Hip Hop Sketch Challenge Card

I hope you are having a great day!  I just have a quick post for you.  Life has been crazy-busy and it's been almost 2 weeks since I stamped anything  YIKES!! I needed to get my stamping mojo in gear so I decided to make something for this week's Unity Hip Hop Sketch Challenge (#10).  I finally inked up my April store Kit- Moments in Bloom and Naturally You.  I love this kit!  My paper flower is made from the bag that my May Kit of the Month came in.  I stamped the ledger on the paper and then used my Tim Holtz dies to punch out the flower.

I'm not sure how I feel about the card, but I am glad I stamped something.  Be sure to check back tomorrow for the Friday Fun Challenge!  It's a good one, I promise.  :)

Caffinated Cropper April Customer Blog Hop

Welcome to the Caffinated Cropper Customer and DT Blog Hop.  If you are looking for my Friday Fun/Friends with Flair Post, please Scroll down! 

You should be joining me from Stephanie's blog. If not, please start at Amy's blog- also if you get lost along the way, Amy has the whole line up on her blog.  

For my card today I combined TWO of the Unity Anniversary Challenges - Carole's Love at First Sight Challenge and Lori, Jenn and Beate's Triple Take Challenge.  EVERYTHING on this card is from the Caffinated Cropper's April Kit With a Cherry on Top with the exception of the Kraft card stock and Unity stamps (from Unity's Lovin' from the Oven.)  That's right- all of the patterned papers, ribbon, rhinestones, button, thread and cork are from this month's kit.  I just LOVE this kit- with all the wonderful papers and embellishments you can many different looks and projects.  

I posted this card earlier in the week, but I just wanted to post it again so you can see the versatility of the kit.  (this card also uses Unity stamps- everything else is from Caffinated Cropper)

These kits are on sale for $29.99 with FREE shipping.  Also, Amy has a Beeez Kneeez/With a Cherry On Top bundle left and some awesome paper bundles on sale- be sure to check them out. 

Your next stop on the hop is going to be Emily!  I am sure she will have something totally fabulous for you today!

Introducing Mr. & Mrs. Mathews

Today's card is for two challenges PLUS it's for a friend of mine who got married recently. Congratulations Tiffany!
The first challenge for the card is this week's Sketch over at the Crazy 4 Challenges blog. The second challenge is the Unity Bachelor Challenge (Week #2). Those requirements are:
Use Unity Stamps (Check- September KOM Go Wish)
Use One Piece of Patterned Paper (Check- PP from Making Memories)
Use something Shiny or Glittery (Check- Rhinestone on the ribbon to emulate a diamond ring)
Use Two Buttons (Check- they are on there!)

I am heading over to the newlyweds house for a reception, I hope they like the card....ok- it's more for Tiffany (girly and pink) than it is for her husband....but hopefully he will appreciate it too.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Two for One Challenge Card

Happy Saturday! Today I have a card that fits two challenges. The first challenge is the Unity Kit of the Month Challenge. Just use images from the July or August Kits of the month and use the colors Orange Purple, Green and Black. For more details check out this thread HERE. The second challenge in this card is Weekend Sketch Challenge # 96. I loved this layout and had to try it for myself.
I used the August kit of the Month Following my heart......I just love this kit!! All card stock and Accessories are from Papertrey Ink.

I also want to remind you that the Etsy Inspired Challenge is celebrating its first birthday. There is a blog hop and prizes! Be sure to check it out- that is what I will be working on next!



Thanks for stopping by- Have a GREAT DAY!

Hip Hop it's Thursday!

Happy Thursday to you! I hope you getting geared up for a fantastic Holiday Weekend. I love Independence Day and I am thankful that I don't have to work this year.
I have two cards for you today both using a sketch challenge. The first one is for the SplitCoast Sketch Challenge # 235. This one was a little difficult for me at first because you have to use little stamps to get 9 images on there....but I pulled out Unity's Lovin' From the Oven (retired) and Voila! This was the very first Unity set that I purchased and while I don't use it that often I think it is totally adorable.
Stamps: Unity's Lovin' From the Oven
Ink: Versafine Black Onyx and SU Riding Hood Red
Paper: Riding Hood Red, Pink Pirouhette, Bella Rose DP
Accessories: Ribbon, Dimensionals, Plain and Scalloped Circle Punches, Scor-Pal, Prismacolor Pencils
My next card is for Jennifer Buck's Guest Designer challenge for Unity. She gave us a sketch to follow and we were to use the May or June Kit of the Month. Well I used June's Kit: Perfect In Every Way. I paired some new DP from My Mind's Eye with Lemon Tart Cardstock from Papertrey Ink. What do you think? This was such a fun challenge, I could not resist.

