Darling Didies and Free Downloads!

The Technique Boutique is still going strong! This is the second project I created for the event. I used the Inked Embossing Folder technique and made some baby shower favors:)
If you would like to see more of the 40+ projects for this event, check out UStampWithDawnandFriends.com . It is a great value for only $24.95!

I know most of us are in Holiday mode, but there are babies being born all the time and we still need fresh ideas! You can fit about 5 nuggets in the diapers, and I am sure there are lots of other things that would fit also.

Now, back to designing stuff for the Stampin' Addicts MDS Blog Hop Nov. 2-4th! Be sure to come back and check that out too! There are 3 free downloads available this week and 50% off the digital kits! How exciting is that ?!

Let's Get Dirty

UStampWithDawnandFriends is having another event right now, and I wanted to share a peek of one of the projects I designed for this round. We are focusing on techniques, as the title states. I chose to feature Sanded Paper. I fell in love with the Core'dinations cardstock in the Holiday Mini and was inspried to create this fun set of party stuff :)

Every little boy wants to tear around like a wild man when he gets together with his friends, and there really is something to be said about a good old fashioned afternoon in the sun. Remember all the good times you had playing in the sandbox, racing the toy cars, playing hide & seek, tag, tug-of-war, Red Rover Red Rover, and all kinds of other games kids are losing touch with these days?! Bring back the fun of playing with minimal toys and maximum energy and imagination! You will be the coolest parent on the block, I promise!
Oh, and you get to play too, when you make these fun badges and the banner :)

Nautical Birthday

I am still working on filling up a box of cards to send to Operation Write Home and I needed some more masculine birthday cards. I think we all have lots of feminine ones, lol! This striped paper from the Festival of Prints DSP stack just seemed perfect for this theme!

This is the first version I made. The striped paper is the only DSP, the rest is stamped and sponged.

I turned the design on it's side for this version, it works well either way!

• Stamps: The Open Sea, Curly Cute
• Ink: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso
• Paper: Early Espresso, Island Indigo, Very Vanilla, Festival of Prints DSP stack
• Other: Sponge, Early Espresso ¼" Stitched Grosgrain ribbon, 2½" Circle punch, Essentials paper piercing pack, paper piercer and piercing mat, 1" Corner punch, Stampin' Dimensionals, buttons, White Baker's Twine, Glue Dots

Then on the inside I did some torn edge sponging and stamping. Love this simple technique :)

Cocoa and a Friend

Ok, I resisted this set. I was not going to get it, I swear! Then I caved. I just saw way too many adorable cards with it! I am not a huge fan of coloring things, so that should have helped, but come on! The images are just too darn cute!

This embossing pattern reminds me of the steam coming off a hot cup of something! Yum! So rich and aromatic. I think I love food.... everything relates to food to me :)
I broke down and ordered the sanding block for the Core'dinations paper because my little white sanding block was picking up ink from DSP and transferring it to the next piece of paper I sanded! Ugh! Now it is much better :)

• Stamps: Wonderful Winterland
• Ink: Early Espresso, Island Indigo, Pool Party, Cajun Craze, Pink Pirouette, Cherry Cobbler
• Paper: Island Indigo, Very Vanilla, Early Espresso Core'dination, Festival of Prints DSP
• Other: Big Shot with Lacey Brocade EF and Apothecary Accents framelits, 2½" Circle punch, sewing machine, Sanding Block, Blender Pen, White Baker's Twine,  paper piercing guide, needle

Sweet Christmas

Who else loves Pinterest? I find so many amazing ideas there and I was inspired by  German SU demo, Jenni Pauli,  for this card. Love all the layers and the bling!

I just pulled out the DSP from the color packs for the colors I used and started making little banners and pulled out this stack of die cuts I had made thinking I would make a garland with, but never got around to. I had enough die cuts to make 6 of these cards and all but one is going to Operation Write Home. Maybe I will actually make some more for me :)

 Again I pulled out a couple of retired sentiments for this card. This is the inside of the card and I refrained from stamping images all over it.

• Stamps: Scentsational Season, Sweet Season, Christmas Greetings
• Ink: Gumball Green, Raspberry Ripple, Cajun Craze, Pool Party
• Paper: Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Gumball Green, Raspberry Ripple, Cajun Craze, Pool Party, DSP color packs
• Other: sewing machine, Big Shot with Holiday Collection framelits, 1" Square punch, Signo white gel pen, Rhinestone Basic Jewels

Peaceful Pines

 So I have been on a mission to fill a box with cards to send to Operation Write Home. I am still working on it. I am starting to think I should have picked a smaller box though! There are currently 75 cards in the box and I could probably get another 50-75 more in there!

I am actually working days this month (11am-11pm) in my new job at Sanford Bemidji ER, but next month I will be working nights. I imagine I will end up doing more stamping when I only have a couple days off. It just doesn't make sense to switch my sleeping schedule for such a short time. Frankly, it is like torture for me! I am not really a night person. I get crabby at home. Ask my family..... sorry guys!

I hope these colors don't look bad together. I keep looking at this and loving it, but I just can't help think that Always Artichoke and Pool Party are not supposed to go together! I sponged the Pool Party first, then stamped the rest. I ended up pulling out a couple of retired sentiments for it too.

• Stamps: Watercolor Winter, Peaceful Wishes, Star-Studded Season
• Ink: Always Artichoke, Early Espresso, Pool Party
• Paper: Always Artichoke, Early Espresso, Whisper White
• Other: Sponge, Signo white gel pen, Early Espresso ¼" Stitched Grosgrain ribbon, dimensionals

I hope I left enough room for a message on the inside, I think I got a little carried away :)

Now, I want some honest opinions about this color combo!

OWH World Card Making Day Blog Hop!

Welcome to another hop of inspiration! If you have never seen anything about Operation Write Home, now is a great time to go check it out. It is such a wonderful way for us crafters to give back in a meaningful way to the soldiers and their families for the sacrifices they make for each and every one of us every day. AND it is World Card Making Day so people all over the world are celebrating the joys of this fantastic hobby! So, join us in making cards, and think about donating them to OWH.

Here is my wintery themed card! Funny thing is, it actually snowed a couple inches the day I made this, which was Oct. 4th, 2012. Yes, just 2 days ago we got snow. I was not really ready for that and I wore sandals, a t-shirt, and jeans to town and had to brush a couple inches of snow off my car at lunchtime. I hope that it has melted by the time this post is live!
But this little snowbunny looks so sweet, I had to use it for this hop. I left this blank so it can be used for anything :) I used the Bonus Sketch from 9-3-12, and I would post a pic of the sketch but blogger won't take PNG files!

• Stamps: Wonderful Winterland
• Ink: Whisper White, Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Pool Party, Pink Pirouette, Raspberry Ripple
• Paper: Whisper White, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Pool Party, Pink Pirouette, Raspberry Ripple
• Other: Big Shot with Window Frames framelit, Adorning Accents and Delicate Designs and Northern Flurry embossing folders, 2½" Circle punch, Essentials and Festive paper piercing packs, paper piercer, Signo white gel pen, dimensionals, sponge, Blender Pen

 Now get hopping! (and stamping!)