Color Throwdown Day, Lots of Projects & Sentiment Flag Pre-Order Starts TODAY!!

I have sooooo much to share today! Let's get right down to business! As promised last week, today's post is jammed packed with projects and exciting stuff!
Today, I am the Color Throwdown Challenge hostess! And I've picked some yummy colors for you to play with. Check it out:

I actually started by making the diaper cake below. But let's talk about this baby card first! Yes, it's another baby card from me!! But I promise this is it for a while. At least a week or so anyways!!I am going to keep it simple on the details since I have so much to share. That being said, I love how this card turned out! It's so neat and clean! I love that you can see the Spica glitter I added to the wings of the bee in this photo!


I made this diaper cake for my mom to give as a gift to her bosses DIL as a shower present. I've actually made a few diaper cakes. I started first making them with my mother in law and just thought they were the greatest! Each individual diaper is hand rolled and then the "cake" layers are made and put together. I then embellished with a little paper crafting and the duck-blankie on top. I also squeezed in some wash cloths in place of diapers for a little pop of color.




Next up, I made 2 of these cards as thank you's for the generous sponsors and friends who supported our 100th challenge celebration. You might be thinking that was a while ago and you're right! But it's never too late to say thank you! I made these scallop-petal flowers from kraft paper and stamped the top layer with Basic Backgrounds Text Styles for a little something extra and topped off with jumbo lemon tart buttons. I really love the glitter border I added to the bottom which I learned from one of Nichole Heady's posts. Loved that when I saw her do it! I really like how these turned out! I was happy to have been able to incorporate some vellum paper. I love how soft it makes a project feel!


Remember to upload your challenge cards to the Color Throwdown Challenge blog HERE and stop to visit the design team members for some beautiful inspiration!

Tammy Hershberger
Broni Holcombe
Barbara Anders
Danielle Kennedy
And help us welcome the amazing Silke Ledlow, our Guest Designer for September!

Wait there's MORE!!! I've been talking and talking about the upcoming release of Sentiment Flags stamp set and the coordinating die....WELL....I decided to offer a pre-order beginning TODAY! The dies are in my hot little hands. I'm just waiting for the stamps to arrive. I expect to start shipping them within 7-10 days or as soon as they arrive! I'm so excited about this I'm giddy! In an effort to keep this post as short as possible, I invite you to click on over to Shop Lil' Inker where I have more exciting details about the pre-order and the products!! You're going to LOVE IT!
I've had sample dies in my possession for months now and I tell ya, I can't stop reaching for it!! And now that I have the stamp set to play with! WATCH OUT!!! It's AMAZING to be able to dress up this cute little shape with uniquely fonted sentiments and borders that everyone will LOVE!!! I hope you will!! See you at Shop Lil' Inker!!!!
Thanks so so much for coming by today! Please leave a comment! I LOVE getting them oh so much :)

Ingredients(All):
Stamps: Baby Button Bitsackground Basics Polka Dots and Text Styles, Turning A New Leaf(PTI), Thank You sentiment(Verve)
Paper: Kraft, Lemon Tart(PTI), Vellum(SU!)
Ink: Craft White, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip(SU!), Spica clear glitter pen
Accessories: Lemon Tart buttons, ribbon, Beautiful Blooms dies, linen/canvase texture plate(PTI), scallop border punch, hemp twine(SU!), corner rounder(marvy), crystal fine glitter(Martha Stewart)
Diaper Cake accessories: Wash cloths from Gerber, Duckie Blankie(Carters), empty paper towel roll(for inside cake structure), LOTS of elastics(various sizes), 100 diapers newborn and size 1, foil platter for presentation

More Babies with Chicken Girl Designs

Yowsa have I been on a spree making baby cards!! And you know what's funny? I already have another one to share, but it won't be for a few weeks, thankfully. So maybe I will cool it until then and maybe make a birthday card or something, HA!!
So here is the latest addition to this ever growing collection of baby cards on standby. It features this sweet image from the August release called Dreaming of You by designer Jannie Ho of Chicken Girl Designs which are available only from I Heart Papers! This could be used for several different occasions, but it really said "baby" to me. (I swear I am not hinting with any news with all these baby cards!)