Stamps: Unity June Kit of the Month Perfect In Every Way
Paper: PTI Lemon Tart, My Minds Eye DP
Ink: Real red
Accessories: PTI Lemon Tart Ribbon and Vintage Buttons, Hemp twine, White Gel Pen, Photo corner punch and Prismacolor Pencil

Thanks for stopping by today! Please be sure to check out the Unity Site for some GREAT deals (I really wish I had some money this week....aaah!) and also Hip Hop with them today on Splitcoast for some chances to win some fabulous prizes.

Have a great day!

Unity Addicts Challenge # 38- Color me Yellow!

Happy Wednesday! This week's Unity Addicts Challenge is brought to us byMaggie. She challenged us to make a monochromatic card. I took this opportunity to ink up my May Kit of the Month, Another Sweet Day and also to use my Prismacolor Pencils. I bought them a few months ago and I need to practice with them more. I think you will see me using them more often since I find it very relaxing to color. It just melts away my stress and takes me to a happier place. ;) When Maggie issued the challenge, I knew right away that I wanted to use the color yellow. When I think of the month of June, for some reason I think of Yellow. Yellow, to me seems to be the perfect color for a warm, Summer day. So here is the card that I came up with:

I cut the Designer Paper on angle and added faux-stitching. I used my new Cutterbee piercing tool which didn't quite work as well as I had hoped. Oh well- at least it wasn't too expensive. If anyone has one and has some tips to get good piercing with it- feel free to share! I need all the help I can get. ;)
Thanks for stopping by today- be sure to check out the other Unity Addicts' blogs for more inspiration. Have a great day!

Stamps: Unity ..another sweet day
Paper: SU: So Saffron CS and DSP; PTI White
Ink: Brown Stazon
Accessories: Prismacolor Pencils, Nestabilities, Cutterbee, So Saffron Ribbon, White Gel Pen

Wednesday's Unity Challenge # 36

I haven't had a chance to participate in the Unity Addicts' challenge in a few weeks so I am really excited that not only did I complete this one- I did it on Tuesday! LOL! Usually I am squeezing it in before work on Wednesday, IF I get to do it at all.
This week's challenge is brought to us by one of my favorite Unity Addicts (Ok, I really love them all...) Michelle! This is her challenge:
"It's almost summer (and it feels like it here, we're having 80F+ weather)! So, your challenge is to make a summer card using the colors of this adorable beach bungalow kitchen (image is from Martha Stewart Living) for COLOR INSPIRATION. If you have a summery image to use, extra brownie points for you! ;)Colors: Tangerine, Turquoise, Yellow, and LOTS of White!"

Below is my card. I guess I get extra points because I used Unity's Beach Days & Sun rays stamp set. You can't get much more Summery than the beach!!

Stamps: Unity Beach Days & Sun Rays
Paper: SU Confetti White, So Saffron, Tangerine Tango, Tempting Turquoise
Ink; black Stazon, So Saffron, Tangerine Tango, Tempting Turquoise
Accessories: Saffron Ribbon, Nestabilities, Dimensionals, Stickles

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Unity Addicts Challenge # 31

Good morning and Happy Thursday! I hope you are ready for Hip Hop in the Unity forum today!
I am posting my card for the Wednesday Unity Addicts Challenge today. Yes, a day late....and I'm a dollar short too. :) The challenge was issued by Taylor and it was to make a 4.25" square card with NO sentiment on the front. I love these kinds of cards because then you can stamp whatever you need on the inside. I used the March Kit of the Month Simple Life. It is my favorite kit so far...until I get the April kit.

