Swimming for Katie Challenge ($200+ PRIZE!)

***For my Ribbon Carousel post, please scroll down***

Have you all been Swimming for Katie with us? There is some AMAZING inspiration on the designers's blogs! Are you ready to help out too??

I've decided to host a Swimming for Katie Challenge! All you have to do to enter this challenge is use one of the stamps that were designed to benefit Katie and her family. All the proceeds from these stamps are going directly to the Renz Family. Make anything you want. Enter as many times as you want. Have your kids make something. It doesn't matter to me. But YOU MUST USE ONE OF THE SWIMMING FOR KATIE STAMPS! I will delete any entry that doesn't follow the rules.

What do you win?!?

From me:
~ A Cabochon sampler bag from my Heart Hugs Designs Etsy Shop
~ hand dyed seam binding
~ a 6x6 My Mind's Eye paper pad
~a Girl's Paperie On Holiday clear stamp set
~a Papertrey Ink Fly Away mini clear stamp set
~chipboard alphabet
~2 sheets of rub-ons
~$5 gift certificate to i {heart} papers

From my AMAZING sponsors:

Digital Delights by Louby Lou

~$15 gift certificate

Paper Smooches

~Hope stamp set (my set is in the photo, Paper Smooches will mail a set to the winner)

Color Me Creative Classroom

~ one class of winner's choice

EAD Designs

~Fight Like a Girl for a Cure vinyl set

~$35 gift certificate

Lawn Fawn Stamps

~On the Mend stamp set (MY set is in the photo, yours will be BRAND NEW)

Love My Tapes

~fabric sheet

~3 rolls of fabric tape

~double stick adhesive

Please enter your project in the Mr Linky by Tues Oct 25 at 11:59pm Pacific time to be entered in a random drawing to win this most excellent prize! :D Thanks for helping Katie!

EtsyInspired #138 ~ Bear Creek Design

This week's EtsyInspired shop is Bear Creek Design. This shop offers all sorts of cute felted items and kits, patterns and supplies to make them with. I actually saw a felting piece on Martha Stewart's show once and I thought it was so interesting. I've always wanted to take up felting and these kits would be such a great way to start! I also think it's great that they tell you what level you should be at to attempt each project. This week, Bear Creek Design is offering up a $15 gift certificate to one lucky winner.

Please check out the EtsyInspired Blog for rules and to link up your creation!

This week, we have a fabulous sponsor! Claudia & Company is a fun shop that offers their own line of digi stamps and rubber stamps drawn by some fabulous well known artists. They also carry other stamps, papers, ribbons, embellishments and more! Super fun shop! They are offering up 3 digi stamps of the winner's choice as another prize.

Here's my card for this week, inspired by the pumpkins above. All the elements are from Doodlebug Designs Inc.

Please check out the DT:

Angi
De

Ellie (May Guest)

Jackie

Joy

Kerry

Savannah

Virginia

EtsyInspired #137 ~ Imagine Studio

This week's EtsyInspired shop is Imagine Studio. This shop offers such amazing modern works of art! They have photomontage, digital collages and painted photographs. I love the ethereal feeling to these art pieces! They are just so beautiful! For me, these pieces evoke a lot of emotion. This shop is a bit more artsy than you see on EtsyInspired but I really love showing all the different things you can find. This week, Imagine Studio is offering up a 5x7 print of the winner's choice as a prize.

Please head over to the EtsyInspired Blog to see the rules, challenge details and to link up your projects.



This week's awesome sponsor is EAD Designs. This is a company that I LOVE! They offer amazing vinyl for your home AND for scrapbooking. They also offer Stickerz for card making and let me tell you, it's REALLY easy to make a card with these! Supplies from this shop give a lot of wow for a little work and that's my FAVORITE!

Here's my creation this week inspired by the piece of art above. EAD was kind enough to give me these Circus Time Stickerz to work with. These are just SO adorable! I went with a collage like background and a sweet clown centerpiece.

Please check out the DT:

Angi
Carole (family emergency)

De

Emily B.

Jackie

Joy

Kerry

Kimme (April Guest)

Ruby

Savannah

Sherry

Virginia

EtsyInspired #136 ~ Bearly Art

This week's EtsyInspired shop is Bearly Art. They specialize in painted clocks, sculpture, and other lovely hand painted decor items. This shop is super fun! This shop has a little bit for everyone from modern to cute or from fancy to fun. I love all the different designs they have! This week, Bearly Art is offering up one in stock clock of the winner's choice as a prize. How cool is that?