I started with Lemon Tart base and stamped it with Craft White ink from SU! using the Background Basics: Polka Dots set that I just can't away from right now. I colored my image with Copics and added some rhinestones to the stars and some Spica gel pen to the moon for some shine and layered it on a jumbo scalloped circle from Spelbinders. I accented with the star with button and gold twine, more shine.
Here, I also stamped my sentiment directly onto my ribbon. PTI's hybrid ink is PERFECT for stamping on ribbon as it barely bleeds. I used Ocean Tides and like how it's a subtle sentiment as opposed to jumping off the page.

Please visit I Heart Papers for this and more fun images from Chicken Girl Designs.

Thanks for stopping by today! Your comments make my day!!


Ingredients:
Stamps: Dreaming of You(Chicken Girl Designs from I Heart Papers), Baby Button Bits(PTI)
Paper: Lemon Tart(PTI), Bashful Blue(SU!)
Ink: Craft White(SU!), Copic markers, Ocean Tides(PTI)
Accessories: Spellbinders circles and jumbo scalloped circles, scallop border punch, large star punch, gold twine(SU!), rhinestones, ribbon(my stash)

It's That Time Again! Woohoo!

Can you?


Ok, I have to admit....when I saw the *names* of the colors for this week I thought to myself....well you don't need to know what I said...then I SAW some samples Tammy sent to me using these colors and I thought, "Oh thank goodness, I can do that!" and it all made sense and funny enough when I looked around, my living rooms curtains have the SAME three colors!!
My point? Take a look at the samples of the design team and give it a try yourself, not just this week, every week to get your creativity going! You don't have to have to exact colors to play, remember. Just make something that is paper craft related using similar colors and link it to the Color Throwdown blog using the InLinkz tool! Easy Peasy!!
Here's what I did with this week's colors:


I started with the Fillable Frames #4, stamped it in Real Red, actually, then I didn't know where to go from there so I pulled out two of my new goodies also from Papertrey Ink. I FINALLY got Baby Button Bits and Background Basics: Polka Dots. I know! I'm a little behind! Anywhoo....I busted out my River Rock....wiped the dust off, ha! and stamped large polka dots onto the lower half in Ridinghood Red and then texturized the top half with my linen/canvas texture plate. Added in a *divider* of Certainly Celery scallops and a strip of R. Red, stitched it down the middie then added my focal die and ribbon. Yup that's right I sat looking at it thinking, "what the heck am I going to put in the middle?" when I saw my Baby Button Bits looking at me and I decided to use the Welcome Little One image and found a celery button for *O* in One.
I have BABY on the brain...actually stay tuned..I'm making a diaper cake as a shower present and plan to use my Baby Button Bits set..actually that's why I bought it. I can't wait to get it together! I will definitely share pics with you!
Don't forget to head on over to the Color Throwdown Blog and to visit the blogs of the design team for super-licious inspiration!

Tammy Hershberger
Broni Holcombe
Barbara Anders
Danielle Kennedy
LeAnne Pugliese Happy Birthday, Lovely!
Makiko Jones - Makink Studios (July Guest Designer)
AND a BIG surprise this morning, KRISTIN IS BAAACK!!! YAY!! Kristin, we really missed you! So glad to have you back with us!!
Make sure to stop by and sing Happy Birthday to LeAnne. Today is her birthday and make sure you stop by and say thanks to Makiko for joining us as our guestie for the month of July! I read that this morning in Tammy's post and gasped because I can't believe how quickly that went by! We've all enjoyed seeing her beautiful work each week!

Thanks for your comments and for stopping by today!

