Unleash your joy... 39

Happy August 1st! It's time again for a new Flourishes Bring Back Beautiful monthly challenge.

The challenge for the month of August is The Beauty of CAS (Clean And Simple). Many of us, me included, looove to gussy up our projects with a pretty bow, fancy lace and many more embellishments. This month we are asking you to challenge yourself to create a CAS card, minimizing the use of all the bells and whistles or leaving them off all together! YIKES ~ This is quite the challenge for me! 

To create this card, I first stamped the beautiful solid butterfly image from Fanciful Flourishes followed with the fancy butterfly image, cut/embossed using a Spellbinders Labels One die template. I embossed the white background using a Cuttlebug embossing folder, punched the edges using a decorative Fiskars border punch. I couldn't resist adding a simple mettalic string bow and a few pearls. There you have it - my interpretation of a CAS card!


Thanks so much for visiting! Hope you join along in the fun! Please be sure to visit the entire DT for some amazing inspiration:

Cindy Coutts

Heather Jensen

Kathy Jones
Iwona Palamountain

Laura Fredrickson

Yvonne Hagane

If you join along, link your Bringing Back Beautiful Challenge creation here and if you upload to SCS or an online gallery, please use the keyword BBB13. You have until August 31st to enter! As we unveil our challenge for next month, we'll share our True Beauties - those card makers who wowed us with this challenge! Winners will be featured on the Flourishes Blog and will receive a True Beauty blog button to display proudly on their blog!


***I will be back at today, August 1st @ 3 am Eastern to kick off the Waltzingmouse Stamps August S.O.A.P. Day #1 ~ hope to see you then :)


Supplies Used:

Stamps: Flourishes Fanciful Flourishes

Die Templates & Machine: Spellbinders Labels One, Grand Calibur

Other: Cuttlebug embossing folder, metallic string and pearls from stash

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with Sympathy...CR84FN35 54

Hi there! Hope you are all having a great weekend! It's time already for an all new CR84FN Color Challenge! Thanks so much to all who join in the fun and thanks to those who visit 4FN :) For the next TWO weeks we are playing with the pretty color combo shown below:

The gorgeous photos in the graphic are courtesy of the ever so talented Leslie at a creative mint. I made this Sympathy card for a dear friend who recently lost someone near and dear to them. I have limited patterned paper in my collection so I thought I would get a little inky and create my own. I pulled out some gorgeous Pink Paislee DP from the Anthology Collection which has various "pre" embossed designs on it. All I did was sponge SU ink all over which then reveals the beautiful embossed design. What do you think?

Time permitting, I enjoy creating my own flower embellishments so using the My Favorite Things Rolled Roses dies, I made a few flowers and for a little extra shimmer I brushed on clear glue and dusted the roses with glitter. So EASY and inexpensive to make!

Thanks so much for taking the time to visit! Please hop on over to CR84FN for COMPLETE details on how to join in the fun and for some jaw dropping inspiration, please visit all the designers blogs and don't forget to leave them some love :) Please remember they appreciate kind words as much as you all do who join in!

 Suzanne Czosek

Deborah Frings

Stephanie Kraft
Heather Jensen  

Sue Lelli

Andrea Mathews

Lisa Somerville

*** I will be back tomorrow, with an all new fun Flourishes Bring Back Beautiful challenge. Be Sweet :)
Supplies Used:
Stamps: PTI
Die Templates & Machine: Spellbinders Labels Four, Labels Four SM, My Favorite Things Rolled Roses, Grand Calibur, PTI
Patterned Paper: Pink Paislee Parisian Anthology Collection

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Cherish the Memories... 47

Hi there! Sooo happy it is Friday ~ I'm looking forward to the weekend ~ how about you? I have a few projects to share today. I scrapped a layout using adorable photos of Meredith from quite a few years ago. While I was enjoying some retail therapy at my LSS, I came across some gorgeous Authentique patterned paper which I used to create both the layout and card shown in this post.