Hop on over to the EtsyInspired blog to check out the detail and link up your creations!


Our sponson this week is Sassy Cheryl's. This is a store stocked FULL of adorable digi stamps and colored images! They are offering up a $5 gift certificate as another prize this week.

Here's my card for this week inspired by the clock above. I used some super pretty My Mind's Eye paper and just added a bunch of embellishments.

Please check out the DT:

Angi
Carole

De

Emily B.

Jackie

Joy

Kerry

Kimme (April Guest)

Ruby

Savannah

Sherry

Virginia

EtsyInspired #135 ~ Creating is Fun

This week's EtsyInspired shop is Creating is Fun. This sweet shop is owned by my pal Martha. She goes all over to find pretty trims and buttons to sell. I love all the vintage goodies in her shop! I actually have many trims and buttons from her shop. I love them all! Her things are very nice! Her kits are especially nice since she puts together complimentary items. This week, Creating is Fun is offering up one item of the winner's choice to one winner. ALSO, she's decided to continue a sale from yesterday just for our readers! To get 50% off your purchase just use coupon code FRI50.

Please go to the EtsyInspired blog for details, rules and to link your creation.

This week, we have Robyn's Fetish as a returning sponsor. They have darling digital stamps and digital papers. This week, Robyn's Fetish is offering up either 5 digital stamps or 4 digital stamps and 1 digital paper of the winner's choice.

Here's my card for this week. I used some trims and buttons that I got in the Creating is Fun shop. I used this week's GetSketchy sketch as well.

Please check out the DT:

Angi
Carole

De

Emily B.

Jackie

Joy

Kerry

Kimme (April Guest)

Ruby

Savannah

Sherry

Virginia

Card Details:

Cardstock: white

Patterned Paper: Basic Grey Nook and Pantry

Stamps: Hero Arts Wish You Were Here

Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa

Misc: trim and button from Creating is Fun

EtsyInspired #134 ~ Think Fast Designs

This week's EtsyInspired shop is Think Fast Designs. This week's shop is VERY special since the shop owner is a friend of mine and someone who's work I admire a lot, Kim Kesti. In this shop, Kim and her mother Jeri show off a wide array of beautiful products. There are gorgeous sewn goods like aprons, quilts, and purse. There are also jewelry pieces; necklace pendants and boutunnieres. Everything is just so lovely! I would buy the whole shop if I could! And we have THREE very special surprises this week:

1. Think Fast Designs is offering up a vintage pendant of the winner's choice
2. There's a 10% off discount code for EVERYONE using coupon code "THINKFASTPLEASE"
3. Kim is guest designing for us this week! Woohoo!

This week's sponsor is Nikki Sivils Scrapbooker. This company puts out tons of adorable papers, stickers, journalling tags, buttons, and more. This week, Nikki Sivils is offering up a collection pack with papers and embellishments.

Here's my card for this week inspired by the apron above. When I saw it, I immediately thought of this paper from October Afternoon called Modern Homemaker. I used this week's Get Sketchy sketch for this card.

Please check out the DT:

Angi
Carole

De

Emily B.

Jackie

Joy

Kerry

Kimme (April Guest)

Ruby

Savannah

Sherry

Virginia

And our VERY special guest for this week: Kim Kesti

Card Details:

Cardstock: white

Patterned Paper: October Afternoon Modern Homemaker

Misc: SRM Sticker

EtsyInspired #133 ~ XS Baggage & Co

This week's EtsyInspired shop is XS Baggage & Co. They make a wide variety purses and other fun items to store your stuff in like laptop holders, cell phone holders, wristlets, etc... The fabrics are just gorgeous! There are tons of different designs from chic to vintagey to cute. Love it! This week, XS Baggage & Co is offering up a gadget keep of the winner's choice and a prize! They were also kind enough to give ALL our friends a coupon code, use "inspired" to get 10% off your purchase!


This week, we have a fabulous sponsor as well! Wax Fruit Company is a fun new digital company by the VERY talented Arielle Gordon (who's work I've admired for a long time!) Arielle is offering up a gift voucher for one lucky winner. AND GUESS WHAT?! If you use one of her images and you win, she'll DOUBLE the prize! How awesome is that?!?!

Here's my card for this week inspired by the purse above. I really like the colors in the purse and the red background!

Please check out the DT:

Angi
Carole

De

Emily B.

