Our Creative Corner - Post Card & Giveaway

Thanks for stopping by! My sample today is for this weeks challenge over at Our Creative Corner. This is my month to host and this week I challenged the girls to a post card layout. Feel free to use this template as your inspiration – use your favorite stamps and supplies.

For my sample, I started with soft suede as my card base. I then layered my card with real red and Christmas Cocoa Specialty. The post cards were created using kraft cardstock and stamped using Winter Post and Christmas punch.

To give the card a vintage glow, I sponged on some soft suede ink to each of the layers. To finish off the card, ribbon was added along with a little glitter and a homemade candy embellishment.

Want to win this card... Leave me a comment and I will announce the winner on Tuesday, November 17th.

Please stop by the OCC to see the other samples by the amazing OCC designers. Have a wonderful weekend! Hugs & Smiles,

Stamps and Smiles Sketch Challenge - SASSC40

Hello and thanks for stopping by! Today’s card is for this week’s sketch challenge "SASSC40" over at Stamps and Smiles. Every Thursday a NEW sketch will be posted along with samples from the Design Team. We warmly invite you to play along, feel free to use your favorite stamps and supplies.

On my sample, I used a NEW digi image called Cuppy's Holiday Tree. This is image is only a $1 and is available as a jpeg or png. The background paper is from last years holiday collection by Martha Stewart. I replaced the snowflakes with the candy embellishments and added crystal affects on each of the ornaments. To finish off the card, I added ribbon along with a border of glitter.

Please stop by the Stamps and Smiles blog to see more samples from the Design Team. There is no time limit on our challenge, so please play along whenever you are able! However to be eligible for the Stamps and Smiles goodie bag, please have your card uploaded by Wednesday, 6 pm CST.

Don't forget to stop by my Christmas blog, most of the cards I will be making in the next few weeks will be given away at my Christmas Card Giveaway. Grab some hot chocolate and check it out. See you this Saturday with a fun card and giveaway! Hugs & Smiles ~

An Early Christmas Card - Special Request for Noah...

Thanks for stopping by! Today’s sample is for this week’s challenge over at Stamps and Smiles – Project Tuesday. Our November host, Amanda Gill, has challenged the DT to create a pocket card. We warmly invite you to play along, feel free to use your favorite stamps and supplies.

My card along with a few others will be mailed to a little boy named Noah. Noah is only 5 years old and in his last stage of Neuroblastoma cancer. Noah & his family are celebrating Christmas early and he has requested Christmas cards. If you can, please send Noah an early Christmas card, here is his address:

Noah Biorkman
1141 Fountain View Circle
South Lyon, MI 48178

You can read more about Noah here.


For my samples I started with a NEW digi image by Stamps and Smiles called Snowman. The base of my card was created using NEW paper and supplies by Martha Stewart. Stitching was added along with snowflakes and glitter. The front layer was embossed using the Winter House embossing folder. After the pocket was created, I then created my tag. The snowman image was printed out on white cardstock and colored in using my Copics. Glitter was then added to the outside edge along with ribbon. Our message to Noah will go on the back of my tag.

We hope you will join us each Tuesday for a NEW project and samples. Please stop by the Stamps and Smiles – Project Tuesday page, The Design Team have some really cute samples to help inspired you for the holidays!!

See you Thursday with our weekly sketch challenge. Hugs & Smiles ~

OCC - Inspiration Challenge

Thanks for stopping by! Today’s card is for this week’s challenge over at Our Creative Corner. I will be hosting the challenges for the month of November and I started with an Inspiration Challenge. We warmly invite you to play along, feel free to use your favorite stamps and supplies.
While I was searching for some fun challenges for November, I saw this adorable photo. This week, I challenged the OCC to find inspiration from this picture.

For my sample, I started with this NEW digi image from Stamps and Smiles called Fall Fun. I uploaded the image into word and sized it down just a bit. After printing the image, I used my Copic's to color it in. After the image was colored, I took a light grey (W-1), and traced the outside lines. What a difference, it really made the image pop!!


The background paper was some fun paper I got on clearance at Michaels called Recollection - Autumn. For fun, I added some piercing on each of the layers and then glued each layer on. Ribbon was added to make the white border pop and then I added some linen thread. Does anyone know where I can find this linen thread cheap? I am running low and still need it for my Fall/Winter cards.


Please stop by the OCC to see the other samples by the amazing OCC designers. Have a wonderful weekend! Hugs & Smiles,

Stamps and Smiles Sketch Challenge - SASSC39

Thanks for stopping by today!! My sample is for this week’s sketch challenge "SASSC39" over at Stamps and Smiles. With the holiday’s approaching, I created this sketch that would compliment a fun holiday scene. We warmly invite you to play along, feel free to use your favorite stamps and supplies.

