Three's A Charm Blog Hop

Good morning, and welcome to the Three's A Charm Blog Hop.  Now why, you might ask, are we calling this a Three's A Charm Hop?  Well, it's because three digital stamp companies have come together to bring you some fabulous and inspirational artwork.  The participating companies are:  Sew Many Cards, The Stamping Boutique, and Sunshine's Stamps. 

So now, on with the hop!!  If you arrived here from my dear and talented friend Jeanette's Blog, then you are on the right track.  If you just happened along, then you'll surely want to go back and start from the beginning at the Sew Many Challenges Blog so you won't miss any of the fun and fabulous creations. 

The card I'm sharing with you today was made with the adorable Audrey enjoying yet another of her many interests, and this time it's horse back riding.   Horse Back Riding Audrey is one of the newest digital stamps available from The Stamping Boutique, and was so much fun to work with.  I colored her with my Copic markers using the stippling technique.  I had some of this wonderful rope stashed away, and it was just calling to me to be used for this card.  The patterned paper is from Creative Imaginatioins, and worked so well with this project.

Your next stop on this hop is at the wonderfully talented Kim's Blog.  I know she's got something inspiring to share with you, so what are you waiting for?  Get hoppin'!!  Should you happen to get lost along the way, head back to the beginning at the Sew Many Challenges Blog, where you'll find a complete hop list in correct order.  Be sure to leave some comment love to your participants along the way, because there's going to be prizes awarded to one lucky commenter, and it could be YOU!!!

Thanks for hopping along with us today!  Have a beautiful day, and a fabulous weekend!

Love ya,

Patterns 'O Plenty for Digi Day

Good morning!  I have a card to share with you today that I made for the Sweet -n Sassy Stamps Digi Day.  I'm hosting today over on Paper Craft Planet, and the challenge for today is Patterns 'O Plenty.  Think polka dots, checks, plaids, argyle, houndstooth.  You name it!  If it's a pattern, it'll work. 

 Upload your creations to the Patterns 'O Plenty thread in the SNSS Group, and if you play along by Midnight tonight, you'll get  the early bird special,  Flower For You digi stamp AND Cleo Clownfish FREE.   Play along by Midnight on Wednesday June 2nd, and get Cleo FREE.  

I hope to see and get to chat with you over on Paper Craft Planet.  Have a glorious day, and I wish you LOTS of happy stamping!

Love ya,

Lorie

PKS Challenge #29 & A Recipe Challenge

Good morning!  Well, today I'm combining my challenge for The Recipe Challenge Blog with the Peachy Keen Challenge Blog.  You see, our PKS challenge is a recipe for a picnic, and The Recipe Challenge Blog is challenging us to do salads.  I combined the two with my favorite picnic salad, which is old fashoined potato salad.  For this card, I cut 1/2 inch strips of paper, and wove the checked table cloth background.  For stamps, I thought pretty seriously about using my Faceless Veggie stamps from Peachy Keen, and utilizing that adorable tater, but I just couldn't get past the idea of picnics and those checked table cloths, and lots of happy flowers around, so I went with my PKS Funny Flowers, and the Faceless Petal Daisy Flowers for the border.  I stamped the daisy petals in So Saffron, then stamped the outline of the daisy in red.  The little Funny Flower with those cute ladybugs was colored with Copics, and highlighted with a white gel pen.  I used some Spring Flower Soft from Scrapbook Store At Your Door for the centers of all the border flowers.  I had been hoarding that stuff since Julie sent it to me, for something special, and it was definitely worth the wait.  That is some fun stuff to work with!  I LOVE the texture and dimension it adds!!!!  This card was finished with some Dew Drops down the side, and is now ready for display on my recipe stand.

Be sure to check out all of the wonderful recipe cards of both The Recipe Challenge Design Team, and our Peachy Keen Stamps Design Team.  There is some tremendous talent among our designers, and I promise you will have yummy recipes galore to oogle!!!!!  On another note, you have just GOT to follow this link to see what our fearless leader, Kathy has been up to, and you'll see what I mean about those adorable Faceless Veggie stamps.  They are just so stinkin' CUTE!!  Also, be sure to check out the new look to the Peachy Keen Challenge Blog, because it's wonderfully awesome, and such a fun place to visit!!  I'm thrilled you could stop by today.  May you have a beautiful day filled with LOTS of happy stamping!

