Springtime Bird House

Hi friends!  I hope you're having a great day!  We are doing ok around here.  We are slowly getting into a routine and I'm sleeping enough to keep me going through the day (most nights).  I can't believe my baby is already over 9 weeks old!  It goes by SO fast!

Today, I'm sharing a project that screams spring to me.  I love when the sun comes out, the flowers start blooming, and the birds are singing.  I decided to alter a small wooden birdhouse for decor.  I ripped apart some paper from My Mind's Eye and used Mod Podge to adhere it onto the birdhouse.  Then I added some May Arts ribbon using some i {stick} papers red line tape from i {heart} papers.  I'm linking this up to the Paper Issues Spring Challenge.

Have a great day, friends!  

Sweet 16

Hi friends!  I hope you're having a great week!  We are really embracing the summer this year!  We've been out doing activities every day this week.  We are taking it easy this morning after staying late at a pizza place last night for dinner with friends.  We have no plans for today so we'll see where that takes us.

Today, I'm sharing a card I made for publication that wasn't picked up aka a reject card.  I actually really like this card.  I made it with a couple Mint Motif stamp sets and some Heidi Swapp Sugar Chic paper.  I think that these papers are really fun and perfect for a teenager.  I added some gems to complete the design.  Now if only I knew someone turning 16...

Have a great day, friends!  

i{h}p Challenge

Hi friends! I hope you are well. Today was my first full day on my new medications. I'm feeling a bit of side effects but I'm still hopeful that this will work for me. Tomorrow, Brady has a field trip to the art museum so fingers crossed that I'm well enough to attend with him. If not, Dustin will go, it's his day off work.

Today, I'm blogging a card that I made for the i {heart} papers March Challenge. The challenge is to do the blog hop and be inspired by one of the creations. I choose to be inspired by THIS CARD by Lori Tecler. She inspired me to use the Mint Motif School Basics set. I also wanted to incorporate a circle into my card inspired by her design. The paper is Authentique Celebrate. I finished off with a tiny piece of May Arts string.

Hope you are having a fabulous night!

Tape Banner Tutorial

Here's my post from the Love My Tapes Blog yesterday:

Hi friends! It's Ashley here to share a project with you today. I'm sure you all know how popular banners are and I just wanted to show you how simple it is to make a banner from fabric tape.

To make the banner, you use have a select what size you'd like your flags and cut the tape pieces to that length. I used Mini Check Fabric Tape in Taffy, Sherbet, and Lemon Bar. Then cut the Vs into each end and stick them to the paper using either a piece of twine or string as the rope for the banner. I used Divine Twine.

I'd like to point out the stamp in this card. It is a Swimming For Katie stamp from i {heart} papers (an online store that sells Love My Tapes.) These stamps are to benefit my friend and fellow crafter, Katie Renz who is battling gastric cancer. If you can, please purchase a stamp. I have an incentive for you. I'm hosting a challenge for anyone who uses these stamps. Challenge details HERE. Love My Tapes has graciously donated 3 packs of fabric tape, 1 fabric sheet, and a double sided adhesive runner to my $200+ prize pack. (I love designing for these generous people!)

Have a great day!

Swimming For Katie Blog Hop

***For my EAD post, please scroll down***

Hi friends! Today, I'm participating in a hop that is extremely close to my heart. I hope you will take the time to go through and read this post. I have my own story to post and it will be under this text I'm going to share with you written by Kate Baldwin of i{heart}papers.

TOMORROW, I will be posting a challenge in honor of Katie where you can win a big PRIZE! Please come back and check that out!

Here's the info about this hop from Kate:

From October 10-12 some of the best stampers are joining together to support and encourage our friend and fellow stamper, Katie Renz, who is currently battling inoperable gastric cancer. If you're not familiar with her, Katie’s cancer story started just before Christmas last year. This young, beautiful, healthy, vibrant mother of 3 with her infectious smile was suddenly diagnosed with an inoperable cancer, virtually overnight. A few tummy aches and then stage 4 gastric cancer. Her first post about it is here. The idea of “Swimming for Katie” came from her recent post here.

This exclusive stamp used in my sample, designed by Becky Oehlers is available as a clear stamp, as well as a digis or a dig and SVG cut file. 100% of the profits go to Katie's fund to help her and her young family. Her husband Kevin and her three young children need our help and support. In addition to the Keep Swimming Octopus, Marianne Walker and True =D Doodle Designs both also donated digis that are for sale. Direct donations are also being accepted (on the left sidebar). Information central is HERE. This is a permanent page that will stay active at i {heart} papers with current information and the full 3 day blog hop listing, as well as the donation button.

Here are all the items available for sale.