 For sketch inspiration, I played along with the current Once Upon A Sketch Challenge:

 I was in need of a Birthday card for a dear blogging friend: Stella Schenkel whom many of you fellow bloggers may know. Stella is such a sweet and creative person. It is my only hope to meet her IRL one day. If you get a chance, please feel free click HERE to visit Stella and wish her a Happy Birthday! I combined    some more of the pretty patterned paper with a gorgeous image and sentiment from the JustRite Stampers Elegant Frames Set:

Just love the shimmer on that beautiful blossom:

That's all for today ~ thanks so much for stopping by! I'll be back Sunday with an all new CR84FN Color Challenge. Be Sweet :)

Supplies Used:
Stamps for LO: JustRite Stampers Cherish the Memories Nested Sentiments for CARD: Elegant Frames Set
Die Templates and Machine: Spellbinders™ for LO: Fancy Tags, Vintage Oval Labels Set, for CARD: Labels Ten, GC-001 Grand Calibur
Patterned Paper: Authentique

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One Stitch at a Time... 56

Hi there! Here today to share a little bit of exciting news and a card I made using a combination of beautiful  Melissa Frances patterned paper along with stamps and dies from My Favorite Things. If you visit me often or even if you just take a peek around, you will notice how much I enjoy creating using Melissa Frances products well, I am tickled pink and honored to have a card of mine shared on the Melissa Frances blog! I would greatly appreciate if you could take a peek click HERE :)

I layered several pretty patterned papers from the Melissa Frances 5th Avenue Collection stitched them together then I inked up the sewing machine image from My Favorite Things Sew Nifty with SU Pretty In Pink ink then added the fun sentiment from the same stamp set. I made the sweet little rolled rose using a My Favorite Things Rolled Rose die:

For sketch inspiration, I played along with the My Favorite Things Sketch Challenge.

Thanks so much for stopping by today! Be Sweet :)

Supplies Used:
Stamps & Dies: My Favorite Things Sew Nifty, Little Open Scalloped Strip, Rolled Rose, Sizzix Vagabond
Patterned Paper: Melissa Frances

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Have Fun! 42

Hi there! Hope you all had a great weekend! I spent Sunday catching up on necessary chores upon returning from vacation such as 4 loads of laundry, bathing my 4 legged furry friends and grocery shopping. Nothing like wearing clean clothes, eating a yummy home cooked meal and snuggling with my fresh smelling puppies in my own Home Sweet Home :)
Before I get to today's project, I need to announce the winner's of my blog celebration give away. Without further delay:

Gale Evans 9said...

Hi Mona, great prizes and congrats on passing 1000 followers! That's quite an accomplishment but not a surprise given your talent and the way you inspire people! My motivation is the fun and joy of creating something out of "nothing"! I'm still, to this day, overjoyed when I complete a project and it looks beautiful!

Yvonne Dalhammer 58said...

Hope you have a wonderful vacation, Mona! Thanks for the opportunity to win! I'm always motivated by the grand feeling I get when I finish a project and it looks good! Thanks!

Thanks so much to all those who took the time to leave such sweet comments sharing what motivates you to create! Ladies, PLEASE email me no later than Wednesday, July 27th 11:59pm Eastern.
Here's a card I made to include with the stamp set give away:

I pulled out some pretty soft colored Melissa Frances Designer paper, a few Waltzingmouse Stamps and Spellbinders dies.

 For sketch inspiration, I played along with the Stampin' Royalty #81 Challenge.