Love ya,

Believe In Miracles

Welcome to the ThINKin Spot, and happy Monday to you!  I have a very special card to share with you today.  I made this card for the Sweet -n Sassy Stamps Digi Blog post today, and I wanted to share it here as well.  This card was made with digital stamps from Sweet -n Sassy Stamps, but the BIG news is that as of June 1st,  both of the stamp sets that I used for this card  (Everyday Miracles and Poppies) will be available in clear stamp form.  Yes, you heard me right.  Back by popular demand is the clear stamp line.  Now, don't get me wrong.  I love digis, but for me, there is just nothing like having that actual stamp in your hand.  I'm so excited for the return to clear stamps that I can hardly stand it!!!!!  Be sure to check the SNSS design team blogs this week for some amazing sneak peeks of  the  images to be released as clear stamps, and make sure you join us for a celebration blog hop on June 1st, as well as a release party in the SNSS Group Forum on SNR Card Universe that evening.  It'll be a party all day long, with special prizes and LOTS of fun and inspiration, so I hope to see you there!!

I created this card with K&Co. paper from the Tim Coffey collection.  I colored the poppies with my Copics, and then stamped over everything with a linen background stamp from Stampin' Up!.  The butterflies were also colored with Copics, then cut out, and dry embossed around the details on the wings to make them stand out.  I wish that showed up better in the photo, because it's a really pretty 3-D effect.  I sponged the edges of the image with some Tim Holtz distress ink in vintage photo, and finished the card off with the kraft colored taffeta ribbon. 

I'm so happy you could stop by today, because it makes my day to have you here!  I wish you a blessed day filled with lots of love and happy stamping!!

Love ya, 

A Pair of Sweet -n Sassy Digis, and GREAT NEWS!!

Good afternoon!  I'm a little late getting my post in today, but better late than never, right?  I have a couple of cards to share with you today, both of which are made with Sweet -n Sassy digital stamps.  Have you heard the news?  Sweet -n Sassy Stamps is going to be releasing clear stamps again soon.  Check out the website, and sign up for updates so that you can be one of the first to see what's coming!!

Every Thursday is Sweet -n Sassy Digi Day on both Paper Craft Planet, and SNR Card Universe, and both of my cards today were made for the digi day challenges.  The cocoa card was made for the challenge a couple of weeks ago, and little Miss Ladybug was made for yesterday's challenge.  There's still time to play along for your chance to win a free digi.  All you have to do is upload your card or creation by Monday, to get a free stamp.  Pretty easy, peasy if you asked me!!!   

My Lilac Cocoa card was made with some scraps of K&Co. paper, and colored with Copic markers.  All I added to this one was a punched lace border with my Martha Stewart lace border punch, and the oval and scalloped oval for the sentimen.  Both the sentiment and punches for that come from Stampin' Up!. 

My Ladybug card was put together with yet some more scraps of designer paper from my scrap drawer.  I've really been trying hard to check there first when I'm looking for paper, rather than get out a new sheet.  I seem to be over run with scraps of paper that I REALLY need to be using up.  I think I'm actually starting to make a little headway.  Again, I used my Copic markers to color the image, and I used some Prima flowers and glittery accent pieces for the centers of the flowers.  The sketch for this card comes from the Friday Sketchers Challenge Blog.  

I hope you are preparing for a wonderful weekend.  We're looking forward to some warmer weather here, so that's going to be pretty wonderful in my book!!  Thanks so much for stopping by today, and happy stamping to ya!

Love ya,

Busy Beauties Go Burtonesque

Not only do we have some marvelously macabre new images to share with you today, but we also have some fun & funky friends joining us today:  The Burtonesque Dolls! Our new images are inspired by the Tim Burton classic, "THE CORPSE BRIDE", and BBB illustrator Thomas Goins has really outdone himself with these amazing images! We thought they would be right up the Dolls' alley, so we invited them along for the hop *and* are super excited to announce that Busy Beauties Boutique will be sponsoring their challenge next week!

