Sites of the week

It’s the 20th, and the 20th of each month brings 2 things to me, creatively at least… Today is Celebrate MFT Day and it’s also the Dirty Dozen {past and present} challenge.

Are you asking “What is Celebrate MFT Day”? Well, we hold it on the 20th each month {this is a day that for the most part does not conflict with major stamp co. releases}. It’s simply a day to get out your MFT stamps {new or old} and just stamp for fun. In the coming months we will be incorporating challenges, but for now it’s just a stampin’ day! I’ll let you in on a secret…we were supposed to start the challenges this month, but I totally forgot about it, so we are waiting. LOL!! You can see the SCS post HERE, there is a little more info about a prize up for grabs, too. For this card I used the Joy Fold from the top. You can how to do this kind of card HERE. The stamps are MFT, of course, and are from the “What’s The Story” set. I really like the colors that Papertrey has been coming out with and I chose to incorporate them in this card. I used Berry Sorbet, Sweet Blush, Spring Moss and their patterned paper. The flower was sent to me from the super duper talented Daniela Dobson. I will admit that I have been hoarding these for quite some time, but I am glad that I finally used one!

Next up is my card for the Dirty Dozen/Dirty Dozen Alumni August Challenge. The deets for this challenge are as follows:

Challenge Focus: BIRTHDAY!
Required Element: NUMBERS!! You can use stamps, die cuts, embossing folders, chipboard… whatever kind of number you can get your hands one!
Restricted Element: You can’t use the word “birthday.” Be creative in wishing someone a happy birthday!
Keyword: DCB808 (for Dirty Challenge Birthday August 08 )

All stamps on this one are from The Cat’s Pajamas. If you missed yesterday’s post, see it below for this week’s challenge: blue and orange. The DP on this one is from We R Memory Keepers. I LOVE it! Time to start hoarding tho, bc I think I only have one piece and the closest store that carries it is over an hour away…EEEK!

I have to tell ya that yesterday I worked on my ABC Friday Project, which is also going to be part of the upcoming Project Parade on the Verve blog…OMG! Have you ever been so happy with yourself? Well, I am. Go ahead and slap me on the wrist for saying so, but I can’t wait ’til Friday to show this to ya!! I’ll be posting tomorrow, too, but I just “HAD” to say something about Friday. **giddy**

Finally I am posting my award…

Elizabeth..THE ELZYBELLS CHICK…gave this to me! Thank you! I know that there are all these “rules” that go with this, but there is no way I could pick just a few people to give this to. I really do appreciate, tho! Thank you!!

This sentiment just CRACKS ME UP! Tony rolled his eyes as I got a good chuckle out of showing him the card that I made for this week’s TCP Tuesday. Toni is challenging everyone to use blue and orange…which happen to be complimentary colors on the color wheel. At least I think so. LOL! My color theory relies on how my scraps line up and if I like that combo. I am an art class drop out. I loathed each and every minute in there and when I left I never turned back. Oh, if she could see me now. She is referring to my 7th grade art teacher who assumed that I understood what she was saying. To do this day when I teach my stamping classes, I tell everyone that I have NO IDEA about anything artistic, but I am happy that stamping lets me fake it. Isn’t that the truth!?! LOL!

Anywhooooo…here’s the card I’m yapping about…

The image and sentiment are from The Cat’s Pajamas…of course. The DP is SEI and I think this is a sheet that I pulled from the bargain bin. American Crafts ribbon tops off the main panel. Does the layout look familiar? It’s just a slightly modified version of this week’s SKETCH FOR YOU TO TRY {see the post right under this one}. Don’t forget, those that participate this week will be entered for some goodies from me. I’ll announce that winner on Friday morning.

Wanna play in THIS challenge {oh me, oh my, so many challenges and such going on!!}? Here’s what you are gonna need to know…

1. Each a week one of the The Cat’s Pajamas DT Members will host a challenge.
2. The challenges will vary {stamp, color, theme/inspiration, sketch, etc.}
3. You will have until {this} Saturday night to complete the challenge.
4. Link your project on this week’s hostess’ challenge announcement. This week you will link your project HERE on Toni’s post.
5. TCP stamps are not required, but of course, highly encouraged. {Unless it is a challenge calling for a specific stamp}
6. There will be one winner each month. They will be deemed that month’s Swankiest Stamper and get $25 in Cat’s Cash {money to spend on the TCP site!}.
7. When uploading to SCS, please use the keyword TCPTUES21 for this challenge.
8. Alma will post the entries from the week the following Monday on her blog.
9. The newly crowned Swanky Stamper will be announced on the First of the Month and have his/her winning entry posted on The Cat’s Pajamas website where he/she will reign for the entire month.
10. Oh yea…HAVE FUN!

The last three post titles would probably have you believe that I am something that I am not, but at least it keeps things lively around here! LOL! Well, today is Tuesday and that means another installment of TCP Tuesday. If you haven’t yet heard, Carole has taken on a Design Team Position with Cornish Heritage Farms. CHF asks their designers to be exclusive to them, so Carole is no longer with the TCP team. Why am I even talking about this? Well, because she was the one that headed up the TCP Tuesday Inspiration Challenges. I have now stepped into her spot. So, here we are, me hosting the TCP Tuesday Inspiration Challenge. I figured I would start things off easy peasy. Your inspiration is BIRTHDAYS! Tomorrow is my 30th…EEEEEEEEEEEK!, so I figured it would be appropriate to use this “theme.” Make your project as simple or as wild as you would like, just don’t forget to link it to this post, k?!?