To make the ice-cream cones, I inked up the reverse polka dot stamp from Waltzingmouse Gingham & Co. with SU Soft Sky ink, cut the scoops using the "scoop die" from the neglected Spellbinders Nested Ice Cream Cones (that I embarrassing purchased over a year ago and never used) and to make the cone, I used the "cone die" to cut a piece of Kraft cs then added texture using a Cuttlebug embossing folder:

Thanks so much for visiting today! Be Sweet :)

Supplies Used:
Stamps: Waltzingmouse Gingham & Co., Free Spirit
Die Templates & Machine: Spellbinders™Eyelet Circles, Standard Circles SM, Labels One, Nested Ice Cream Cones, Sizzix Vagabond
Patterned Paper: Melissa Frances
Other: Cuttlebug embossing folder

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CR84FN34 2nd Week 57

Happy Sunday dear blogging friends! Have you missed me as much as I have missed all of you? :) My dear hubby, Scott and I took a Caribbean cruise over the past week and just returned this evening ~ I'll share some photos later this week! I love vacationing but it sure is great to be back home. I think I can speak for Scott and say we both missed our family and furry friends, Gretchen and Griffin not to mention sleeping in our own bed. NOTHING like your own bed and pillow! Don't you agree?

 It's the second week of the CR84FN34 Color Challenge. Thanks to all who have joined along so far and thanks to those who take the time to leave such encouraging comments :) I made this Thank You card for my sweet sister who took care of our fur babies and showed them lots of TLC!

 I combined some beautiful Melissa Frances patterned paper with various Waltzingmouse Stamps. The little butterfly embellishments were stamped using the polka dot background stamp from Off Beat Backgrounds,  the gorgeous polka dot label is from Very Vintage Labels No. 10 and the sentiment is from Rescue Remedies Additions.

 For sketch inspiration, I referred to this weeks Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge:

Thanks so much for visiting! Please hop on over to CR84FN for COMPLETE details on how to join in the fun and for some new inspiration this week, please visit the following designers blogs:

Deborah Frings

Andrea Mathews

Supplies Used:
Stamps: Waltzingmouse Off Beat Backgrounds, Very Vintage Labels No. 10, Rescue Remedies Additions
Die Templates and Machine: Spellbinders
Punches: Fiskars scalloped square
Patterned Paper: Melissa Frances

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Let's Celebrate 77

Hi there! Welcome to my little blog celebration! NOTE: In case you are missing me, I am taking a blog vacation and will be returning Sunday, July 24th. I don't have anything crafty to share today but I do have some treats to share! Things have been a little busy for me between working to pay for my crafty addiction, family affairs, summer vacations, design team commitments and just having fun. I recently have reached 1000 Sweet Blogging Friends ~ a milestone of sorts in the blogging world. Never have I required anyone to join along. I feel so blessed and thankful for a life filled with lots of love, good health and great friends including my blogging friends which brings me to why I am here today.

I started blogging less than two years ago to become more involved with crafters around the world sharing the same passion as I have for creating. I find paper crafting quite rewarding in so many ways. For me it is a great way to use the other side of my brain that I don't get to use at my real job, it's a great stress reliever, thought it was cheaper than therapy but boy was I wrong! :) I enjoy making something whether it is a card, layout or a special homespun gift for family, friends or coworkers. Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined that I would connect with such a vast number of kind, creative people and my little blog would blossom and grow like it has! I couldn't have done it without all of the support and encouragement from all of you who take the time to visit and WOW! What a BONUS to receive sweet comments :)

To show my appreciation and gratitude, I have a couple of small gifts to share with TWO randomly drawn commenters. ***If you would like a chance to win either of these items, simply tell me what motivates you to create?*** One comment per person please. Deadline to leave a comment is Saturday, July 23rd 9:00 pm Eastern.


First is a PTI Delightful Doilies stamp set and coordinating dies:

Second is a $25.00 Amazon.com gift certificate:

Winners will be posted here on my blog on Monday, July 25th. Winners will have until Wednesday, July 27th 11:59pm Eastern to notify me. Thanks so much for all your support and sweet comments :) Good Luck!