For my sample I used a NEW digi image from Stamps and Smiles called Jolly’s Christmas Scene. Colors for my card started with chocolate chip, bordering blue and white cardstock. The blue background was embossed using a snowflakes embossing folder and stitching was added to hold it together. I printed out the image on white cardstock and colored it in using my Copics. The scene was layered with Red & more chocolate chip cardstock. More stitching was added and then glitter to give it more of a layered look.

Using this digi image made the card easy to create and can easily be mass produced for the holidays!! Images are available at the Stamps and Smiles store for only $1. We hope you will stop by, we will be adding NEW images each week.
For more inspiration, don’t forget to stop by the Stamps and Smiles blog, to see the samples by the Design Team. There is no time limit on our challenge, so please play along whenever you are able! However to be eligible for the Stamps and Smiles goodie bag, please have your card uploaded by Wednesday, 6 pm CST.

Thanks for all those visiting my Christmas blog. Tomorrow, I will be updating it with cards that will be mailed out to the lucky winners. If you are in the holiday spirit, grab some hot chocolate and check it out here.

Have a fun day ~ Hugs & Smiles

Stamps and Smiles Fall/Winter Sale

The Stamps and Smiles store has a sale going on. Now - December 15th, Save 20% – 25% on selected stamps. We also have NEW digi images… Each week, NEW images will be uploaded to the store. Click here to visit the store.


See you tomorrow with our weekly Sketch Challenge and a fun giveaway!

Project Tuesday - Triangle Box

Happy Tuesday! Thanks for stopping by… Today’s project is for this week’s challenge over at Stamps and Smiles. This week, we are making a triangle box. We warmly invite you to play along, feel free to use your favorite stamps and supplies.

For my project design, I cut a piece of bordering blue cardstock 5" x 10". I then embossed one side with snowflakes and then scored as directed. For my image, I printed a NEW Digi image from Stamps and Smiles called "Snowman". The image was opened up in Microsoft word and sized to fit inside my circle. I then used my circle Nestabilities to cut around the image and added it to my box. The image was colored in using my Copic markers and glitter was added to finish off the design. Did you notice I used NEW glitter, its called Carrara Marble - I LOVE it!!

We hope you will join us each Tuesday for a NEW project and samples. Please stop by the Stamps and Smiles – Project Tuesday page, The Design Team have some really cute samples to help inspired you for the holidays!!

Before I go, I would like to announce the winner for my Christmas shaker card. Congratulations Jenny Gropp, please email me your addy so I can get your goodies out to you.

I also want to let my readers know that there are NEW digi images over at the Stamps and Smiles store. Each week, NEW images will be added. Thanks for stopping by, have a fun week!

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween!! We had a little time last night to carve some of our pumpkins. Here is a picture of Hannah & Jake around Hannah's pumpkin.

Today’s sample is for this week’s challenge over at Our Creative Corner. Our October host, Lori Rider, has challenged the OCC to create a card or project using a vintage theme. We warmly invite you to play along, feel free to use your favorite stamps and supplies.

For my sample, I used an old SU set called Old-Fashioned Christmas. I created a shaker card and then just layered some of this beautiful holiday paper by My Mind's Eye. Stitching was done on a couple of the layers and ink was sponged on to give it a warm vintage glow. To finish off the card, I added a sugared border using a NEW holiday punch by Martha Stewart along with some sugared snowflakes.

Would you like to win this card, leave me a comment and tell me what your favorite dessert is. I will announce the winner on Tuesday, November 1st.

Have a fun weekend and don't forget to stop by the OCC to see the other samples by the amazing and creative Design Team.

Have a fun Halloween!! Hugs & Smiles,

Stamps and Smiles Sketch Challenge - SASSC38

Hello and thanks for stopping by! Today’s card is for this week’s sketch challenge "SASSC38" over at Stamps and Smiles. Participate in our weekly challenge for a chance to be our next Guest Designer and a chance to win fun goodie bag. We warmly invite you to play along, feel free to use your favorite stamps and supplies.

On my sample, I used a NEW stamp set by Stamps and Smiles called Fall Harvest. This set is also available in NEW digi format. The paper I got on clearance at Michaels called Recollections - Autumn. I added some stitching and stamped the scarecrow in Memento ink and colored him in using my Copics. To finish off my card, I added the raffia and punched out leaves. The sentiment was stamped on the inside of the card. I will be popping this card in the mail to my Dad for Halloween.

Please stop by the Stamps and Smiles blog to see more samples from the Design Team. There is no time limit on our challenge, so please play along whenever you are able! However to be eligible for the Stamps and Smiles goodie bag, please have your card uploaded by Wednesday, 6 pm CST.

Don't forget to stop by my Christmas blog, most of the cards I will be making in the next few weeks will be given away at my Christmas Card Giveaway. Grab some hot chocolate and check it out.