Ingredients:
Stamps: Fillable Frames #4, Baby Button Bits, Background Basics:Polka Dots(PTI)
Paper: River Rock, Certainly Celery, Ridinghood Red(SU!)
Ink: Real Red, Ridinghood Red(SU!), Brilliance Graphite Black
Accessories: Fillable Frames Die #4, Linen Canvas Texture Plate(PTI), scallop border punch, Certainly Celery ribbon and button, linen thread(SU!), sewing machine, corner rounder(Marvy)

Sending You Hugs & Cute As A Bug

Here are a couple of cards I made today. Big Keith took the Little Guy to his Grandparents so I flew around here like a maniac cleaning so I could have as much time as possible in my craft room!
This first card is made using a single stamp release from Chi Chi Memories called "Hug" which will be available for purchase Monday, 3/29/10 for only $1.99! Make sure to stop by the store to pick up your copy of this beautifully designed stamp which would be perfect for Mother's Day by the way!!!



I decided to paper piece this image using papers from the Honey Bunny kit from Sweet Shoppe Designs and used this week's Taylored Expressions challenge TESC106.My second card is another using the Flower Babies set also from Chi Chi Memories. I used Jen del Muro's Sketch For You To Try as well as more delicious papers from Sweet Shoppe Designs. This kit is called Bees Knees.


Each creation features computer created sentiments made using my word processing program which I'm fastly becoming a HUGE fan of and I'm finally getting to use all the fonts I've been collecting for years but never knew why!
I am going to head off now to do a few last minute things before the boys arrive home! Have a great night!
I almost forgot, how could I? Chi Chi Memories is having an incredible sale right now on their Valentine's Day and St. Paddy's days sets. Each set is only 99 cents!!! I already picked up my copy of Valentine's Day which I think has versatile images for any occassion! Be sure to stop by, view the sale and buy your favorites HERE.

Ingredients Card 1:
Stamps: Chi Chi Memories- Hug
Paper: Honey Bunny - Sweet Shoppe Designs, Orchid Opulence, Kraft(SU!), Spring Moss(PTI)
Ink: Copic markers
Accessories: swirl clip(My stash), ribbon, word window punch, modern label punch(SU!), pearl stickers(ACMoore)
Techniques: machine stitching, paper piecing

Ingredients Card 2:
Stamps: Chi Chi Memories - Flower Babies
Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black(SU!), Sweet Shoppe Designs - Bees Knees
Ink: Copic markers
Accessories: Label 1 dies(Spellbinders), word window punch, button, linen thread(SU!), brads(Making Memories), paper flower(Target), ribbon(ACMoore)
Technique: Machine Stitching

New Release from Chi Chi Memories - Baby Flower Collection

Hello and Happy Friday!
I'm here today to share some samples I made for the new release from Chi Chi Memories called Baby Flower Collection. I squealed with excitement when I saw these little guys. You can purchase each set individually at $2.25 each or the entire collection for only $6.99! Incredibly cute and incredibly affordable!
Here is my first card. I made it for Lisa Johnson's Poppy Seed Challenge #2 which is to use a button, the color light moss and polka dots. (Sadly, I just went to upload my cards and realized Mr. Linky expired last night, I could cry.)
If you look closely you will see that my red background is textured embossed with polka dots and I used a light moss(or certainly celery) button! My Baby Flower is popped up on some dimensional dots. Wish you could see this in person. I just love the way this turned out! Isn't this image so adorable as a new baby card?


My second card is more of a boy version and is made specifically for a friend of mine who had a little boy this month. I used this week's Color Throwdown Challenge colors (CTD85) of Baja Breeze, Garden Green and Certainly Celery. The sketch is this week's Sketch For You To Try and also satisfies the Poppy Seed #2 challenge!


I love the versatility of this set. You can pull out one image to showcase on each card as I did or you could put multiple flowers together. Natalie includes some really cute sentiments in this set, but I chose to show even more versatility in how these images can be paired with sentiments you already have in your collection! Great, right?
Thanks for stopping by today! Have a fantastic weekend. I will be back shortly with even more samples to showcase this fabulous set!

