quick finish. I stamped the sentiment right on the card and only layered the oval nesties for the cross image. Inside both cards I stamped the words to John 3:16, which is also a part of this set. It was just perfect for my Easter cards. The card on the right is just a little "more" but very similar. I used three layers for the oval, and three for the sentiment panel. The dp I used on both cards is from Papertrey. The solid green is also Papertrey "Spring Moss", as is the ribbon.

I wish I had taken pictures of the first eight but I was in such a rush to mail them as they were going out of the country, that I forgot to photograph them. Oh well... next time, right?

I will be missing in action next week. My kids are coming tonight and we'll be busy, and then I go back with them Sun. afternoon for the week to help them with phase 2 of their move... getting out of storage and into their home! I'm so happy for them to have this behind them. It's been a long hard process, but they are just about home now. I look forward to catching up with everyone when I get back!

I hope you all have a blessed Easter and I hope you will find some time to thank the Lord Jesus for what He did for us! His love for us in unmeasureable! Rejoice!!!

Verve Mojo Monday Sketch # 81

Hello everyone! I made this card LATE last night for Julee's Mojo Monday Challenge. See my right side bar for a banner link to the challenge if you'd like to play along!

I used my new Verve set... remember that I won a set during the last blog hop? Well.... this is the one I chose for free! It's called Everlasting Life, and I just love it!!! The cross in this set is gorgeous and I made about a dozen cards with it which I have already sent out, and there are some wonderful sentiments and also it has John 3:16, which I used inside most of my Easter cards. LOVE this set! But this time I chose the flower in the set. I thought it went well with SU! Rasberry Tart DP. I used Regal Rose as my base, used a top fold, and used Watercolor paper for my image and sentiment panels. I stamped in Archival Jet Black and I watercolored with inks and a paint brush. I stamped the flower twice and colored twice, then cut out the biggest flower and the bud, and paper toled them with dimensionals. I matted these panels with Kiwi Kiss. The ribbon is SU! Pretty in Pink, and there is a layered Prima, brad, and three dew drops which I attached with mini glue dots.

I'm pushing the calender on getting this mailed on time but it's going out today! Hope it makes it in time!!!

Thanks for taking a peek at my blog, and I hope you like this springy cheery Easter card!

Penny Black Sketch Challenge

Hello everyone!

Today's sketch challenge on SCS was a really fun one! I still had this Penny Black stamp out on my desk and thought it would be cute in this sketch. I stamped it with Archival Jet Black and colored it with Prisma Pencils and blended with Goo Gone. I added a touch of sparkle with my Stardust Clear Gellyroll pen. I don't think you can see that unless you click on the picture and see the close up, but it's there... I promise!

The papers I used are the same as a few days ago... Old Olive, Lasting Impressions Kiwi Dots, and GP White. I ran two panels through the Cuttlebug for some texture. I thought it was close to the patterning on the cabbage.

I'm short on time today... hope you like this!

Thanks for stopping by my blog and for leaving those sweet comments! They mean so much!

Sweet House Mouse Birthday

Hello everyone!

Today's color challenge on SCS was Close to Cocoa, Bashful Blue and So Saffron. These were perfect colors for me to use with this sweet House Mouse image for the Monday HM challenge #32. The HM challenge was to use the theme of sweet.... it could be a sweet image, the word sweet... or anything else that had to do with "sweet". I used this cute Stampabilities image of the mice popping corn over the birthday candles. I thought it was sweet in itself, but just in case (LOL) I added a "sweet" sentiment from Studio G.

These colors are soooo pretty together! I used my SU! Delicate Dots DP. I thought the So Saffron pattern almost looked like popped corn!

My image is stamped with Archival Jet Black and then colored with a combination of Prisma Pencils, blended with goo gone, and SU! markers, colored wet on wet with a paint brush. The most difficult part was that this image is smaller than many of my HM stamps so the coloring was a bit harder to see!!! (I really do need new glasses badly...lol)

My accesories are pretty simple... bashful blue and so saffron ribbons, tied with a silver cord, and clear glitter added with Stardust clear glitter gel pen. This card is going in the mail right away. I got behind trying to make Easter cards and almost let an important birthday slip by!

Thanks for stopping by my blog! I hope you enjoy the visit and come back again soon!

Grace

Flower Pot Pocket Card for Easter

Hello everyone and a happy Monday to you! Today's Technique Lover's Challenge on SCS was this cute little Flower Pot Pocket Card. I LOVE this technique!

Lynn linked us to Stephanie Luman's blog for the tutorial on how to make this. You can find that here.

The tutorial called for using a Sizzix die cut for the flowers but since I don't have that, I just cut flowers out of my DSP. This DSP is from the Paper Studio. I also used the Paper Sudio Kraft for my base. I added leaves cut with the SU! Sizzix Die Cut and a Martha Stewart Leaf Punch and cut these from green scraps I found in my stash. My Insert is stamped with a new Verve Stamp (Everlasting Life) on Georgia Pacific White. I added some ribbon and bling and done.

I hope you like this spring project and you might want to check out the tutorial and try it for yourself! Thanks for taking a peek at my blog today!

Women to Women

Hi everyone!