My card for this spooktacular event was created with the Corpse Bride image, and was colored with my Copic markers.  You can't have a wedding without bling, so I added some black glitter to the brackets that were an element in the wonderful sketch Catherine provided for the Busy Beauties Creation Station challenge this week.  The paper all came from my scrap drawer, and the sentiment was cut with my Cricut Expression using the Sweethearts cartridge.  I added some black pearls down the left side of the sketch just to balance things out a bit, and voila!  Who exactly I'll send this card to, I'm not quite sure.  We'll see!  I usually go for the cutesy type images when choosing stamps, but I have to admit that this was a fun challenge, both with the image and the sketch.  That's what it's all about, right?  Thinking outside of the box, and working outside of your comfort zone, to learn and be challenged, and for me, this card fit that bill in every respect.   

Here is the complete list of hop stops for today, and we have prizes so fab, it's freaky! Be sure to hop along and leave lots of comment love, because there are TWO Secret Beauties or Dolls along this Burtonesque inspired hop… and TWO winners will be selected from their blog comments to receive 5 (yep, FIVE) Busy Beauties images of his/her choice! So whether you are in the mood to be beauty-ful or get funky,we've got you covered.  

Kelly

Suzi

Michelle

Rachel

Debbie

Barbara

Betty

Annita

Lorie (You are here)

Jackie

Grace

Nicole

Carolyn

Margie

Catherine

Kadie

BBCS Blog

I'm so happy you could join us for the hop today.  Be sure to check out all the blogs along the way, and leave those comments, because YOU could be the lucky winner!  Have a wonderful day, and I hope you get time for some happy stamping!

Love ya,

Cats Leave Paw Prints

Good morning!  I hope this fine Wednesday is treating you well.  I have a little project to share with you today.  A few weeks ago, a dear friend, who just also happens to be my pastor asked me if I could come up with a cat themed frame for a colleague who was moving.  She had seen this little "Cats leave paw prints on your heart" saying somewhere, and with her friend being a cat lover as she is, she thought something like this would be a great going away gift.  I'm happy to report that her friend did indeed like the gift!  Whew!!!!

I started this frame with the computer generated sentiment, then stamped and colored these adorable Cute Kitties from Peachy Keen Stamps with my Copic markers.  The Cute Kitties stamp set comes with both kitties in two sizes, and an assortment of paw prints to work with.  It's one great set, let me tell ya!!  The kitty done in tan actually holds a flower in it's paw, but I omitted it by simply not inking that part.  I was trying to make this frame a little more masculine because the recipient is a fella who loves cats.  The paper, frames, and tags all come from a Making Memories Pets Scrap Kit that I've had stashed away for a while.  In my effort to pull off a "manned up" version of a frame, I used plenty of twine and vintage brads/embellishments.   What a wonderful and fun project this was, and now I have all sorts of ideas spinning around in my head for more of these babies!!  Stamp on!!!!! 

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  I hope you enjoy the project, and that maybe it's inspired YOU to do some happy stamping!

Love ya,

Let The Honey Bee Be...

Heheheh!  I remember my grandma saying that when I was little, only it was "Let the bumblebee, be."  She always said that when she wanted us not to touch or bother something.   Isn't it funny what you remember at different times.  That's exactly what came to mind when I saw this Mizzz Honey Bee image from Busy Beauties Boutique.  I can actually hear my grandma's voice in my head saying, "Now you let the bumblebee be".   That grandma has been gone for many years, and she had lots of colorful sayings, most of which I probably couldn't share here without offending someone.  LOL!!  This was one that came to mind that was fun to share.  :-)

The Busy Beauties Boutique is sponsoring the Tuesday Morning Sketches Blog this week, and the sweet and adorable Miss Carolyn is offering a great prize to one lucky winner who plays along.  The challenge is to use two of your favorite colors, and glitter.  Now that's pretty easy!!  I seem to be in love with this Tea Party paper from Stampin' Up! right now, and the amethyst and saffron colors have always been two of my favorites.  I colored Mizzz Honey Bee with my Copics, glittered her wings, and hightlights in her hair, and embellished with saffron colored grosgrain ribbon, and some yellow Dew Drops.  The "Hello" sentiment can be found in the Springtime Minis stamp set from Peachy Keen Stamps.  That pretty much does it for today!  I'm so glad you could stop by!  Have a beautiful day, and happy stamping!!