Jackie

Joy

Kerry

Kimme (April Guest)

Ruby

Savannah

Sherry

Virginia

Card Details:

Cardstock: white

Patterned Paper: Bo Bunny Crush

Stamps: Mint Motif Cake Shop and Cake Shop Too

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Misc: buttons

EtsyInspired #132 ~ Fresh Metal Jewelry

Hi friends! I'm writing a really short post this week as Parkie is pretty sick.

This week's shop is Fresh Metal Jewelry and it is GORGEOUS! I am in love with the bib necklaces in this shop! I also really like all the flowers on the pieces in this shop. Very very pretty stuff! (If anyone is looking to get me a gift, you might wanna take note. ;) )

This week Fresh Metal Jewelry is giving away a lovely Pretty Posey Vintace Lace necklace to one lucky winner. To learn the details of the challenge please see the EtsyInspired Blog.

This week our sponsor is Amber Ink. They offer digi stamps, clear stamps and iPaper. Super cute stuff! They are offering a $15 gift certificate to the store as a prize.

Here's my card for this week using some Wilson Designs Stamps and some Divine Twine from Endless Inkabilities.

Please check out the DT:

Angi
Carole

De

Emily B.

Jackie

Joy

Kerry

Libby (March Guest)

Ruby

Savannah

Sherry

Virginia

Card Details:

Cardstock: teal

Stamps: Wilson Designs Stamps

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Fibers: Divine Twine Black Licorice

EtsyInspired #131 ~ DollBirdies

This week's EtsyInspired shop is DollBirdies. They make the cutest bags in a variety of really bright and fun patterns. I really could spend all my money in this shop! They have purses, diaper bags, wristlets, camera bags, wallets, plush toys, bibs, and so much more. I'm rather in love this this shop! This is where I'll be going for baby shower gifts from now on. This week, Dollbirdies is offering up a passport wallet to one lucky winner. You could also use this cute little piece to store business cards, ID and cash for going out, or even a cute little notepad for making notes in.

This week, we have SRM Stickers sponsoring! Woohoo! I love their products! They are giving away a sticker prize pack to one lucky winner! Here's a little blurb from SRM: SRM Stickers are widely use by many papercrafters and it has a blog every weekday with paper crafting projects using stickers! Bookmark, follow the SRM Blog as you don't want to miss a tutorial, feature, challenge, or giveaway!

Here's my card for this week inspired by the purse above. I used an SRM sticker on this card, love them!

Please check out the DT:

Angi
Carole

De

Emily B.

Jackie

Joy

Kerry

Libby (March Guest)

Ruby

Savannah

Sherry

Virginia

Card Details:

Cardstock: white

Patterned Paper: Basic Grey Hello Luscious

Stamps: Hero Arts Big Flower

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Sticker: SRM Stickers

Misc: Stickles

EtsyInspired #130 ~ Artwork by Lori

This week's EtsyInspired shop is Artwork by Lori. This shop has lovely paintings and prints. She also has a couple other shops Hip Heart where she has fun graphic design prints and The Royal Bead where she sells beautiful jewelry and hair accessories. I chose to focus on Artwork by Lori which is the shop that first caught our attention at EIC. This shop is filled with modern paintings and prints. There are paintings of nature, characters, geographic shapes, animals and more. The art is fun and very fresh! I think you all will enjoy it very much! This week, Artwork by Lori is offering up a print of the winner's choice (valued up to $14.)

Please check out the EtsyInspired blog for directions, rules and to link up your creation!

This week, we have an awesome sponsor as well! The sponsor is Charleston Scrapbook Company. This is a lovely shop that has tons of scrapbooking products. This week, they are offering up a $10 gift certificate to the store.

Here's my card for this week, inspired by the painting above. I used some of my super cute Wilson Designs Stamps. This card uses the Eat Sleep Stamp #121 sketch. I'm also entering it into Moxie Fab World's Stamping with Markers challenge.

Please check out the DT:

Angi (off this week)
Carole

De

Emily B.

Jackie

Joy

Kerry

Libby (March Guest)

Ruby

Savannah

Sherry

Virginia

Card Details:

Cardstock: white

Patterned Paper: Crate Paper School Spirit

Stamps: Wilson Designs Everything's Owlright

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black and Rich Cocoa

Coloring Medium: Copics

Misc: Nesties Labels 16

EtsyInspired #129 ~ Desired Things

This week's EtsyInspired shop is Desired Things. They are based out of the UK and specialize in mixed media jewelry and abstract art. This shop is full of colorful and eye catching pieces done in many different techniques and using many different materials. This shop combines jewelry and paper, two of my favorite things! How fun is that? This week, Desired Things is giving away a 10 Pound gift voucher (approx $16.)