Stamps: Unity Simple Life (KOM-March)
Paper: SU Marigold Morning, Cool Caribbean, PTI White, DCWV Pocket Full of Posies DP
Ink: Marigold Morning and Cool Caribbean
Accessories: SU scalloped border punch, American Crafts ribbon and paper flowers, MM Rhinestone brad

Unity Challenge Wednesday # 29

Good morning! Today's Challenge was from Cyndi and she challenged us to use the colors Brown Pink, Orange and Turquoise! I think that is a Great color scheme- a little out of my comfort zone, but beautiful nonetheless.
I got my Hip Hop order yesterday so I inked up Feel the Joy. Can you feel it? I can. :) I made my own patterned paper with the stamp using Versamark and I also used a butterfly from the past kit of the month.
Be sure to check out the other Unity Addicts blogs- I am sure they have some yummy eye candy for you! Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps: Unity Feel the Joy
Paper: SU- Chocolate Chip, Pink Pirouette, Tempting Turquoise and Tangerine Tango
Ink: Pink Pirouette, Tangerine Tango, Close to Cocoa, Versamark
Accessories: Chocolate Ribbon, Oval Punch, Water Mist bottle

Unity Addicts Challenge # 24- Looks Like Spring!

It's Wednesday and that means it is time for the Unity Addicts Challenge. This week Amy sent us this BEAUTIFUL picture of tulips for our inspiration. I love the colors- they remind of Spring which really needs to get here SOON!! :)

Since I had a rough day at work yesterday and I never stamp early it seems, I kept my card pretty simple. I also used my February Kit of the Month Endings and Beginnings. There is nothing like finding Happy Mail to get you out of a work day funk. There are so many CUTE images in this kit that I had a hard time choosing but I finally decided on the vase on the table and the sentiments from the kit "happy" and Spring" Be sure to check out the other Unity Addicts' blogs (see sidebar) for more inspiration and join us tomorrow for Hip Hop in the Unity Forum. The blog hop (which is filled with lots of eye candy) starts at 10 am CT (that's 11 am for my fellow Eastern time girls) and the Hip Hopping chat starts at 11. It's sure to be lots of fun! Stamps: Unity endings and Beginnings (Feb KOM)

Paper: Certainly Celery, So Saffron, Tempting Turquoise and Tangerine Tango
Ink: Certainly Celery, So Saffron, Tempting Turquoise and Tangerine Tango

Acessories: Nestabilites, Ribbon, circle punch, Stickles

Thanks for stopping by- have a GREAT day!

Unity Wednesday- ATC VAlentine

This week Lori challenged us to make ATC Valentine cards reminiscent of the cards we gave out as kids at school. You remember those cute little cards that said things, like "Be Mine?" and had cartoon characters? Yeah, those! I thought the Unity Set Cuter Than Most would be PERFECT for this challenge- and I decided to make one for a boy and one for a girl. Check them Out:

Be sure to check out the other Unity Addicts Challenges for more Valentine's. (see sidebar) Feel free to play along- use keyword USC23 when uploading to SCS. Thanks for stopping by!

Unity Addicts Challenge Card- USC22

Happy Thursday- I hope you are ready for Hip Hop. I apologize for posting my card for Wednesday's challenge a day late- but I caught the flu or something and I have been down with it. Thanks to Zicam and some good old-fashioned rest I am feeling a lot more human today.

This week our fabulous friend Carole challenged us to use a non-valentine stamp in a valentine kind of way- and we also had to use ribbon AND buttons on our card. I used the little whale from Mix up of Cuteness and the sentiment Love Ya. I just recently bought this kit and I was pretty excited for the chance to use it. In fact. the stamping may have helped me feel better more than the Zicam did. ;)

Stamps: Unity Mix up of Cuteness
Paper: PTI White; SU Tempting Turquoise CS and Prints DSP; Cool Caribbean
Ink: Black Stazon, Tempting Turquoise
Accessories: Stickles, Ribbon, Buttons, Nestabilities, Gelly Roll Black Embossing Pen

Thanks for stopping by. Be sure to check out the other Unity Junkies' blogs and join us all for some Hip Hopping fun in the Unity Forum!

Unity Challenge Wednesday # 21

It's hard to believe that we've been doing the Unity Challenges for over 20 weeks! We have had so much fun and this week is no different. Lisa is our challenger this week and it is a good one (i.e. hard). We are to make a card all about LOVE using the following colors: RED, YELLOW (ex. Sunny), PINK and BLUE (ex. robins egg). Very fun!
These colors were tough for me but I think I made them work pretty well. I used two past Kits of the Month and the January Kit of the Month to create my card. Be sure to check out the other Unity Junkies blogs (see sidebar) for more cards. If you play along too use keyword USC21 when you up load to SCS so we can find your card.