Love ya,

More Challenges... Stamp On!!

Two posts in a day!  Woohoo!!  There's lots going on, and I just HAVE to share!!  Please scroll down for The Recipe Challenge Blog post for today, and a great quick dip recipe, as well as the winner from Deedee's Digis Blog Hop.

In addition to recipes and blog hop winners, I have two cards to share with you that are made with The Stamping Boutique images.  Both cards were created for challenges that TSB is sponsoring this week.  It looks like it's shaping up to be a busy one in my little world of stamping, so sit back relax, and lets get to it!!!!  :-)

My first card features this adorable little frog Pocket Patootie from The Stamping Boutique, and was made for the Crazy 4 Challenges blog.  TSB is sponsoring Crazy 4 Challenges from May 15th, through May 31st, so there'll be more great things in store later in the month as the challenges continue.  I am indeed Crazy 4 Challenges!!!!

I colored Mr. Froggie here with my Copic markers, and dug through my scrap paper stash until I found a piece of this great K&Co. paper, which I thought went perfectly with my color choices.  Those of you who know me, know that I never choose my paper first.  Now THAT would just be too easy, wouldn't it?  No, not me... I can never make anything too easy!!  I color first, THEN go looking for paper.  Hehehehehehe, don't know why, but that's my system, and I'm stickin' to it!!  I kept the embellies simple, with just a few Dew Drops, and some twine.  The sentiment come from Stampin' Up's Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set.

Now on to my second card. This one is also made with an image from The Stamping Boutique, and was made for the 2 Sketches 4 You Challenge Blog.  The Stamping Boutique also happens to be sponsoring their challenge this week.  This was a great sketch to work with, and worked perfectly for this wonderful train image.  I've had it printed out for some time, but was waiting for just the right opportunity to pull it out and color it up.  My nephew loves trains, so this one is going to him for his birthday in August.  Woohoo!  One more card ready and waiting!!!  Again, I pulled out those Teeny Tiny Wishes for the sentiment.  The paper is from K&Co.'s Citronella Collection, and once again, the coloring/paper thing worked out!  

Thank you so very much for spending a little bit of your day here at The ThINKin' Spot.  It's always such a pleasure.  I wish you a glorious day filled with lots of happy stamping!

Love ya,

  Good morning!!  I have a winner for a free digi of your choice from Deedee's Digis Blog Hop.  Are you ready?   And the winner is....

True Random Number Generator
Min: 1
Max: 37
Result:
2
Powered by RANDOM.ORG

Lucky commenter #2 is KathyCzygan!  Woohoo!!  Congratualtions, Kathy!  I"ll be in touch to let you know how to claim your prize.

Now on to my Recipe Challenge Blog card for today.  Our challenge this week is all about dips, but NO double dipping allowed!!  LOL!!  This French Onion Dip is super, super easy, and a great "go to" recipe for anytime you're needing a little something kick those raw veggies up a notch.  I actually love this on baked potatoes, and you can make a lower calorie version by subbing reduced fat or fat free sour cream.  It just doesn't get any easier than this, or yummier for that matter!  I'd love to have some more great dip recipes to add to my collection, so why not play along with our challenge so we can see what your favorite is!!   

The patterned paper I used for this recipe comes from Scrapbook Store At Your Door, and I added a little

spiral paperclip with some twine on it for a little extra and interesting touch.  Julie has so many wonderful paper choices, and all of the items she carries for recipes, and cookbooks make putting together recipe pages so much fun!!  The onion image comes from Peachy Keen Stamps.  Their Faceless Fruits and Veggies are so much fun to play with, and when you check their website, you'll find so many adorable face choices to go along with them, which makes them literally come to life with all their cuteness!!  I gathered a piece of SU ribbon to break up the page a little bit, and popped Mr. Onion right on top of it with some dimensionals.

Thanks for stopping by today, and let's make it a great day by doing some happy stamping!  You know I love ya!!

Arrrrrrrrrrrgh Matey...