To play along, please hop on over to the EtsyInspired blog for rules and to link up your project! I can't wait to see what you make!



This week, we also have a FABULOUS sponsor! Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps!!! I've had the pleasure of meeting Sparkle in person at CHA and she's a pure delight! I adore her and her stamps! You have to check out all the adorable stamps over there! This week, one winner will get the Birthday Josh rubber stamp!

Here's my card from this week that is based on the brooch above. I was inspired by the colors and the text print in the brooch. My card used Echo Park Be Mine and some Unity/Echo Park stamps. I'm also entering this in Moxie Fab World's Paper Piecing challenge.

Please check out the DT:

Angi
Carole

De

Emily B.

Jackie

Joy

Kerry

Libby (March Guest)

Ruby

Savannah

Sherry

Virginia

Card Details:

Cardstock: Grey

Patterned Paper/Sticker: Echo Park Be Mine

Stamps: Unity and Echo Park With Love

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Misc: Hand Dyed Seam Binding

EtsyInspired #126 ~ Glow Girl

I'm gonna go really short this week because I'm super tired.

EtsyInspired Challenge Shop: Glow Girl
(Super duper cute eco friendly bags, totes, coupon organizers, and lots of other fabulous items! There are fun patterns for everyone! From chic to cutesy!)

Shop Prize: Coupon Organizer
(I'm super jealous!)


Sponsor: The Stamping Boutique
(Adorable stamps in both rubber and digi)

Sponsor Prize: 5 digis of winner's choice

Here's my card for this week inspired by the coupon organizer above. All the elements except the white card stock are My Mind's Eye Love Me Do.

Please check out the DT:

Angi
Ann (Feb Guest)

Carole

De

Emily B.

Jackie

Joy

Kerry

Ruby

Savannah

Sherry

Virginia

EtsyInspired #125 ~ Daisy Petals Designs

This week's EtsyInspired challenge shop is Daisy Petals Designs. This shop sells the loveliest jewelry and hair pieces. I pretty much want to just buy the whole store. Everything is so pretty and deliciously girlie! I love that! This week's Daisy Petals Designs is giving away a pair of Vintage Glamour Earrings to one lucky winner! ALSO, they gave us a discount code to pass on to you! Woohoo! (I just told my hubby about this one!) You can get 10% off by using the code "inspired10" at checkout.

Please visit the EtsyInspired challenge blog to view details on the challenge and to leave a link to your creation.

We also have a very special sponsor this week! One of our design team alumni Shannon Bracken Hawkins (she got married after leaving our team, BIG CONGRATS!) has opened a digi stamp shop! She has a wonderful variety of stamps! Check out Shannon's Sentiments! This week, they are offering up a set of the winner's choosing.

Here's my creation for this week inspired by the necklace above. I love the vintage feel of the pendant and all the lovely flowers.

Please check out the DT:

Angi
Ann (Feb Guest)

Carole

De

Emily B.

Jackie

Joy

Kerry

Ruby

Savannah

Sherry

Virginia

Card Details:
Card stock: white
Patterned Paper: Sassafrass Sweetness
Stamp: Flourishes Tag Lines
Misc: doilies, vintage lace, vintage buttons, stick pin, Webster's Pages bloomer

EtsyInspired #124 ~ Too Cute Kawaii

This week's EtsyInspired challenge shop is Too Cute Kawaii. Did you know that kawaii means cute? It does and this shop lives up to it's adorable name! They make little clay miniatures that come as jewelry, for use on hair bows, beads, buttons, brads, and lots more! I love all the darling little pieces in this shop that are painted with happy faces, it makes me smile! And they even donate part of their proceeds on items such as the one to the left to charity. What a LOVELY shop! This week, Too Cute Kawaii is offering up an adorable set of mini cupcake earrings to a lucky winner. Please go to the EtsyInspired blog for rules and to link your challenge.

This week, we have an equally cute sponsor as well! MelJen Designs! They offer adorable digital and rubber stamps. The designs are super cute! This week, MelJen is offering up 4 digi stamps as another prize!

Here's my card for this week using a freebie from the MelJen site. I decided to also use the monochromatic challenge from Moxie Fab World and the Sweet Sunday sketch 101.

Check out the DT:

Angi

Carole

De

Emily B.

Jackie

Joy

Kerry

Rachel Hope {January Guest DT}

Ruby

Savannah

Sherry

Virginia