Ingredients Card 1:
Stamps: Baby Flower Collection - Chi Chi Memories, sentiment Stampin' Up
Paper: Pure Poppy, Orange Zest(PTI), kraft(SU!)
Ink: Copic markers, Brilliance Graphite Black
Accessories: Saffron ribbon, green button, linen thread, word window punch, modern label punch, texture plates(polka dot background), paper piercing tool(ALL SU), dimensional dots

Ingredients Card 2:
Stamps: Baby Flower Collection - Chi Chi Memories, sentiment Stampin' Up
Paper: Baja Breeze textured cs, Certainly Celery, designer dsp from Sweet Pea collection
Ink: Copic markers, Brilliance Graphite Black
Accessories: Vintage Ocean Tides buttons(PTI), linen thread(SU), dimensional dots

I'm a Color Throwdown Challenge Newbie!

Hieeee!!! I hope this blog post finds you well and happy! We spent the day in doors today as little man is a bit under the weather, but he actually napped today so I was able to get some stamping done. Yeeehaaaa!
I made a couple of baby cards I've been needing to get done and I used a Kim Hughes Click Simple Template from Papertrey Ink for both which I've been dying to try out. I also thought it would be fun to give the Color Throwdown Challenge #81 (CTD81) a try this week. This is my first time ever participating so I'm a newbie! The colors this week are brown, pink and olive which are some of my favorites together. However, as you can see I took my own creative liberties and used kraft instead of chocolate. Kraft is "technically" brown, isn't it?

The oneise card which is for the CTD81 challenge uses the SU hostess set called Cute as a Bug. I stamped my main image onto kraft and colored it with Copic markers and layered it onto a white scallop circle. Then I stamped a coordinating stamp from the set in white on the kraft base as a background and trimmed out the onsie's neck, sleeves and legs in white but decided to give the legs a little frill and used a scallop circle. I added a sentiment stamped in chocolate to the main image panel with a cute little button.
My elephant was very simple. I basically just printed him right onto the card stock, cut him out and added a button eye. Although I did score his ear so that it stands up a bit. I think this little guys makes for the cutest little cards. What do you think?
I hoping to do a lot more online challenges over the next several weeks! They're just plain fun! If you decide to play along in this week's Color Throwdown, make sure you let me know!
Thanks for stopping by!

Ingredients: all from SU! unless noted
Onesie
Stamps: Cute as a Bug
Paper: Kraft, Whisper White
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Whisper White Craft ink, Copic markers
Accessories: Click Simple Template(Kim Hughes for PTI), word window punch, scallop circle punch, button from Sherbert collection
Elephant
Paper: Parisian Breeze (retired dsp)
Accessories: Click Simple Template(Kim Hughes for PTI), button from Latte collection (also retired, gotta use it up, right?)

10% Off Sale Continues & A Baby Project

Good morning and happy Sunday!!!! What's new??? I've been busy here at the house working tons from home and taking care of Little Keith who will be 2 in a couple of weeks and is already acting like he's 2. Poor little guy had a nightmare the other night, woke up screaming AND (so sad) fell out of his crib for the first time. I thought I'd throw up when I saw him on the floor. It was a traumatic night for everyone. I hope that NEVER happens again. Thank goodness we have carpet!
Anywhoo... I had been working on this baby project for some time and finally finished it and am excited to show it to you today. I have made a similar project in the past, but this one is sort of girly and fun and is specifically purple to match baby Cecilia's nursery. So this is for my friend Rachel who is a doll and just had her first, baby Cecilia in November. So better late than never with my gift, right?!
This project features an 8 x 8 shadow box frame which I painted white and filled with all these cute little inchies and features baby's birth info. I love the way it turned out. I hope she loves it too!
On another note, I just sent a submission to become part of the Stamptacular Sunday Challenge design team. SO we'll see!!! Keeping my fingers crossed!
Also, don't forget about my sale through March 31st!!! 10% off all Stampin Up orders placed through me and who doesn't want to save?? Right?? Simply e-mail me your order to lpryor1@hotmail.com.
Thanks everyone for stopping by! Enjoy your day!!