Hello, and happy Sunday to you!  I hope you are enjoying a beautiful Sunday afternoon.  I finally had a minute to sit down and make my blog post today for my monthly Kit Cat Challenge Group.    This month the fabulous Michelle provided us with a WONDERFUL kit, just filled with goodies.  This adorable little pirate fella (Peg Leg Pete) from High Hopes Stamps, some yummy Ambrosia paper from Basic Grey, buttons, gemstones, and  a shiny skull and cross bones sticker, were all included in the kit, and of course, I tried to use each and every item.  I just about got the job done, too.  All I have left are 4 small buttons, and several sheets of that wonderful paper.  Miss Michelle was very generous with this beautiful patterned paper, and I know I'll find good uses for that!!  :-)  

I colored the image with my Copic markers, did a little distressing around the image with the direct to paper technique, and finished the card off with some twine attached to the little anchor image that was included in our kits.  I found this great sketch (#167) on the Card Positioning Systems blog, and knew it was just perfect for this, because I could use those wonderful buttons Michelle sent in the kit.  I love it when a plan comes together!  LOL!!

  Be Sure to hop over to the blogs of the rest of the Kit Cat gals to see what they've done with this wonderful kit.  Michelle, Kelly, Susan, Jeanette, and Catherine will have you inspired, and ready to do some happy stamping!

Thanks so much for stopping by!  May God bless and keep you today and always!

Love ya,

Lorie

Grand Opening of Deedee's Digis!!!!

Good morning, and welcome, welcome, welcome to this fabulous blog hop in celebration of the Grand Opening of Deedee's Digis!!!  Deedee is a very dear friend whom I've had the extreme pleasure to work with as a fellow design team member at Sweet -n Sassy Stamps for the past year, and now she is taking the plunge and opening her own store.  You will find so many wonderful images and sentiments at Deedee's Digis, from her adorable teddies, and puppies, to her beautiful florals, cute kiddos, and the list goes on.  There's something for everyone, so please head over there, check them all out, and load up your cart.    I do believe that Deedee is offering you a free digi just for visiting her store, and she's allowing me to give away your choice of a free digi from her store just for leaving a comment here.  Be sure to comment to this post by Sunday evening to be entered into the drawing, which will be held on Monday morning.  When you leave your comment, please  leave me an email address, so that I can contact you if you win.  

NOW, on with the hop!!!!  If you arrived here from Lisa's Blog then you are hopping along just dandy, but if you just happend along, then you'll want to go back to the beginning, to Ceal's Blog , and hop along from there, so you don't miss one amazing creation!! 

For my card today, I used one of Deedee's new digis called Little Things.  I've always been a big fan of Deedee's teddy bears, and this little doll has to be one of my all time favorites!!  The image comes with the sweet sentiment that I used, as well.  I colored this little cutie with my Copics, and the designer paper is some from my scrap bag.  I decided I'd do a little hand stitching around the image, and I finished this card with some saffron colored grosgrain ribbon, and some pearly Dew Drops. 

The next stop you'll make on this blog hop will be at the ever so talented Micki's Blog.  Should you get lost along the way, here is a complete list of stops in order:  Ceal, Darsie, Janette, Kim, Korin, Leah, Lisa, Lorie (you're here), Micki, Nancy, Nicole, Sandy, Tricia,“Crafting With Deedee's Digis”. 

Thank you so much for stopping by, or "HOPPING" by, as the case may be!  LOL!!  It's always my pleasure to have you!  May you have a blessed day filled with lots of love and happy stamping!!

Love ya,

Challenges, Challenges

Good morning!  Well, it seems that I'm back into the swing of challenges, and today I have a couple of goodies to share with you.  First, I have this card made for the Card Patterns Challenge Blog.  This is my take on their Sketch Challenge #63.  I thought this little Rag Doll digital stamp from The Stamping Boutique is so cute, and she reminds me of my niece, so I made this one for her birthday.  I colored the image with Copic markers, and the card stock and DP are all from Stampin' Up!.  The Stamping Boutique is offering a great prize for one lucky winner who plays along with this challenge, so head on over to the Card Patterns Blog , check out all the details, and get your card uploaded for your chance to win.

My second card was made for the Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge.  I really thought this was going to be a tough one, and it was.  I like a good challenge, though, as it keeps me on my toes!  LOL!!  For me, just deciding what elements to use to pull it off was the hard part.  I used this newly released image, Graduating Audrey from The Stamping Boutique.  The patterned paper is from DCWV.  Of course I used my Copics for coloring Miss Audrey, and I finished off with satin bows, ribbon vine, and paper roses.   There's lots of inspiration and a chance to win a prize at The Midnight Madness Challenge Blog, so let's see what YOU can do with this one!!

