For the Love of Buttons!

Raise your hand if you love buttons! I don't know what it is about these small round things but if I could have jars of them in every color available I would. :) They are the perfect accent to just about any project, which is why I was immediately drawn to the 365 Cards challenge to use 15 buttons on a card. And I also decided to use Kazan's sketch #64 over at 2 Sketches 4 You.

I love how this card turned out. Thanks Kazan for the inspiring sketch! I simply turned the sketch on it's side. The yummy buttons and lovely senitment are from Papertrey Ink. The adorable snowman is from an older MME collection that I have been hoarding for 2 years. The great patterned paper is from Basic Grey's Eskimo Kisses collection and the large rikrak is May Arts.

Thanks for visiting!

Oh and if you are a button lover too you might be interested in these creative buttons from some talented crafters on Etsy!
Tessa Ann
Such Sweet Tierney
Kimmieprout

Just Keep Swimming (Take 2)

So, you may remember my Just Keep Swimming card from a few days ago. Today I'm sharing an updated version. It was so incredible close to Kazan's sketch #57 over at 2 Sketches 4 You that I decided to tweek it a bit to fit the sketch and take the opportunity to make the card even better!

My 3 embellishments are on the right side instead of the left but otherwise the layout is pretty much the same.




The two little fish popped up on foam squares add extra dimension to the bottom area of the card and give it better balance I think. I'm really happy with this fun and cute encouragement card! I am also entering this card into the Moxie Fab World's Card Style Fun and Cute challenge.

Thanks for stopping by! I will be back tomorrow with another project to share!

This card was created using Cosmo Cricket's Snorkel collection and a little Bo Bunny double dot cardstock for the edge of the sun.

Elegant Wedding Card

Hello everyone! We have been busy, busy this week with tennis camp, swimming lessons, and possibly the purchase of a new home!!! We are getting ready to put in an offer next week so we'll see what happens.

I've been doing some crafting this week...lots of projects to share with you all in the next few weeks! :) Today I wanted to share a card that I created using Kazan's sketch #57 over at 2 Sketches 4 You. I am also submitting this card to the Card Style Classy and Elegant challenge in the Moxie Fab World.


I really enjoyed working with this sketch and discovered a great new use for my AC Thickers brackets/parentheses. And since each Thickers set has different shaped brackets, you can really create a lot of fun borders with them!

This card uses My Mind's Eye Lush collection, American Crafts Dear Lizzy thickers, some tulle, and Martha Stewart butterfly punch and coarse glitter.

I thought this would be a great wedding card. Here is a close up of the little tulle flower/embellishment I created.


Okay, I'm off to submit a few things now and then clean up around here...my craft space is a mess! If we get this new house I will finally have a little room to craft in!!! Have a great day!

2 Sketches 4 You Challenge

Well, I have been crafting my little heart out this week and I absolutely had to make sure to create a few cards for the 2 Sketches 4 You challenge because the winner will be getting a spot on their Design Team! What a fabulous prize!

So I came up with two different cards based on Laura's Sketch #56.

First up is a fun little Valentine/Love themed card.

This pretty in pink card uses Papertrey Ink cardstock, Bo Bunny double dot paper, Doodlebug Designs chunky glitter (love this stuff!), a ticket from Teresa Collins (Crush die-cut charms), and some seam binding. I love how perfectly seam binding threads through my sewing machine so I can easily create this ruffled look. I actually did two layers to give this card extra frills. :) I also popped one of the hearts up on some foam squares for added dimension.

For my second card I went with a fresh color combination and simple sentiment.

Can you tell I'm on a bit of a glitter kick this week?! :) For this card I used some of Echo Park's Sweet Summertime collection and American Crafts Thickers. Do you ever use up all your semi-colons, periods or dots for the i's and j's? I don't...so I've been working on some creative ideas for using them up. For this card I used them to create the circle. I like how it adds focus to the sentiment.

Okay, that's it for me today but I will be back tomorrow! Have a great afternoon!

love - Etsy Inspired Challenge #95

Today is an exciting day for the Etsy Inspired team because we have 4 fabulous new design team members and a new guest designer for the month too! I just want to personally welcome the new gals...I have already stopped by your inspiring blogs and I can't wait to see what you have created for your first week! :)

I love the shop we have for you to be inspired by this week! Kimmie Prout is filled with fun and colorful polymer clay embellishments...perfect for card making and scrapbooking!


I adored the colors and designs on these buttons and immediately pulled out my Echo Park Sweet Summertime collection to start crafting. I was also inspired by 2 Sketches 4 You current sketch challenge. Instead of squares I used hearts and I really like the end result. The letters are from American Crafts Dear Lizzy collection and the cardstock is Bazzill Basics.

If you like these buttons too then you are definitely going to want to play along in the challenge this week because Kimmie Prout will be giving one winner $15 plus free shipping for her shop. And we also have another wonderful sponsor this week, Pink Cat Studios, who will be giving one winner 5 free digi images!

Okay, now I know you are ready to play so head on over to Kimmie Prout's shop and find an item that inspires you, create a project of your own and link it up to the Etsy Inspired blog for your chance to win!

Before you get started be sure to visit the new Design Team! I know they have some amazing projects for you to be inspired by too!

• Ashley
• De
• Emily B
• Emily N
• Heather (July Guest Designer)
• Jackie
• Joy
• Kerry
• Savannah
• Stephanie
• Virginia

Have a wonderful 4th of July weekend!

I {heart} U - 2S4Y

Hi all! I have been busy organizing my craft space but I took a little time yesterday to create a card using Laura's sketch this week for 2 Sketches 4 You.


Here is the sketch that was the inspiration for this card. I knew I wanted to do some stitching along the top and bottom of the card but played around a little until I settled on this kind of wavy and random double line stitching. The letters are from Cosmo Cricket's Girl Friday collection...such a great line! I created my felt heart by cutting two petals off of a Creative Cafe felt flower and then embellishing it with a tiny button. Then I finished off the card with two more Basic Grey buttons...now it's all ready to give to a special someone! :)

Okay, I'm off to bed for the night! Enjoy the rest of your week!

Spreading the Love!

One of the things I love so much about card making is the joy it brings to others. I know my family and friends always enjoy receiving a special handmade card in the mail...it's such a nice surprise to find in a pile of bills and junk mail! :) Although I also know that sometimes us card makers have a stack of cards just sitting around. When was the last time you sent one of your lovely cards to someone? The owner of my local scrapbook store that I design for is on a mission this month to send at least one card each day to a friend or family member...isn't that great?! I think I might have to take on this challenge myself!

Last night I took some time to work on the new sketch for 2 Sketches 4 You. I really enjoyed working with this sketch and used some of Crate Paper's great Season Collection to come up with this card:

I love the colors and worn look of this collection. My center mat was created using some of the cloud paper and several chipboard pieces as well as a little turquoise ric rac. The half circle is actually a rainbow...doesn't it add so much more to the card than just a regular plain colored circle would have?! I love when something as simple as turning an embellishment on its' side can make such a difference in how a project looks.

I think I will be sending this card to my grandma in California along with a few great pictures of the kiddos!

I hope you all are having a wonderful day! I actually went to the gym this morning (yeah me!) and am looking forward to a quiet afternoon with the boys.

If you want to play along in the 2S4Y challenge you have until Saturday...click HERE for all the details.