p.s. I will be posting ingredients of this project at a later date and time so I can go and finish cleaning! {sarcastically} "yayyyy"

Baby Gift by Special Request

Good morning, All! My friend, Suzanne, asked if I would make her a baby gift for a friend of hers. She specifically requested an eclectic item that wasn't too baby-ish or too girly and something that could be displayed in any area of the house and for a long time. So I opted for classy but non-girly colors of brown, kiwi and blue. She also wanted for this item to show the baby's birth details.
I've seen a lot of these types of home decor items from various other designers on Splitcoast Stampers and I had been dying to make one myself and this was the PERFECT opportunity!
Here is a link to the design that inspired me the most which I decided to CASE (copy and share with everyone). I had this shadow box from a project I intended on doing and then never did. So I changed my project to fit this shadow box frame.
Ingredients:
Stamps: Season of Friendship, Pocket Silhouettes, Great Friend(SU!)
Paper: Kiwi Kiss, Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze cardstock, several retired designer series papers
Ink: Versamark, White Craft(SU!)
Punches/Dies: 1.25 square, 3 hearts, 3/4 in circle, scalloped circle, 1 1/4 circle, 1 3/8 circle, large star, scallop border, birds & blooms die(all SU!), small flower, small scallop circle (local craft store)
Accessories: glazed brads(Basic Grey), kiwi kiss satin ribbon, chit chat rub-ons, kiwi corduroy button, baja breeze button (button bouquet), filigree brad(all SU!), hemp twine (my stash), pearl stickers (Marc Richards), sewing machine, 'Love' rub on is from my stash, used Angelina font and Microsoft Word for baby birth details

I think I got everything. If you have a specific question about items used, please feel free to contact me.
Thanks for stopping by!

Babies, Babies! 2 Cards for You Today

I had a couple of baby cards to make. I love making cards for new babies! I love the colors, the images. I think they might be my favorite cards to make.


Ingredients from SU! unless noted
Stamps: Sweet Little Sentiments, Star Background, Playful Animals(Hero Arts)
Paper: Certainly Celery, Barely Banana, Whisper White, Delicate Dots dsp
Ink: Memento Black, Copic, VersaMark
Accessories: Top Notes die, Linen Thread, yellow button(my stash)



Ingredients from SU! unless noted
Stamps: Pun Fun, Sweet Little Sentiments
Paper: Sweet Always dsp, Chocolate Chip, Regal Rose, Whisper White
Ink: Memento Black, Copics, Spica glitter marker
Accessories: Scallop Border Punch, nesties(Spellbinders), jumbo brads(my stash)

It's a Hybrid

Here's a little project I whipped up for my best customer, my mom. She needed a card for family members who just became great grandparents. I didn't have a sentiment like that so I printed this sentiment on heavier weight printing paper after choosing a font. I added some of my new favorite designer paper on the lower half of the die cut, added matching ribbon, but felt it wasn't enough. Even after stamping my background with my polka dot stamp it still needed more. So I added a little hanging tag cut out with my 3/4 in circle punch and stamped with stamps from an oldie set called Good Times. Remember that one? I had to blow dust off it to see what was inside!
This project is technically a hybrid project because I used my computer to create the sentiment in MS Word. I weeded through all my fonts and finally chose 'Freehand591 BT' which I thought suited the words nicely. I'm not sure if I downloaded this font or if it was a standard though. I can always find out for you if you want to know for sure. I then lined it up on my top note die and cut it out so the image would be on the top right. I might actually do this more often. It was really easy to do and much easier than making the rub-ons.
Thanks for looking!