Thanks so much for sharing a part of your day with me.  I wish you a blessed day filled with everything you love, including happy stamping!!

Love ya,

Lorie

Peachy Keen Challenge #28

Hello and good morning!  Can you tell from this card that I'm very ready for some sunshine, and sunflowers?  Well, I am, and if I can't get it outside, I decided I'd just make my own.  Challenge #28 over at Peachy Keen Stamps Challenge Blog is a sketch challenge, and this Peachy Keen Stamp, Potted Happy Sunflowers was calling my name to be inked up.  I added some Simple Sally faces to the sunflower singles, and the "Hello" sentiment is from the PKS Springtime Mini set.  Aren't these happy sunflowers adorable?  I have a friend (Miss K) who thinks sunflowers are scary, so I'm hoping to convert her with these cuties.  Scary?  Not these babies.  LOL!!  The patterned paper for this card is some I've been saving for a long time, and comes from Daisy D.  I love these vintage papers, and couldn't resist using it for this card.  It just had to be done!!  :-)

Be sure to check out the Peachy Keen Challenge Blog for all the amazing DT samples, and please join me in welcoming three new members to our design team.  Stop by the blogs of Heidi Anne Giebel, Samantha Casey, and Lisa Buttafuoco, and give them a warm welcome to the Peachy Keen family.  They are truly inspiring artists, and you're gonna love what they do with their Peachy Keen Stamps!!

Wishing you a beautiful day filled with LOTS of happy stamping!

Love ya,

What's Your Favorite Tea Room Recipe?

Good morning, and happy Monday!  Well, at least I hope it's happy for you.  I have a yummy recipe to share with you today for the latest challenge at The Recipe Challenge Blog.  This week, we're sharing our favorite tea room recipes.  Think of your favorite tea room, and make your card match.  Well, that's very easy for me.  My favorite tea room is Shady Gables in Versailles Missouri.  Oh my goodness!  You haven't lived unless you've taken the full queen's tea at Shady Gables!  I just love the quaintness of the home that Reba has turned in to a tea room, and the food... Oh the food!!  It's always amazing, but my favorite thing by far are the buttermilk scones.

. 

Warm, light, and covered with a powdered sugar glaze.  YUMMO!  They just can't be beat.  For this card, I used some of the wonderful Nana's Kitchen patterned paper by DCWV, which can be purchased at the Scrapbook Store At Your Door, along with the pretty paper flowers, which were originally white.  I just colored them with my Copic markers.  I buy those from SSAYD, as well.  Thanks so much for stopping by today.  It's a cold and dreary day here, and would be perfect for enjoying a cup of hot tea and some delicious scones.  Hmmmmm... 

Love ya,

A Chilly 40th Birthday

Happy Mother's Day!  I hope that you are enjoying a glorious day.  I've been asked by several people to share the pictures from my sister's 40th birthday party hosted by me, my mom, and my sister Wendi.  Well here ya go.  We had a wonderful time celebrating her birthday with friends and family.  It was a chilly one, but lots of fun, nonetheless!  Here's Shelby and baby Justin chewing on his glo gun.  Those things are really neat!!

The big "40" sign, and the front of Mom and Dad's house below.

                                   

The birthday girl getting hugs from her guests.

Smile Gracee!!

My mom.

Trevor being silly and Uncle Kev seeming unamused.

Sister Wendi and Madisyn.  Awwww.

Al and the crew around the campfire.  The warmest place around!!

The view of the decks.  It's so pretty here!!

Tanner's in the middle of a big story.  Whatcha gonna do with that glo gun, Sheriff?

I think I've seen pictures like this on Pioneer Woman's blog.  Running the length of the hay bales really is what country kids do for fun.

The big kids, too!!

Blowing out the candles.  Her daughter made the cake.  Kyleigh's our culinary genius!!

Sure is good cake!!

Sisters three.

Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you enjoy the pictures, and again, Happy Mother's Day to all you special moms and every woman who touches so many lives in wonderful ways!

God bless you today and always.

Love ya,