Keep Swimming Octopus
Peachy Clear stamp
$5.50 with free shipping

Keep Swimming Octopus DIGIstamp
$3.00 with instant download


Keep Swimming Octopus DIGIstamp with SVG cut file
$3.50 with instant download


Keep Swimming Mermaid DIGIstamp
$3.50 with instant download


Keep Swimming Ribbon Fish DIGIstamp and DIGIpapers
$5.00 with instant download

I hope you will join me in supporting Katie through a purchase or donation. The donation button is on the left side of my blog.

The following is a list of everyone who has projects posted today. I hope you will be inspired by them and moved to purchase or donate. If you would like to send Katie a card her mailing address is:

Katie Renz
PO Box 5913
Bellingham, WA 98227-5913

I met Katie Renz through Splitcoast Stampers as I'm sure many stampers meet their online friends. I followed her work because I loved the companies she designed for and we became Facebook friends. We got to meet up in Jan 2010. This is a picture of Katie and me at CHA-W 2010. This is the first and only time I'd met Katie in person and her sweetness is so apparent.

My heart broke in half when I learned about Katie's cancer. It hit close to home, she's a mother of 3 young boys. I have 2 boys myself. My heart aches for her and her children and her husband. I wish there was more I could do.

Katie and I have become a little closer over the last few months and I've seen how strong she is. She is an inspiration to me in so many ways. Every time I see a picture or video of her, she always has a smile to share with us. Even in all her pain, she is ALWAYS putting her children first. The epitome of an amazing mother. And she's still taking the time to create her beautiful cards for the special people in her life. She's grabbing life by the horn and taking motorcycle lessons. She inspires me at every turn.

Katie, I pray for you and your family with all my heart, everyday. Thank you for blessing me with your friendship! Let's make it a goal to see each other next Jan and we'll take this picture again. This time, I'll savor each minute more.

Here's the card I made for this hop. I bought the clear stamp and it works beautifully! I used Jen del Muro's Oct SFYTT for this card. I asked Katie how she wanted the octopus colored and she said "aqua with a blingy crown." I used Copics, Echo Park Paper, and Lemon Divine Twine.

If you'd like to make a donation, here's the button to do so.

Here are the people on today's hop:

AJ Otto
Beate
Carolyn Mustopa
Dawn Burnworth
Deb Felts
Gretchen Belknap
Heather Jensen
Jen del Muro
Julie Ranae
Kate - i {heart} papers
Kendra Wietstock
Lisa Johnson
Loretta Lock
Lori Tecler
Lynn Mercurio
Marianne Walker
Michele Gross
Stacy aka Twinshappy
Tracy Schultz
Debbie Olson
Cindy Lawrence
Cindy Haffner
Julie Koerber
Christine Okken
Tammy Hershberger
Danielle Kennedy
Barbara Anders
Makiko Jones
Ashley N Newell (You are HERE!)
Shannan Teubner
Taylor Usry
Jen Tapler
Jenn Balcer
Jenny Chesnick
Jess Larsen
Jessica Knutsen
Jimmi Mayo
Joan Bardee
Joan Ervin
Julia Aston

Julie Day

Julie Ebersole

Some WCMD Cards

Hi friends! I hope you had a great day! I got a migraine but was able to get it settled down enough to make a couple cards this evening. I'm gonna share a couple with you now as my last hurrah for this WCMD. :)

Here's a card I submitted to the I {heart} Papers Facebook Page contest. The challenge was just to use some IHP goodies on your card which is SO easy being that I have A LOT from that store, they sell everything I love! You could also enter this card over at Lawnscaping Challenges for the WCMD challenge. You can make ANY card with Lawn Fawn and link it up to win! Supplies: Lawn Fawn stamps, Cosmo Cricket paper, handmade flowers, lace and crotchet trim

Next up is a fun little card I made for a few challenges. This card uses the Card Patterns sketch 135. I'm linking up this card for the Link Up For Pink linking party. They are trying to raise money for their Relay for Life team and there's a HUGE link up party with TONS of prizes! If you're looking for a place to donate, they have a link on their sidebar to donate. I think this is a wonderful way to fundraise and raise awareness about Breast Cancer. I know several people who have or have had cancer and I will do anything I can to support research!

Speaking for breast cancer awareness, I also made this card for one of the Hope You Can Cling To challenges on Splitcoast. For the entire month of October, there will be new challenges everyday to show support, awareness and help the cause. There are prizes and they have a place where you can mail your cards. I made this card for Lydia's challenge to put a pink critter on your card. Supplies: Authentique paper, Paper Smooches stamps, button, punch, and string

Lastly, here's another card I made for the I {heart} Papers challenge. I used this week's SCS Sketch Challenge for this card. I'm also entering this in the Simon Says Stamp Anything Goes challenge. Supplies: Studio Calico paper, Hero Arts/Studio Calico stamps, seam binding, handmade flower, tiny attacher.