Be Sweet :)

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Celebrate You...CR84FN34 57

Hi there! Hope you are having a great weekend~maybe enjoying time with your family! I'm here today with an all new CR84FN Color Challenge and we are celebrating Heather's Birthday! Please be sure to stop by her blog and wish her a Happy Birthday :) Thanks to all who played along with the CR84FN33 Color Challenge and thanks to those who take the time to leave such sweet comments :) For the next TWO weeks we will be playing with the beautiful color combo shown below. Photos courtesy of my dear hubby Scott who took a few pics of some gorgeous flowers while on our recent trip to Kauai :)

Photos courtesy of my dear hubby Scott who took a few pics of some gorgeous flowers while on our recent trip to Kauai :)

The oh so pretty patterned paper from the Pink Paislee Butterfly Garden Collection combined with a few splashes of bright pink fit the bill. I'm lovin' the doily dies and coordinating border dies from My Favorite Things Stamps. I love to make fan fold embellishments and use a score board to do so but I can rarely ever get a perfect score so I broke down and purchased the Rosette die from MFT Stamps and now, I get a perfectly scored rosette EVERY time :) A crafty girls life's simple pleasures huh? The sweet celebrate and you images are from Waltzingmouse Say it Loud set which is FULL of so many useful everyday stamps that can be easily mixed and matched to create a zillion combinations!

Thanks so much for visiting :) Please hop on over to CR84FN for COMPLETE details on how to join in the fun and for some jaw dropping inspiration, please visit all the designers blogs and don't forget to leave them some love :) Please remember they appreciate kind words as much as you all do who join in!

Suzanne Czosek

Deborah Frings

Stephanie Kraft
Heather Jensen  

Sue Lelli

Andrea Mathews

Lisa Somerville

Supplies Used:
Stamps: Waltzingmouse Say it Loud
Die Templates and Machine: My Favorite Things 1/4" Rosette, Dainty Doily Duo, Dainty Lace Border, PTI Tiny Tags, Sizzix Vagabond
Patterned Paper: Pink Paislee Butterfly Garden Collection
Other: Melissa Frances Vintage embellishment

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Some exciting news... 33

 Hi friends! Hope you are all having a great weekend! I have some exciting news to shout from the rooftops! I am tickled pink and honored to have had one of my projects shared in the latest and greatest LIVE PINK A CREATIVE LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE ISSUE 2. VOL 1! This magazine is FULL of awesome inspiration and is available NOW for FREE download - click HERE! I would greatly appreciate it if you would take a peek and let me know what you think :)

While you are visiting the Pink Paislee blog, be sure to check out all the sneak peeks of the new and fabulous Pink Paislee products that will be revealed at CHA next week! Hope you have a great weekend! I'll be back tomorrow with an all new CR84FN Color Challenge. Be Sweet :)

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...the same Language 39

Hi there! Soooo happy it is Friday for many reasons! More on that another date and time... ;) I had some "me" time today so I made this card combining some of my favorite paper crafting goodies. I'm not biased - I love so many companies (just ask my DH ;), after all ~ Variety IS the spice of life! Everyone Smiles in the same Language ~ isn't that the truth? Many of us paper crafters don't speak the same language, we are from places around the world and come from different walks of life, but I think it is pretty safe to say we all welcome a warm smile? :)

I inked up the beautiful JustRite Stampers sentiment with PTI Raspberry Fizz ink, framed it with a sweet polka dot frame from Waltzingmouse Stamps then layered on top of a darling doily from My Favorite Things.

I gave a stab at making some tulle flowers. I LOVE flowers as many of you do and I LOVE the convenience of grabbing a pre-made one from my stash but I also find it quite satisfying, rewarding and a bit easier on the crafty budget to create my own. I referred to a tutorial that Betsy Veldman shared quite some time ago on her blog.

For sketch inspiration, I played along with MOJO Monday. For awesome inspiration, be sure to check out the site!

Thanks so much for stopping by! Hope you have a great day! Be Sweet :)

Supplies Used:
Stamps: Waltzingmouse Vintage Circles Small, JustRite Stampers 3 1/4" Smile - Interlocking
Die Templates: Spellbinders, My Favorite Things, PTI
Patterned Paper: The Girls Paperie

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