See you on Halloween morning with a fun sample and giveaway!

Project Tuesday - Have a Holly Jolly Christmas

Hello and thanks for stopping by! I would like to thank all those that are stopping by my Christmas Blog. In the next week or so, I will be uploading some of the cards that will be heading out to some of you. I would also like to add that I have added some NEW digi images to the Stamps and Smiles store. I am using one today, this one is called Have a Holly Jolly Christmas. Please stop by the store and take a peek, we are slowly adding NEW digi images.

Today’s project is for this week’s challenge over at Stamps and Smiles. This week, we are making stair step cards. We warmly invite you to play along, feel free to use your favorite stamps and supplies.

Here is a side view. As you can see I have combined some NEW and old stamps from Stamps and Smiles. To create my stair step card, I used the following sets. Digi image - Have a Holly Jolly Christmas, Stamp sets - Trim a Tree, and Cuppyland.

The house was created using a 3 x 3 piece of chocolate chip cardstock and then again for the roof. I embossed it and then added the scalloped edge using a SU punch. After gluing all of the images to the card, I added glue almost everywhere and then sprinkled on my favorite chunky glitter by Martha Stewart. Good thing I stocked up on it last year, I might be out by the time Valentines Day comes around.

I had a blast putting this card together!! Most of my cards and projects are given away but I think I might enjoy it for a little bit! For more samples using this project idea, please stop by the Stamps and Smiles – Project Tuesday page, The Design Team have some really cute samples to help inspired you!!

Don't forget to visit my Christmas Blog, I have a fun giveaway going on until December 4th. Please stop for a chance to win. Enjoy your week and I will see you Thursday with a fun sketch challenge. Have a fun week! Hugs ~

Our Creative Corner - The Polar Express

Hello & thanks for stopping by! I don't know about you, but it’s been another crazy week here so I welcome the weekend and a little extra time to sleep in. I have been working on the next stamp release plus creating future sketches for our weekly sketch challenge over at Stamps and Smiles. I would like to thank you all for your sweet comments this past week and stopping by my Christmas blog.

My cards for today are for this week’s challenge over at Our Creative Corner. Our October host, Lori Rider, has challenged us to create a card/or project from our favorite holiday movie or book. We warmly invite you to participate, feel free to use your favorite stamps and supplies.

My first card is based on one of my favorite movies "The Polar Express". I made the house out of two pieces of chocolate chip cardstock. One piece for the house and the other piece for the roof. The scallop punch was used to create the scalloped trim on the house. I embossed the house using the diamonds in the rough embossing folder from Cut At Home. To accent the train, I cut some white cardstock and added some curves to it. I used one of my favorite stamp sets from Stamps and Smiles called Tis the Season to be Jolly. To finish off the card, I added some snowflakes and glitter.

My second card was for another fun movie called "The Haunted Mansion". Just a quick Halloween card. Most of it was created using Halloween Sizzix dies and Martha Stewart punches.

Before I go, I would like to tell all of my subscribers that the Stamps and Smiles store has digi images. 4 sets from this past stamp release are available.

Have a fun weekend and don't forget to stop by the OCC to see the other samples by the amazing and creative Design Team. Have a wonderful weekend!

Hugs & Smiles,

Stamps and Smiles Sketch Challenge - SASSC37

Hello and thanks for stopping by! Before I show you my card today, I would like to wish my oldest son a very Happy Birthday ~ Happy Birthday Nick, I LOVE you!!

Today’s card is for this week’s sketch challenge "SASSC37" over at Stamps and Smiles. I created this sketch so the top layer can hold a gift card or you can create a fun tag out of it too. We warmly invite you to play along, feel free to use your favorite stamps and supplies.

For my sample I used a NEW stamp set by Stamps and Smiles called Tis the Season to be Jolly. This fun holiday paper is from My Mind's Eye collection 2009. I added stitching to the card and then embossed the top layer using the winter house embossing folder. After the card was all put together, I added some glue and a little fun sparkle.

Here is a close up of the sparkle and added snowflakes. I stamped Jolly in Memento ink and colored him in using my Copics. I then sponged on some creamy caramel to match the vintage paper. To finish Jolly, I added a little pom pom on his hat.

Please stop by the Stamps and Smiles blog to see more samples from the Design Team. There is no time limit on our challenge, so please play along whenever you are able! However to be eligible for the Stamps and Smiles goodie bag, please have your card uploaded by Wednesday, 6 pm CST.

Don't forget to stop by my Christmas blog, most of the cards I will be making in the next few weeks will be given away at my Christmas Card Giveaway. Grab some hot chocolate and check it out.

See you Saturday with another fun sample and a special announcement & giveaway! Have a fun

day. ~ Hugs & Smiles