I just wanted to encourage you to come visit Women to Women this week! Diane invited me to write the devotional for this week and it's posted now. Women to women is a wonderful blog designed for women to share with other women their relationship with Jesus Christ. I'd love to have you stop by and say hi!

You just might want to make it a weekly stop! If you love Jesus.... you'll love Women to women!

Hope to see you there!

Some Bunny Loves You Penny Black

Hello everyone and happy weekend to you!

Today I have just a fun little card to share with you. I made this last night to take along with me when I met a fellow stamper, SCSer Dawn (flowergal36). We met for coffee this morning and I just wanted a cute little fun card for her. This is really her style of card... a top fold, a cute image, and a wide ribbon at the top. I have come to love this style too... it just works so well with most images!

This is a little Penny Black stamp that I picked up at a consignment sale at a local stamp store! I just love when I get a bargain on something I love! I love Penny Black designs!

I stamped this one with Archival Jet Black and colored it with Prisma Pencils and blended with goo gone. I used Old Olive as the base and the dotted designer paper is Lasting Impressions "Kiwi Dots". I love the colors in this dp and thought it went perfectly with OO. I ran the dp through the cuttlebug and added some dew drops, stickles and glitter gel pen. Inside I cut a Nestie Label one shape and stamped a Studio G sentiment that says Some Bunny Loves You. It's just a cute little springy card.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend! Don't forget to stop in and say hi at Women to Women this week!

You Make My Heart Smile

I was just starting my late night rounds on the blogs I surf and was so surprised to see my blog listed on Maria's site! She is giving me this You Make my heart smile award! I'm so happy! My first ever blog award! Check out Maria's blog for some great inspiration! You'll be glad you did! It's here:

Now I would like to pass this award on to the following people who truly inspire me:

http://twinklesglow-glowbug.blogspot.com/ (Chris)

http://sjbutterflydreams.blogspot.com/ Sabrina)

http://sgtstamper.com/blog/ (Jamie)

http://mystampingthyme.blogspot.com/ (Dawn)

http://jarfullofjoy.blogspot.com/ (Judy)

http://rosesbymywindow.blogspot.com/ (PeggySue)

http://mothermark.blogspot.com/ (Cindy)

http://enjoythevasunshine.blogspot.com/ (Teresa)

http://stampscrapandmore.blogspot.com/ (Elizabeth)

http://butternutsagedesigns.blogspot.com/(Donna)

All of these ladies are talented and will inspire you with their creativity! Stop by and check out their blogs! And Maria... thank you for this award and for the inspiration you are to me!!!

Ocean's 11 Challenge #4 Clean and Simple

OK PeggySue... You said do a square CAS card... so here it is! Simple it is... but with this designer paper from Memory Box... who needs more? I bought this 6 x 6 pack because of this scene and one other that I just love. I knew this would be the perfect backdrop for some of my animal images.

So this cute little ewe is a Whipper Snapper image which I inked in Memento and then colored with Copics. Isn't she just the cutest?

The card base is Baja Breeze. I added some stickles to the flower and bow, and other than that... nada!

I told you I don't do CAS well... but I do have to say this was fun to make a card start to finish about 10 -15 minutes. Thanks for making me do it PeggySue!

I hope you like this. I might just try some more CAS cards since this one went so quickly! Thanks for taking a peek at my blog!

A Green Tea Sketch

Hello everyone! I hope you are having a good day where you are! I have been busy baking today for a Church fundraiser the youth are doing for a mission trip. I needed to take that to Church tonight so that came first. With that done I finally could start playing with my stamps!

Today the challenge on SCS was a sketch challenge, one of my most favorite challenges! I knew as soon as I saw the slanted panel that I would put a sentiment or verse in that panel. I decided on my Clear Dollar set "In God's Hands". The sentiment, in case you can't read it says: "He who kneels before God can stand before anyone."

How true! I love the font on this set! It's so elegant and stamps perfectly!

I used SU! Green Tea DP for this card. Cut the layers and mounted on GP White. I added a Baja Breeze ribbon which is virtually hidden now. Then I cut my sentiment panel out three times with my QuicKutz Die Cut and my cuttlebug. The die cut has the main panel and two tiny borders around it so I took one Baja Breeze border and one Old Olive layer and matted the pane. I sponged lightly in BB around the edges and mounted that. Then I used the Sizzix Leaf Die Cut from SU! and cut two clusters of leaves. I used my embossing stylus to draw in vein lines, then sponged OO onto the leaves to try to pick up a little elevation from the veins. I think that really helped a lot. Sharon Johnson on Stamp Simply has some of the greatest ideas! Check out her blog in my right side bar for inspiration some time. She had recently suggested cutting out your designer paper instead of stamping. So today I tried that. While it was pretty I again felt it was too flat so I sponged around the outside edges and the very centers of the flowers with BB. I highlighted the stamens with my Signo white gel pen. I'm thinking I still need to do a little more to make these pop but for now this is going to have to do. I mounted the flowers on dimensionals and that helps give that dimension it needs.

So all told... this was a quickie project. Hope you like it!

It is raining here again!!! Last night on the news they said we only had 7 sunny days in March here in NC. No wonder I am so ready for the sun! We do need rain, so I'm not complaining, and the grass is really green now... the trees are just bursting at the seams to leaf out... so it's just around the corner... I can't wait!