Stamps: Unity Love etc. (January Kit), Enjoy Your Stories, and Thinking about the Good Times
Paper: Bashful Blue, Pretty in Pink, Real Red
Ink: Black Stazon, Yo Yo Yellow, Summer Sun, Real Red

Accessories: Nestabilities, Buttons, Red Thread, Red Ribbon

Unity Challenge Wednesay- It's a Bookmark

It's Wednesday and time for the Unity Junkies' Challenge. This week Maria is our hostess and she challenged us to make a "themed bookmark" based on a book that you love.
I don't have a favorite book because there are so many that I love. Currently I am reading Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer- the third book in the Twilight Series. That is the book I chose to base my bookmark on. I used the Love Is Toxic set from Unity because what better describes the love affair of Bella and Edward?

I embossed the "Mine" Stamp with Versamark and clear EP. I stamped the "I Heart blank" stamp in silver and wrote in Edward with my Versapen. Then I embossed both with Silver EP. The Skull in Love was stamped in Red and cut out. I finished the bookmark with Red stickles, Red grosgrain ribbon and Jumbo Eyelet. I am not sure how I feel about this creation- I think I am out of practice with my embossing skills but overall I think it fits the theme of the book.
Be sure to check out the other Unity Junkies' blogs (see sidebar) for more bookmarks and join everyone for Hip Hop in the Unity Forum tomorrow. The Unity staff will be on their way to CHA but we will still be Hip Hopping!

Unity Challenge Wednesday- Inside and Out!

Good morning! I am trying to squeeze this blog post in before I go to work. For this week's challenge, Sara challenged us to stamp on the inside of our card as well as the outside. I kept mine pretty simple since I am crunched for time but I also incorporated Amber's Sketch challenge for this week- USCSC10. It's a really great layout for a card!

I used Unity's January Kit of the Month for my card: Love, etc. Unity has released some great kits so far but this one just might be my all time favorite EVER!! It has so many adorable images it was hard to pick which ones to use first. I used the oval frame, the swirl and the sentiments all my love and together forever. Very cute- I can see these will be used a lot in my future. :)

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check out the other Unity Addicts blogs (see sidebar). The group keeps growing as more and more people become addicted. You will be sure to see some great eye candy as you browse these girls' blogs.



Stamps: Unity Love, etc.
Paper: Old Olive, Cameo coral Rose Red, Raspberry Tart DSP
Ink: Old Olive and Rose Red
Accessories: Nestabilities, Ribbon, Martha Stewart Border Punch

Hip Hop Hangover with some Friday Fun!

I hope everyone is ready for the weekend. Stamping challenges are back full force for me this week and I've got THREE challenge cards to share with you.

The first card is for the Friday Fun Challenge I do with three of my Sassy Friends. Kim is our hostess and she challenged us to make a card with BRIGHT colors. Yikes!! You can play too- just use keyword FFC17 when you upload to the SCS gallery. For more Friday Fun cards visit these blogs:


Jimmi: The Stamping Shopper
Kath: Blame it on the Mojo



Stamps: Unity November KOM "Enjoy your story...laugh"
Paper: Riding Hood Red, Green Galore, PTI White, BoBunny DP Ink: Black Stazon, Riding Hood Red, Green Galore, Yo Yo Yellow, Only Orange, Brillian Blue, Ballet Blue
Accessories: Scallop Border Punch, Nestabilities, Green Ribbon, Dimensionals

Next card I made for the Unity Addicts challenge this week. Kim (a different Kim) challenged us to make a SLIM card.

Sometimes
Less
Is
More

This week's challenge was to keep it simple having only a card base (you can use minimal layers however) one image or sentiment and one embellishment. I did layer my image with silver paper to give it some zing but I only used the stamp Queen For A Day from Unity and some beautiful lavender ribbon I received from Lindsay Spencer. (If you are reading this, Lindsay- I am using up my goodies if you can't' tell....)