Here’s my sample…

Does this sketch look familiar? That’s because it’s part of the Anni-VERVE-sary sketches. Yesterday I went to Julee’s blog seeking a Mojo Monday sketch. I wasn’t out of luck tho, I used the Monday sketch from all the Anni-VERVE-sary sketches. Cute sketch, huh? I think so! The card measures 3.5×7″. I picked up that super fun patterned paper a few weeks ago went Susan and I trekked out to Mineral Wells’ scrapbook store. It’s from We R Memory Keepers. Very cute and I am thinking that I may have to hoard it!

Wanna play and have a chance at winning 25 buck-a-roos in Cat Cash? Listen up, here’s how…

1. Each a week one of the The Cat’s Pajamas DT Members will host a challenge.
2. The challenges will vary {stamp, color, theme/inspiration, sketch, etc.}
3. You will have until {this} Saturday night to complete the challenge.
4. Link your project on this week’s hostess’ challenge announcement. This week you will link your project HERE on this post.
5. TCP stamps are not required, but of course, highly encouraged. {Unless it is a challenge calling for a specific stamp}
6. There will be one winner each month. They will be deemed that month’s Swankiest Stamper and get $25 in Cat’s Cash {money to spend on the TCP site!}.
7. When uploading to SCS, please use the keyword TCPTUES20 for this challenge.
8. Alma will post the entries from the week the following Monday on her blog.
9. The newly crowned Swanky Stamper will be announced on the First of the Month and have his/her winning entry posted on The Cat’s Pajamas website where he/she will reign for the entire month.

Psst…one more thing:
Don’t forget to play along with this week’s SKETCH FOR YOU TO TRY! I’ll be drawing a random winner on Friday for “a little something” from me!

oh, wait…ONE more thing…
My Favorite Things is having a sale! Check it out HERE!

Just a little note before I jump into the meat of this post…
Don’t forget to comment on yesterday’s post for a chance to win one of the new sets being released by My Favorite Things tomorrow night! The winner will be announced tomorrow morning along with a slew of last minute sneak peeks! GOOD LUCK!

It’s TCP Tuesday…YAY!
Leigh has come up with a great sketch for this week’s challenge. **Note…as of posting time she does not have the challenge post up on her blog. Go forth and create, just remember to check back on her site for where to link the card. K?

Here’s the sketch. It’s easy peasy with endless opportunities to create and embellish…just my kind of sketch!!

My sample using TCP’s Smokin’ Barbecue, Chef Poochie and the Barbecue sentiment…

Wanna play with us? Here’s the deets you will want to know…
1. Each a week one of the The Cat’s Pajamas DT Members will host a challenge.
2. The challenges will vary {stamp, color, theme/inspiration, sketch, etc.}
3. You will have until {this} Saturday night to complete the challenge.
4. Link your project on this week’s hostess’ challenge announcement. This week you will link your project HERE.
5. TCP stamps are not required, but of course, highly encouraged. {Unless it is a challenge calling for a specific stamp}
6. There will be one winner each month. They will be deemed that month’s Swankiest Stamper and get $25 in Cat’s Cash {money to spend on the TCP site!}.
7. When uploading to SCS, please use the keyword TCPTUES19 for this challenge.
8. Alma will post the entries from the week the following Monday on her blog.
9. The newly crowned Swanky Stamper will be announced on the First of the Month and have his/her winning entry posted on The Cat’s Pajamas website where he/she will reign for the entire month.

I’m writing this as Ellie is watching Diego’s Dinosaur Adventure. She is OBSESSED with dinosaurs lately. She has some little dinosaur plastic toys and a couple of books (which we read 15 times a day). I think it’s funny how a 2 year old can be so fascinated with dinosaurs. I can’t imagine what 2nd grade will be like (when she will “officially” learn about them). We have already taken her to a dinosaur exhibit where she pointed out the T-Rex…”the meeeean one!” I’m on the lookout for a cute stuffed pink dino for her. Let me if you see any!
Well, it’s Tuesday and that means another installment of TCP Tuesday…YAY! The theme for today’s challenge is CHRISTMAS IN JULY…using any TCP Christmas/Winter images. I absolutely LOOOOVE the images from last winter’s release, so I quickly got out my clearly swanky Polar Holiday set and got to stampin’. Here’s what I came up with…

Don’t you love this color combo? It’s SU! Real Red, Old Olive and Baja Breeze. The white is actually Papertrey Ink’s Vintage Cream. I stamped the image with Brilliance Graphite Black and colored the images with Copics. The “ice” was highlighted with Niji Pearlescent Watercolors. The Baja Breeze layer is embossed with the snowflake Cuttlebug folder and the Old Olive layer is clear embossed using the Large Circle Snowflake. I love the punched snowflakes, too. This is a punch that I picked up from Hobby Lobby last year. I embellished the centers with some red Swarovski crystals.
Wanna play with us? Here’s some details that you should know…

1. Each a week one of the The Cat’s Pajamas DT Members will host a challenge.
2. The challenges will vary {stamp, color, theme/inspiration, sketch, etc.}
3. You will have until {this} Saturday night to complete the challenge.
4. Link your project on this week’s hostess’ challenge announcement. This week you will link your project HERE.
5. TCP stamps are not required, but of course, highly encouraged. {Unless it is a challenge calling for a specific stamp}
6. There will be one winner each month. They will be deemed that month’s Swankiest Stamper and get $25 in Cat’s Cash {money to spend on the TCP site!}.
7. When uploading to SCS, please use the keyword TCPTUES18 for this challenge.
8. Alma will post the entries from the week the following Monday on her blog.
9. The newly crowned Swanky Stamper will be announced on the First of the Month and have his/her winning entry posted on The Cat’s Pajamas website where he/she will reign for the entire month.