Hope you all had a GREAT World Card Making Day! I can't wait for next year!

Fluttery By Wednesday #71

Hi friends! I hope you are having a great week so far! We are doing ok. Dustin and I aren't feeling the greatest but the kids seem to be fine. Tomorrow is Brady's first field trip so I'm hoping that I'm well enough to go. He needs a parent to go on each field trip with him. Cross your fingers for us! We are supposed to go to the zoo!

Here's a card I made for the Flutter By Wednesdays #71 challenge. I used some new First Edition paper by Trimcraft that I got at I Heart Papers. This pad is called Desert Blooms. It's so pretty! I used some Martha Stewart stamps for this. My ribbon is from Ribbon Carousel; Walnut Brown seam binding and natural grosgrain looped edge ribbon.

Have a great day everyone!

Love is Sweet

Hi friends! I hope you are having a great day! Pick up from school went well yesterday. The teacher and aids said that it only took Brady a few minutes to get used to being at school once we left. That's good to hear. If only he would just get excited about being there. I think he will with time.

I made this card a while ago but haven't gotten around to blogging it. My friend Kate said she's feeling a little unloved so I figured I would post a card using some of the EXCLUSIVE stamps from her store, i {heart} papers. Nothing says love like plugging your friend's store right? Joking aside, I LOVE LOVE LOVE i {heart} papers! I shop there ALL the time! She has great prices, super fast shipping, new products, and exclusive stamp lines which I love.

For this card, I used Mint Motif. I love these gorgeous stamps! I paired the Sweet Hearts set with some Bo Bunny paper. This set is fabulous for Valentine's, love, anniversary, kids, and so much more! The gum balls are rhinestones that I colored with Copics. I used some Cherry Divine Twine and a little silver gel pen to finish this up.

Have a great day everyone!

Happy (Late) Birthday Kate!!!

Sigh...why does time still go by when you're sick? ;) My friend and I {heart} Papers owner, Kate, celebrated her birthday on July 16. I actually had this card made but I was too tired to get up, take the picture, edit it and get it blogged. Seriously. I was wiped. The kids and I have a cold now too. I don't know HOW we come into this many germs. I really truly don't.

So, here's Kate's late card. It's based off last week's Card Patterns sketch but I'm late for that as well. I used some stamps from I {heart} Papers exclusive line of stamps, Chicken Girl Designs. These stamps are cute, funky and very me! ;) The paper is My Mind's Eye Lime Twist Life of the Party.

Have a great day everyone!

RCC10 Paper Piecing With Jessie!

Hi friends! I hope you had a great 4th of July! It was HOT here! :) Guess that's what summer is all about!

I'm on this week for the Ribbon Carousel Challenge. This week's theme is Paper Piecing and our hostess is the lovely Jessie Knight Rone who I LOVE LOVE LOVE. :D And just like Jessie, I love paper piecing! So, this challenge was an easy peasy one for me. Just remember, anytime you play along with the Ribbon Carousel Challenge you need to use ribbon, twine, trim, lace, or something that comes on a spool!

Here's my card for this week. I used Mint Motif Cake Shoppe and Cake Shoppe Too. I used sheer ribbon as my spool element. The paper is Bo Bunny.

Please go to the Ribbon Carousel Challenge to read up on the rules and link up your creations!

Mint Motif GIVEAWAY!!!

Hi friends! I hope you are having a great week! YAY for Friday! This week just dragged on. :( I'm excited for this weekend though, the boys are having their birthday party. Woohoo! I can't wait!

I'm sharing a card today that I made for Gallery Idol. I'm using some of my favorite stamps from Mint Motif available only at I {Heart} Papers. I love these stamp sets for building cards! I don't usually do a lot of two step stamping but this set is so fun! For this card, I used Cake Shoppe and Cake Shoppe Too! Did you know that these stamps are designed by my pal Kimberly Crawford? She's SO talented! The paper is Little Yellow Bicycle. I used my Nesties to cut a circle and then I added some Stickles to the edge. I punched the border with a Fiskars punch and added some ribbon.

Ok, how for the FUN part! I have duplicates of both these sets and I'm giving them away here on my blog today! Woohoo!

To enter:

~Go to I {Heart} Papers and tell me your favorite item they carry (this is REQUIRED)

For extra entries (leave a comment for each one):

~"Like" I {Heart} Papers on Facebook

~Follow the I {Heart} Papers blog

~Follow my blog, if you already follow please leave a comment and say so

This giveaway will be open one week, entries will close on June 16th at 11:59pm. Winner will be announced on June 17 and will most likely be picked by Random.Brady or Random.Parker. :) Good luck!