Stamps: Unity Queen for a Day

Ink: Lovely Lilac

Paper: Lovely Lilac, Silver, PTI White

Accessories: Lilac Ribbon

My last card is my Hip Hop Hangover card. I combined both the challenges issues by Jeanne in the Unity Hip Hop forum to create this card. The challenge Impressed with Unity calls for using dry embossing or scoring on your card. The Unity Dazzle challenge requires you to use rhinestones on your card. So for this card I did both! This is from Unity's December Kit of the Month: Little Reminders. The past kits of the month are still available! Check out the Unity website here: http://www.unitystampco.com/tags/97

Stamps: Unity: Little Reminders

Ink: Riding Hood Red, Pretty In Pink

Paper: Pretty in Pink, Riding Hood Red, BoBunny DSP

Accessories: Nestabilities, Cuttlebug, PIP ribbon, Rhinestones, Gellyroll pen in Stardust

Speaking of Unity's Kit of the Month Club- if you are already signed up OR if you sign up by the end of January- you will get this beauty Once the month is over you won't get it for month kit price again.....and this kit is just too adorable to pass up.

Thanks for stopping by!! I will be stamping a lot this week and next....because it's only 8 days until the January Mini VSN CRUSH!! So stay tuned - more info will follow soon. ;)

Friday Fun #15, Unity Addicts and a little bit if Hip Hop Hangover!

Phew! Time to get things done for Christmas is running short so I had to combine a few challenges into one. I am sure you understand because as you are reading this you probably realize there's at least one more gift you have to buy or make, Christmas cards you meant to make and send out over a week ago still not finished...a pile of laundry....school parties for your kids, etc. Yeah, I know my fellow stamping friends "get it." :) I know I am not alone in my procrastination and feeling of being overwhelmed.

First this card is for our weekly Friday Fun challenge in which I am the hostess. My challenge is to make a New Year's card. That's right. Besides, you know that if you haven't made your Christmas cards by now and mailed them you may as well just make them a New Year's card because it just ain't going to happen. LOL. Please play along with us and use keyword FFC15 when uploading to Splitcoast. You can find more New Year cards on the following blogs:

Jimmi: The Stamping Shopper

Kim: Papertastic Creations

Kath: Blame it on the Mojo

My card also is for this week's Unity Junkies' challenge. Amy was our hostess and she chose to have us make a monochromatic card. I love this challenge because it's fun and easy! Thanks, Amy!

I also tried a new technique on my card- Ghosting. (I told you I was fitting it all in one, didn't I?) I stamped the Dream Tree from Unity in Pacific Point onto Glossy White Cardstock as well as the sentiment from SU. Then I stamped the snowflakes from Unity's Batch of Bitty Fun set in Versamark all over the glossy cardstock. Next I brayered Baja Breeze on the whole sheet and wiped the snowflakes dry. Then I assembled my card and added ribbon and a snowflake charm I've had for a long time with nothing to use it on.

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you have a fabulous Friday and a wonderful Holiday!!

Unity Challenge Wednesday- My First Scrapbook Page

It's Wednesday and time for the Unity Junkies' Challenge. This week Joy chose our challenge and it is to create a scrapbook page. Gasp! I have never, ever made one- but I wasn't backing down from the challenge. I chose to scrap a very special day in my life: BLACK FRIDAY 2008!!!

LOL! (what did you think I was going to say- my wedding??...NOT!! LOL!) I used the Unity stamp set Shopaholics. I think it is definitely appropriate (especially the sentiment) don't you?

My friends Jimmi, Tiffany and myself got up at 2 am to go shopping this year- and it was GREAT! The picture of all three of us is at 4 am getting ready to go into our first stop- JCPenney. It was sooo cold but we were too buzzed on shopping adrenaline to care. :) The second picture is the back of Tiffany's GMC Acadia. You almost couldn't see out the back window for all the bags. It was great!!

Anyway- thanks for stopping by and checking out my first attempt at scrap booking. It was actually a lot of fun and I may try it again one day. Thanks for the challenge, Joy!!

Unity Challenge Wednesday on Tuesday!

This week we are doing our Unity Challenge a day early since we will be Hip Hopping on Wednesday and stuffing ourselves with Turkey on Thursday. :)

This week Carole was our challenger. She told us to make a Thank You Card (in honor of Thanksgiving) and to make it Red and White (her son's favorite colors). Be sure to check out the other Unity Addicts (or Junkies) blogs for more inspiration. (see sidebar) We want you to play along so use keyword USC14 when uploading so we can find your creation!

My card didn't turn out exactly as I had pictured it but here it is anyway. I used Unity's Simply Said and the Monarchial Flourish Frame.

Paper: SU Riding Hood Red, RDH Prints DP, Shimmer White

Ink: Riding Hood Red

Accessories: RDH Taffeta Ribbon, Ticket Corner Punch, Designer Label Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch