With a Stamp and a Song

Melanie's Festive Frames

debfelts@comcast.net (Deb) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:00:00 +0000

I am so happy to be participating in Melanie's blog hop for her set, Festive Frame. I love this set and have wanted to try some techniques that I've never tried before, so today I stamped and colored on vellum. I embossed it with fine black embossing powder, then colored the reverse using Prismas and Gamsol. I trimmed the center oval, then layered the piece over a rectangle of ivory card stock stamped with the sentiment. This was layered atop a mat of black attached to an ivory card base. I added a row of black jewels, and a big sheer black bow with a tiny dangling notes charm. I am very pleased with how this turned out...it was a great learning experience, and I will definitely try this technique again.

Melanie Muenchinger, the Illustrator of Festive Frame has invited a couple of her friends to join in on the blog hop tonight, so click on their blog links to see the projects they've created for us:

Joan Ervin
Linda Payne
Wendy Price

Then, check in on these GinaK Designer's participating in the Blog Hop tonight:

Carolyn King
Donna Baker
Erika Martin
Jessica Fick
Lee Murphy
Melanie Muenchinger
Theresa Momber

And our fabulous Center Stage Spotlight Team:

Deb Felts
Diana S. Queen
Melissa Cash
Sharri Seffens

After you're done hopping to all the Designer's blogs stop by GinaK's Idea Center here: Festive Frame for lots more ideas on how to use Melanie's stamp set. And, don't forget to check in on GinaK's blog so you can leave your comment to be entered as a chance to win this stamp set, too!

Day 2 of the Recipe Hop!

debfelts@comcast.net (Deb) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:40:00 +0000

Welcome back to Day 2 of the Creative Cuts & More Mega Recipe Blog Hop which features the Apron Holiday Treats Recipe Kit. We have 24 designers who will be showcasing wonderful pages and yummy Holiday Treat recipes.

As part of the celebration CC&M will be having a great sale. For the next six days, we will offer 20% off the entire store. But act quickly, it is only for six days – this sale will end on Nov 14th. Make sure you enter this code: recipebloghop2009 during checkout.

As a continuing part of the celebration CC&M will of course give away great gifts. Each day we will give away one kit. Here is the twist – go through the blog hop, leave wonderful comments for the great designers. After you have finished the blog hop, return to www.diecutdiva.com and instead of leaving a comment, you need to share a recipe to have a chance at winning the kit. Share the recipe on your blog and link it back and get another chance to win the kit. Help us also make this a great recipe swap.

Die Cut Diva
Pam Smerker
Nathalia Castellon
Dawn Lusk
Stephany Zerbe
Jennifer Hansen
Lisa Somerville
Lila Holgate
Kazan Clark
Rachel Hope Baird
Ellen Sosnoski
Cecilia Stricklin
Lori Craig
Cambria Turnbow
Angie Pearl
Laura Davis
Noelle Reese
Holly Brown
Rachel Sztonyk
Deb Felts
Jen Johnson
Amber Hillman
Carla Mayfield
Cindy Lawrence
Chris Dickinson
Die Cut Diva

Auntie Pam's Special K Bars

3 cups Special K cereal
1/2 cup karo syrup
3/4 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
6 oz chocolate chips
6 oz butterscotch chips

Grease a 9 x 13 inch pan with butter. Combine sugar and karo in heavy
saucepan. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat, add peanut butter and vanilla.

Combine mixture with Special K and press into prepared pan. Cool in
refrigerator.

Melt chocolate chips together and spread on pressed mixture. Cool and slice.

Cranberry-Marshmallow Salad (We call this *Pink Fluff*...I make it every Thanksgiving and Christmas)
2 cups sugar
1 large bag marshmallows
1 large can crushed pineapple; well drained
1 lb. fresh cranberries
1 cup shredded coconut
1 pint whipping cream

Put berries through food grinder. Cover with sugar. Let stand overnight.
Mix marshmallows, pineapple, coconut, and cranberries.
Whip cream to firm stiffness and fold into above mixture.

Mom's Chocolate Covered Peanuts (Love you Mom!)
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 cup salted peanuts

Melt together chocolate and peanut butter over low heat. Add peanuts, then
drop by the spoonful onto wax paper or greased cookie sheet. Refrigerate.

Mom's Chocolate Peanutters
1 1/2 cups flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup, firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup shortening
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg
1/4 cup milk
1 package (6 oz) semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup salted peanuts

Sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Set aside.

Combine brown sugar, shortening and vanilla in large bowl. Beat til
creamy. Add egg. Continue to beat. Add flour mixture alternately with
1/4 cup milk. Stir in chocolate chips and salted peanuts. Drop by level
teaspoonsful onto greased cookie sheets.

Bake at 375 for 10-12 minutes.

Mom's Peanut Butter Fudge (It doesn't feel like Christmas without this!)
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 pinch salt
1/2 cup evaporated milk
1/2 jar (~1 cup) marshmallow cream
1 cup peanut butter
2 tablespoon butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Cook sugars, butter, milk and salt to form a soft ball in cold water
(~234-240 degrees). Stir constantly over low heat. Remove from heat and
add remaining ingredients. Beat til creamy (be quick!) Spread onto buttered cookie sheet. Let set; slice into squares.

Perfect Apple Pie Filling (from Irene Matsumoto, who was my patient when I worked as a physical therapist in Straub Hospital in Honolulu)

5-7 tart green apples; peeled and sliced (love my Pampered Chef apple thingie!)
1 cup sugar
2 tablespoon flour
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
2 tablespoon butter
1 recipe double-crust pastry or a package of prepared piecrusts
milk

Mix sugar, flour, salt and spices. Sprinkle half over 9" pastry-lined pie
pan. Heap apples into pastry shell. Sprinkle with remaining sugar
mixture. Dot with butter. Cover with top layer of crust. Brush top with
milk. Sprinkle with sugar. Bake at 450 for 10 minutes, then lower oven
temp to 350 and continue to bake for another 40 minutes.

Here are the additional products I used to complete my album (although I still have 5 pages yet do complete!).

Stamps:

First Christmas, Have a Cookie, Signed with Love (all from Gina K)
Recipe Favorites (Stampendous)
Lovin' from the Oven (Our Craft Lounge)
What's Cookin' (Hero Arts)
Vintage Picnic (Paper Trey Ink)

Accessories:

SU grograin ribbon, metal rimmed tags, potholder incentive stamp, word window and circle punches,
May Arts glimmer ribbon
stitched grograin
Making Memories sparkle brads
Nestabilities labels, Cuttlebug
tiny and teeny tiny buttons from A Small Cleverness, one of our LSSs
Microsoft Publisher (to format the recipe cards, and tags)

Recipe Collecting!

debfelts@comcast.net (Deb) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:00:00 +0000

I'm very excited that my friend Chris Dickinson invited me to take part in this week's Creative Cuts and More Blog Hop. This is a 2-day extravaganza of recipes, with 24 artists participating each day. Can't wait to see what delicious new ideas are along the way! I'll be back tomorrow to share the album I've been working on, and to share some favorite Sweet Treat recipes, but for today I thought I'd share with you a couple of old family favorites.

This first recipe is one that I use on *everything* when it comes to savory dishes. You may have seen the gourmet brands of Creole seasoning at the market...I like to make my own because it is fresh and fabulous, plus I can adjust the proportions (some like it hot!) and leave out the MSG, so here's my own version of Cajun yumminess that gets my authentic stamp of Louisiana approval! ;) (I think that sizes of jars/bottles change periodically...it doesn't have to be exact!)

Creole seasoning
28 oz box Morton's salt
1.5 oz box ground black pepper
2 oz box ground red pepper
1 oz bottle pure garlic powder
1 oz bottle chili powder

Mix well (be careful for the *fumes*...it's strong stuff!) and store in an airtight container. As you can see, it makes a bunch!

The second recipe I'd like to share is from my days at Westlake High School in Mrs. Farley's home economics class! She taught our class how to make yeast rolls, and I've made this recipe nearly every single year since! We love having fresh bread with our holiday meals. It goes quickly around here! Last year when I made it, I called Mrs. Farley to let her know how much we have enjoyed having them each and every year.

Refrigerator Rolls
2 pkg yeast
1/2 cup lukewarm water
1 1/2 cups milk
2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup shortening; melted
1 egg; slightly beaten
5 1/2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
Pam

Add warm water (~80 degrees) to yeast.

Scald milk. Pour into mixing bowl with sugar, salt and shortening. Mix
well.

Add 2 cups of flour, softened yeast, and beaten egg to milk after it has
cooled to lukewarm. Add remaining flour and milk. Turn soft dough out
onto lightly floured board. Knead until satiny.

To refrigerate (option to bake later): Oil a bowl. Place dough in bowl and cover with wax paper and a towel. Allow to come to room temperature before using.

Spray muffin tins (or loaf pans) with Pam. Shape dough into rolls. Cover lightly with wax paper. Allow to rise until doubled in bulk.

Bake in 425 degree oven for 15-25 minutes, until golden brown. Brush with
butter as rolls come out of oven. Remove immediately from pan. Serve hot.

Fresh bread is a lot of work but it is SO worth it! I like to make about 1.5 dozen clover-leaf rolls and use the remaining dough for loaves. Goes great with leftover ham or turkey! You could probably half this recipe to make it in your bread maker if you wanted to. I did that with a Southern Living sourdough bread recipe that I kept going for almost 10 years.

I hope you have fun as you make your way through today's hop! There'll be lots of yummy eye candy as well as recipe goodness to enjoy! Come back tomorrow for the Sweet Treats round! Hope to see you then!

Banana Split Sunday!

debfelts@comcast.net (Deb) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 21:27:00 +0000

It's time for another Banana Split Sunday challenge! This week we're using a 3-2-1 recipe for our cards: 3 eyelets, 2 ribbons, and one oval. I used card stock from CutCardStock with some paper from last year's Fall DCWV designer paper pack, which went perfectly with sweet, adorable Autumn Leaves Penny. I even managed to give her brown hair instead of red! I thought that would balance the colors better, but in my heart, Penny will always have red hair! ;)

I don't know about you, but I sure love the Crop-a-dile for setting eyelets! Makes 'em much less of a headache to set! I tied a scrap piece of ribbon with a bit of raffia so my card qualifies for the recipe challenge. It is bright and a bit different than what I would normally choose, but it is kinda fun for a change.

The Banana Blog has inspiration from our other designers, or you can see their individual blog posts on the sidebar to the right for the details on their creations.

A Tree for Henry

debfelts@comcast.net (Deb) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 04:00:00 +0000

I have been filled with sadness and overwhelmed with grief for my friend and former design team mate Sarah Anderson, whose 3 1/2 year old son Henry passed away on Monday. He was a happy, seemingly healthy child on Thursday, awoke with fever and vomiting on Friday, and by Sunday was having difficulty breathing. Monday morning doctors performed surgery on his heart in an effort to save him, but his little body had just had enough.

Henry was an amazing child! He was an avid Star Wars fan, with Mickey Mouse a close second. He loved visiting the Menominee Park Zoo where he would watch the feeding and care given to the various animals. Friends are gathering funds to purchase a memorial tree at the zoo in his honor.

If you would like to contribute toward the purchase of Henry's memorial, click on the giraffe image at the top of the sidebar on the right. This digital stamp is available for purchase from Pink Cat Studios, and we invite you to make a card in Henry's honor. My card was made using card stock from cutcardstock.com and Cosmo Cricket designer paper from i {heart} papers. I heat-set the printed image and colored it with Copic markers. I hope it will bring Sarah, her husband Darrin and younger son Jack some small measure of comfort.

Whether or not you contribute toward Henry's memorial, there is one huge thing that you can do for his family...please whisper a prayer for them, that they will find strength in the days to come, and God's peace, just when they need Him most.

Blessings!

Center Stage Spotlight Blog Hop!

debfelts@comcast.net (Deb) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:00:00 +0000

I am so excited to be part of the current Center Stage Spotlight Design Team, and that Jessica Fick, the Design Team Coordinator for GinaK Designs, has invited all of the past and present Center Stage Spotlight artists to participate in this blog hop! I am sure that you'll see all kinds of incredible inspiration along the way! Talk about creativity! It certainly makes one hope to stretch and grow, being among these amazing artists!

The challenge that Jessica issued to us was to make a Christmas card using one of these sketches.

I wanted to use an image I had not yet worked with, so I grabbed the ornaments from Asela's set, First Christmas, the Prismas, odorless mineral spirits, and some rub-on gold metallic paste.

They came out soft and shimmery...and they look quite elegant when paired with Basic Grey's Eskimo Kisses designer paper, some gold card stock, and a gold-embossed music score from Nina's Vintage Borders. My nesties got quite the workout too!

I am having such a great time with my Gina K new release stamps! I'm grateful for the friendships I'm making as part of this team, and I will be looking forward to our monthly hops! I hope you'll be a return visitor!

You're going to LOVE what everyone has designed for tonight! Here are the links for GinaK's Current CSS Team Members:

Deb Felts (you're here!)
Diana S. Queen
Karen Knegten
Melissa Cash
Sharri Seffens
Sue VanDeVusse

and the links for all of the past CSS Design Team members participating:

Brenda Turner
Carla Suto
Carolina Buchting
Charlene Merrick
Dawn Lusk
DeeMarie Kelemen
Geri Utterback
Giovanna Smith
Janice Melton
JenMarie Taylor
Jennie Harper
Joy Hadden
Kay Simmons
Linda Payne
Lori McAree
Melisa Waldorf
Pam Imholz
Selma Stevenson
Shannon Bracken
Shelly Wilson
Sue Walsh
Tina Gilliland

Some of GinaK's Senior Design Team Members and Illustrators wanted to get in on the fun tonight too:

Asela Hopkins
Carolyn King
Cindy Lawrence
Jessica Fick
Lee Murphy
Lynn Mercurio
Nina Brackett
Melanie Muenchinger

along with Nina Brackett's Guest Designer, Lisa Hjulberg and GinaK herself!

All of these gorgeous cards from the entire team will be added to the StampTV gallery throughout the next few days with the tag cssjf1 (which stands for center stage spotlight jessica fick 1)

These sketches are also our sketch challenge for this week, so be sure to check out all the information in the discussion in our Challenge group over on StampTV Thursday morning. We'd love to see your cards with the sketch too!

Think Cocoa!

debfelts@comcast.net (Deb) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:00:00 +0000

I'm very happy to be posting my Color Dare card today! I missed last week (lots of card deadlines and too many hours on duty at the pumpkin patch)...I really hate missing, but sometimes real life intervenes. I'm grateful that Riley and the other girls are so lenient with me!

Today's creation is a combo challenge card for Color Dare #41 and Inspirational Card Sketches #41. Such a fun card to make! I used my new Changito Snow Play set from i {heart} papers, along with this Sassafras Lass designer paper, my nesties, and some embellishments that have been hanging around in my stash for quite a while! I am very pleased with how it turned out, although I must admit that I did cheat a little! The designer paper had an ivory background so I used ivory card stock instead of Whisper White as the challenge specified. I hope the challenge police will let it slide! ;)

I hope you're having a warm, cozy week!

New Release from The Stamps of Life!

debfelts@comcast.net (Deb) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 12:02:00 +0000

Today is Release Day for The Stamps of Life November stamps...you're gonna LOVE 'em! This set has so many fun options! As it is with all SoL sets, there are both line art and solid stamps that work together, so you have the choice of quick two-step stamping, or coloring with other media. For this card I chose to two-step stamp the tree, and then dress things up with some bling and gold embossing. I love how rich and elegant these colors are and I am very pleased with the way this card turned out (plus I'm still having fun playin' with Beate's layout!)

I love to color, so for my next card I stamped four Christmas lights on a scrap of card stock, colored and shaded them with Copic markers and then cut them out so they could be popped up for some dimension. I added some green *electrical* cording and lots of MS fern punched branches to nestle them in among the greens. Again, the greeting is embossed in gold. What do you think?! It's sorta CAS but very colorful and full of holiday spirit!

The gallery for this set is already full of great samples and it is still growing...be sure to check 'em out! I'll be back with more soon!

Banana Split Sunday!

debfelts@comcast.net (Deb) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 04:00:00 +0000

This week's Banana Split Sunday challenge is a Fall color challenge! Make a card or layout using three of these four colors: yellow, orange, red, or brown. So fun to do with this new adorable Autumn Leaves Penny! I stamped her with Memento ink, colored her with Copics, and tucked her onto a layout inspired by Beate's weekend sketch. I used some paper from an old K and Co tablet, and distress inked all the edges with Tim Holtz distress ink.

Lots of cute new stamps! Go check 'em out, peek at the samples (links to the 2RB design team are on the sidebar) and get to work! ;)

Calling ALL Stampers!

debfelts@comcast.net (Deb) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:59:00 +0000

I am hosting a challenge today over at StampTV and I'm hoping you will play along! There's a bonus challenge for a sweet cause...you can read about it here.

Party!

debfelts@comcast.net (Deb) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:42:00 +0000

Last night's Gina K Designs release party was SO MUCH FUN! I can't believe the amount of gorgeousness that was uploaded to this thread! (Thankfully you won't have to go through the entire thread to see everyone's creations! They'll be gathered together for you soon!)

Here are a few more cards I made to share during the evening.

My first card uses another image from Asela's set, First Christmas. I just adore this yummy Gingerbread couple! I found the perfect companion designer paper to go with them! I colored them with Prismas and Gamsol, then spritzed them with Glimmer Mist to help them harmonize with the pattern of the dp. The sentiment from Signed with Love is just perfect here!

I couldn't resist printing a delicious Gingerbread recipe for the inside, and adding a smaller tag-sized couple and some designer paper there too!

This card was made for Lee's color challenge: Ivory, Cranberry Tart, Black Onyx and Good as Gold. I suppose I cheated a bit by adding other colors, but I just couldn't resist getting to play with Melanie's new Festive Frame. I've seen so many pretty cards with it over the last couple of days...mine is what I would call a conglomerate CASE!

My final card is using Rupa's Winter Friends. My friend Lynn had made a beautiful card with this color combo, and that inspired me. Look closely (it's very faint!) and you'll see the words from Nina's Vintage Borders in white craft ink on the light blue behind the penguins. Aren't these fellas SO cute?!

Thanks so much for visiting my blog! I hope you've enjoyed your stay, that you've been inspired to create, and that you'll come back soon! Blessings!

I See You!

debfelts@comcast.net (Deb) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 09:21:00 +0000

Here's another Spotlight Set of the Week card using Our Craft Lounge's Peek-a-Boo, this time paired with Holiday Cruiser to make a little Halloween scene! Love these sets on their own, but they really were fun to put together! Both of these sets are available at i {heart} papers and they're ON SALE NOW!

I first stamped the dragon-tree, colored it with Copic markers, then used a scalloped circle to mask in the clouds. I sponged in the ground with greens and browns in both tapping/dabbing and sweeping horizontal motions. On a separate piece of card stock I stamped and colored two cars, one with the witch inside. I paper pieced her shirt, colored the rest with Copics, then cut them each out, the one with the witch in its entirety and the other chassis only. Popping it up on dimensionals this way really deepens the shadows around the tires and makes it so much more interesting.

It really needed a little more, so I stamped a bench and cut it out, gluing it directly to the first layer...a sentiment, a simple layout and a clip of ribbon finish it off.

Gina K Previews!

debfelts@comcast.net (Deb) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 03:00:00 +0000

I'm so delighted to be a part of Gina K's StampTV Center Stage Design Team, and tonight we are previewing sets by Asela and Nina. Asela is practically my neighbor, and I'm so happy to be able to say that I've met Nina in person too at CHA in Orlando in February, so to have the opportunity to preview their sets is especially a joy!

These two sets, Asela's First Christmas, and Nina's Vintage Borders, work great together, and I've used them together on both of my cards. First up is a sweet bear for Baby's First Christmas.

I colored the bear with Copic markers, gave him an ornament of Nina's to hold, and added a pearl-studded Nestabilities snowflake and a few dangling ornaments as well. Love this Eskimo Kisses designer paper! (I struggled to get a good picture of this card...for some reason, reds are most difficult! Hopefully I can try again on a sunnier day!)

You will have to look closely to see the fine linen thread that suspends those teeny ornaments! I love how they go so well with the design of the paper.

My second card features Asela's cardinal. I tried to keep his colors true to nature...the paper I paired him with is some of my favorite Cosmo Cricket from last Christmas. I stamped a few bars of Nina's music border onto the wood print flip side of the dp to go along with him.

Everything was inked with Tim Holtz distress ink and the edges of the music were frayed and curled. I added a column of pretty pearls along side the clefs of each bar. I really love how this turned out! Anything to do with music and nature really captures my heart, and I love these rich reds and sage greens!

Thanks for visiting my blog! For even more inspiration, please visit the Illustrators of the stamp sets featured tonight:

Asela Hopkins: First Christmas
Nina Brackett: Vintage Borders

Tonight, we have several of our Center Stage Spotlight Designers joining in the previews. Here are their blog links:

Deb Felts (you're here!)
Sharri Seffens
Melissa Cash

Finally, stop by these GinaK Designers' blog for even more projects with tonight's stamp sets:

Gina Krupsky
Carolyn King
Cathy Tidwell
Cindy Lawrence
Donna Baker
Erika Martin
Emily Giovanni
Jessica Fick
Kurtis Amundson
Lee Murphy
Lynn Mercurio
Melanie Muenchinger
Tami Mayberry
Theresa Momber

Our Release party will be held Thursday night over on SCS in GinaK's Forum from 7-10 pm CST. We'd love to have you join in the fun! There will be contest questions, challenges, chatter, and lots more samples from our designers throughout the party! See you then!

Ready or not...

debfelts@comcast.net (Deb) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 07:00:00 +0000

Here they come! Have you gotten everything ready for trick-or-treaters at your house? We still have a few preparations to make before the big night arrives!

It's my turn to showcase OCL's Spotlight Set of the Week...another DT mate and I will be taking turns posting Peek-a-Boo cards on the OCL blog. This one is based on a fun sketch from 2Sketches4You.

If you are a Splitcoaststampers fan club member, then you already know that this is one of my favorite sets lately! I have had so much fun coloring its images and making all kinds of cards with them. They seem to call for bright, happy colors and bring a smile to both the creator and the recipient!

For this card I used all kinds of left-over things from my stash...I'm revisiting old favorites! The paper is from K and Company (here's the 12 x 12 version). I used Nestabilities circles to make a recessed window for the image to peek through. The little line of teeny tiny spiders at the top was created using the creepy crawly from Holiday Cruiser, another set that I just can't seem to keep my hands off of! The plastic spider accent was a find at Joann's, and I added some bling to it to make things more interesting. I love that spider web edge, made with a Martha Stewart punch...it really shows up great with a line of rhinestones and the contrast between the bright green and purple card stock.

Hope you'll come back for more Peek-a-Boo creations as the week goes on!

Banana Split Sunday!

debfelts@comcast.net (Deb) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 12:15:00 +0000

This little cutie, Falling Leaves Jack, is a sneak peek from 2RedBananas' upcoming release! He looks a little more girlish than I had planned in the midst of these Indian Summer colors! This week's challenge is to use a square, the color RED, and three buttons. I know you're probably wondering where in the world the red is on this card...maybe I cheated a little bit! I used the prisma color *carmine RED* on Jack's shirt! I just HAD to use this paper because it's been calling me all week! ;)

Hope you'll go check out our other designers' creations on the Banana blog and play along with us!

ihp Birthday Bash Challenge —Day 6

debfelts@comcast.net (Deb) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 12:16:00 +0000

Our challenge for you today is to make a special Birthday Card… Remember, everything this week has to do with birthday celebrations...so be sure your creation is birthday related!

Today's prize pack is: (1) Silly Monsters set, (1) self-adhesive crystal birthday bling and (1) Hero Arts Birthday Sayings set.

My card is a simple but special birthday card! It is based on Paper Craft Planet's Saturday Sketch and was made to celebrate the birthday of PCP's founder Susanna Boyd. Happy Birthday Susanna! I used Best Creations' Owl and Doodles paper along with Hero Arts' Sparkle Clear Love That, on sale NOW! Love that parrot green/fuschia polka dot ribbon! The sentiment is from OCL's The Botz Family. Of course, I can't live without my nesties! Here I used the squares and scalloped squares (also on sale!) to frame the owls, which were matted with punched circles.

Here are the hosts we had this week. Be sure to check their blogs for inspiration and their takes on the challenge for that day. You can also check the main IHP Birthday Bash page at the store. Even if you've missed 'em all so far, you still have a chance to play any or all!

Day 1(10/19): Kate(owner), Sarah Anderson, and Dee Jackson
Day 2 (10/20): Deb/Latisha Yoast
Day 3 (10/21): Gretchen/Lesa Smaligo and Lynn/Asela Hopkins
Day 4 (10/22): Cathleen/Kerri Michaud and Carolyn/Maria Fiscella
Day 5 (10/23): Megan/Chris Veneruso and Kendra/Debbie Fisher
TODAY Day 6 (10/24): Tracy/Heidi Van Laar and Amber/Kerry Davis
Day 7 (10/25): Sunday, day of rest (finish up your challenges!)
Day 8 (10/26): PARTY! GRAND PRIZE (winners are announced)

You can play along with all of this week’s challenges until Sunday night, midnight EST.

Before you begin, PLEASE take a few minutes to review the challenge guidelines! You’ll want to follow these rules to maximize your points and qualify for the opportunity to WIN the prize for today’s challenge and the Grand Prize, all announced on the last day of our festivities!

To qualify for the prize of the day, all you have to do is upload your challenge card/project to Splitcoast Stampers (SCS) and/or Paper Craft Planet (PCP) with the appropriate tag so we can find it. Today’s challenge tag is IHPBB5. The daily challenge winners will be randomly selected at the end of the week.

To qualify for the Grand Prize of being IHP Guest Designer for the month of November, here’s how it will work: Every challenge card/project you enter will earn you points (see below), and one with the most accumulated for the week the Grand Prize winner. So the more challenges you enter, more points you earn — and the better your chances of winning the Grand Prize (and the bigger the value of your Guest Designer box will be)!

You will have until October 25^th to post your work, and you can enter as many challenges as you like, but you CANNOT combine challenges in one project. All winners, including the Grand Prize winner, will be announced at the Birthday Bash on October 26^th.

Birthday Bash Points

For each project:

5 points for each challenge card/project you make, upload and tag to SCS
5 points for each challenge card/project you make, upload and tag to PCP
2 points for uploading to your blog and linking at least one IHP item used to the IHP website

One time points:

2 points for signing up to receive our newsletter*
2 points for joining our PCP group*
2 points for becoming our fan on Facebook*
10 points if you participate in all 6 IHP Birthday Bash challenges

*When you sign up, or if you are already signed up, a comment here so your points can be credited.

Remember, you have until midnight EST tomorrow to upload your projects. Points will be tallied and winners announced on Monday!

ihp Birthday Bash Challenge —Day 5

debfelts@comcast.net (Deb) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 07:01:00 +0000

Another very important consideration in party-planning is the menu! The kitchen is usually the favorite gathering place for guests, and food and drink are the main attraction.

Our challenge for you today is to make a card (scrapbook page, 3-D item, etc.) using stamps or papers that feature food and/or drink!

Remember, everything this week has to do with birthday celebrations...so be sure your creation is birthday related! You have until Sunday night to finish all of this week’s challenges, so even if you haven't started yet, there's still time! Be sure to scroll down to review all the details!

Today's prize pack is: (1) Homemade Treats Borders & Centers 2-3/8", (1) Wooden Stamper 2-3/8" and (1) Lemonade 6x6 Pad.

For today's challenge I'm sharing a little concoction from my July Dirty Dozen gallery...the theme was Tropical Paradise! I thought it would be fun to have a little *coaster* book of drink recipes, so I gathered what I thought were some of the most popular drink recipes and my favorite papers and this is what resulted.

Stemma Bottoms Up, K and Company Citronella Waves Glitter Thermography Designer Paper, Nestabilities squares and scalloped squares, lace edge punch, glitter cording, glitter "salt", white gel pen, clear Spica glitter pen, cropadile, corner rounder, Basic Grey fibers

Bo Bunny Alissa "Spunky"

K & Co Designer Paper

K & Co Designer Paper

SEI Mimosa "Daiquiri" (both sides)

SEI Mimosa "Margarita" (both sides)

K and Company Citronella Waves Glitter Thermography Designer Paper, Upsy Daisy Tweet "Stillness"

Here are the hosts for each day. Be sure to check their blogs on their scheduled day to find out that day’s challenge. You can also check the main IHP Birthday Bash page at the store. It will be updated daily.

Day 1(10/19): Kate(owner), Sarah Anderson, and Dee Jackson
Day 2 (10/20): Deb/Latisha Yoast
Day 3 (10/21): Gretchen/Lesa Smaligo and Lynn/Asela Hopkins
Day 4 (10/22): Cathleen/Kerri Michaud and Carolyn/Maria Fiscella
TODAY Day 5 (10/23): Megan/Chris Veneruso and Kendra/Debbie Fisher
Day 6 (10/24): Tracy/Heidi Van Laar and Amber/Kerry Davis
Day 7 (10/25): Sunday, day of rest (finish up your challenges!)
Day 8 (10/26): PARTY! GRAND PRIZE (winners are announced)

Before you begin, PLEASE take a few minutes to review the challenge guidelines! You’ll want to follow these rules to maximize your points and qualify for the opportunity to WIN the prize for today’s challenge and the Grand Prize, all announced on the last day of our festivities!

Birthday Bash Points

For each project:

5 points for each challenge card/project you make, upload and tag to SCS
5 points for each challenge card/project you make, upload and tag to PCP
2 points for uploading to your blog and linking at least one IHP item used to the IHP website

One time points:

2 points for signing up to receive our newsletter*
2 points for joining our PCP group*
2 points for becoming our fan on Facebook*
10 points if you participate in all 6 IHP Birthday Bash challenges

*When you sign up, or if you are already signed up, a comment here so your points can be credited.

Can’t wait to see the stuff you create!

Exciting News!

debfelts@comcast.net (Deb) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:14:00 +0000

So excited to make this announcement! My stamps should arrive today! Yay!

ihp Birthday Bash Challenge —Day 4

debfelts@comcast.net (Deb) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 10:42:00 +0000

What’s a birthday party without presents? Whether the wrappings are simple or ornate, they bring an air of suspense and delight to onlookers as the honored guest opens each gift.

Our challenge for you today is to use designer papers and ribbons to create a card, box, or bag. My little Bubs the Beaver box is just big enough to hold a package of Orbit gum! It is a simple score-and-fold pattern using a quarter sheet of designer paper and some luscious faux suede ribbon. I love how the design of the paper made it look as if I used more than one print. This stamp set is ON SALE NOW!

Remember, everything this week has to do with birthday celebrations...so be sure your creation is birthday related!

Today's prize is: 1 yard of each: 1 1/2" Lace Fuchsia, 1 1/2" Lace Parrot Green, 1 1/2" Lace Turquoise, 1 1/2" Lace White, 1" Bright Green Silk, 1" Lavender Silk, 1" Turquoise Silk, 1" Yellow Silk, 1/2" Venise Lace Daisy Ivory/Purple, 1/2" Venise Lace Daisy Ivory/Berry, 1/2" Venise Lace Daisy Ivory/Olive, 3/8" Black & Yellow Gingham, 3/8" Double Faced Satin Brown, 3/8" Ivory Trimmings/Lines, 3/8" Satin Reversible orange/yellow, 5/8" Polka Dot Brown/Pink/White/Ivory/Hot Pink, 5/8" Polka Dot Brown/Blue/White/Ivory/Turquoise/Aqua, 5/8" Sheer Metallic Silver and 1 Night Light Collection Kit.

Day 1(10/19): Kate(owner), Sarah Anderson, and Dee Jackson
Day 2 (10/20): Deb/Latisha Yoast
Day 3 (10/21): Gretchen/Lesa Smaligo and Lynn/Asela Hopkins
TODAY Day 4 (10/22): Cathleen/Kerri Michaud and Carolyn/Maria Fiscella
Day 5 (10/23): Megan/Chris Veneruso and Kendra/Debbie Fisher
Day 6 (10/24): Tracy/Heidi Van Laar and Amber/Kerry Davis
Day 7 (10/25): Sunday, day of rest (finish up your challenges!)
Day 8 (10/26): PARTY! GRAND PRIZE (winners are announced)

To qualify for the prize of the day, all you have to do is upload your challenge card/project to Splitcoast Stampers (SCS) and/or Paper Craft Planet (PCP) with the appropriate tag so we can find it. Today’s challenge tag is IHPBB4. The daily challenge winners will be randomly selected at the end of the week.

To qualify for the Grand Prize of being IHP Guest Designer for the month of November, here’s how it will work: Every challenge card/project you enter will earn you points (see below), and one with the most accumulated for the week the Grand Prize winner. So the more challenges you enter, more points you earn—and the better your chances of winning the Grand Prize (and the bigger the value of your Guest Designer box will be)!

Birthday Bash Points

For each project:

5 points for each challenge card/project you make, upload and tag to SCS
5 points for each challenge card/project you make, upload and tag to PCP
2 points for uploading to your blog and linking at least one IHP item used to the IHP website

One time points:

2 points for signing up to receive our newsletter*
2 points for joining our PCP group*
2 points for becoming our fan on Facebook*
10 points if you participate in all 6 IHP Birthday Bash challenges

*When you sign up, or if you are already signed up, a comment here so your points can be credited.

I can’t wait to see what you all come up with!

ihp Birthday Bash Challenge —Day 3

debfelts@comcast.net (Deb) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 07:01:00 +0000

When you are hosting a party, you want to create an atmosphere of fun and excitement. Ribbons, streamers, table decorations and special party favors all set the stage for celebrating!

Our challenge for you today is to use IHP embellishments to dress up your card (scrapbook page, 3-D item, etc.), table decoration, or party favor. Remember, everything this week has to do with birthday celebrations...so be sure your creation is birthday related!

Today's prize is an assortment of embellishments including: (4) 1-3/16" Crocheted Flower Ecru/Mauve flowers, (4) 24mm (approx 3/4") Burst Pearl Knitted Flower Purple flowers, (6) 5/8" Ombre Rose with Pearl Pink/Peach flowers, 1 Assorted Foil pack, 1 Dazzlers - Cats and Ghosts, 1 Indian Summer Woolies, 1 Quill Flowers, 1 Scat Cat Black Felt Border, 1 Self Adhesive Crystal Cute Bugs, 1 Super Snowmen Class A'Peel™ Stickers.

Day 1(10/19): Kate(owner), Sarah Anderson, and Dee Jackson
Day 2 (10/20): Deb/Latisha Yoast
TODAY Day 3 (10/21): Gretchen/Lesa Smaligo and Lynn/Asela Hopkins
Day 4 (10/22): Cathleen/Kerri Michaud and Carolyn/Maria Fiscella
Day 5 (10/23): Megan/Chris Veneruso and Kendra/Debbie Fisher
Day 6 (10/24): Tracy/Heidi Van Laar and Amber/Kerry Davis
Day 7 (10/25): Sunday, day of rest (finish up your challenges!)
Day 8 (10/26): PARTY! GRAND PRIZE (winners are announced)

Before you begin, PLEASE take a few minutes to review the challenge guidelines (scroll down to see the post below this one)! You’ll want to follow these rules to maximize your points and qualify for the opportunity to WIN the prize for today’s challenge and the Grand Prize, all announced on the last day of our festivities!

To qualify for the prize of the day, all you have to do is upload your challenge card/project to Splitcoast Stampers (SCS) and/or Paper Craft Planet (PCP) with the appropriate tag so we can find it. Today’s challenge tag is IHPBB3. The daily challenge winners will be randomly selected at the end of the week.

Even if you've missed the challenges so far this week, you still have time to review and catch up since your creations are not due until the 25th. You can enter as many challenges as you like, but you CANNOT combine challenges in one project. All winners, including the Grand Prize winner, will be announced at the Birthday Bash on October 26^th. Be sure to follow the guidelines to maximize your points, which are outlined below.

Can't wait to see what you come up with!

Color Dare #39

debfelts@comcast.net (Deb) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 04:00:00 +0000

Oh my goodness! What a difficult color combo this was! I immediately thought of this pansy image that I recently received from Just Rite Stamps, and cheated a tiny bit by adding some green. I struggled with the layout forever and finally just settled for this. This color combo just didn't speak to me the way others do!

Consider it truly a DARE...let's see what you come up with! More inspiration here!

ihp Birthday Bash Challenge —Day 2

debfelts@comcast.net (Deb) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 07:01:00 +0000

It's Day 2 of i {heart} papers' Birthday Bash challenges, and my sweet friend (online and IRL!) Latisha Yoast and I are excited to be your hosts.

When you’re inviting guests to your party, you really want an invitation that will grab their attention! One way to do that is to create a cool, funky fold, so...

Our challenge for you today is to make a card using a non-traditional fold. Remember, everything this week has to do with birthday celebrations...so be sure your creation is birthday related! Today's prize pack is one roll of our very own i {stick} papers red line tape and one Tim Holtz Design ruler - both essential when you're making boxes or non-traditional folds! Our red line tape is so strong that it was originally made for car manufacturers to use to hold plastic car parts together!

There are alot of resources out there to help you find a fun fold! You can check out SCS Technique Lovers' Challenges hosted by our very own Lynn Mercurio, or the resources page at Papercraft Planet where Lynn and another ihp DT member Lori Tecler are supernovas! (I'm happy to be able to say I've met Lynn and Lori and several other ihp members IRL too! Love my girlfriends! Celebrating friendships is what birthdays are all about!)

My card for today features an interactive fold that slides open to reveal a hidden message. You can find the tutorial here.

These are the ihp products I used:

Pat the Bad Dog (Our Craft Lounge) colored with Copic markers
Earth Love Cosmo Cricket mini deck
1.5 inch wide antique gold silk ribbon

Now it's time for you to get started on your own card! Here are the hosts for each challenge, including the deets for today as well as a review of yesterday's challenge and all the challenge guidelines! Be sure to check the blogs of each host on their scheduled day to find out that day’s challenge. You can also check the main IHP Birthday Bash page at the store. It will be updated daily.

Day 1(10/19): Kate(owner), Sarah Anderson, and Dee Jackson
TODAY Day 2 (10/20): Deb/Latisha Yoast
Day 3 (10/21): Gretchen/Lesa Smaligo and Lynn/Asela Hopkins
Day 4 (10/22): Cathleen/Kerri Michaud and Carolyn/Maria Fiscella
Day 5 (10/23): Megan/Chris Veneruso and Kendra/Debbie Fisher
Day 6 (10/24): Tracy/Heidi Van Laar and Amber/Kerry Davis
Day 7 (10/25): Sunday, day of rest (finish up your challenges!)
Day 8 (10/26): PARTY! GRAND PRIZE (winners are announced)

You’ll want to follow the rules to maximize your points and qualify for the opportunity to WIN the prize for today’s challenge and the Grand Prize, all announced on the last day of our festivities!

To qualify for the prize of the day, all you have to do is upload your challenge card/project to Splitcoast Stampers (SCS) and/or Paper Craft Planet (PCP) with the appropriate tag so we can find it. Today’s challenge tag is IHPBB2. The daily challenge winners will be randomly selected at the end of the week.

Birthday Bash Points

For each project:

5 points for each challenge card/project you make, upload and tag to SCS
5 points for each challenge card/project you make, upload and tag to PCP
2 points for uploading to your blog and linking at least one IHP item used to the IHP website

One time points:

2 points for signing up to receive our newsletter*
2 points for joining our PCP group*
2 points for becoming our fan on Facebook*
10 points if you participate in all 6 IHP Birthday Bash challenges

*When you sign up, or if you are already signed up, a comment here so your points can be credited.

Can’t wait to see what you all come up with!

You Want a Paper Piece o' Me?!

debfelts@comcast.net (Deb) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 04:00:00 +0000

This is a three-fer challenge card for

Dirty Dozen/Dirty Dozen Alumni challenge for October, *You Want a Paper Piece of Me?* to paper piecing using Fall colors. Halloween counts, right?!
i {heart} papers non-traditional folds challenge for our Big Birthday Bash going on NOW. I know this isn't a typical birthday card, but it is just perfect for my friend Ann whose birthday is on Halloween.
OCL's upcoming feature of this set for set of the week beginning October 26th

Here you can see it open. You can find the tutorial for this card here.

Party Time!

debfelts@comcast.net (Deb) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 07:01:00 +0000

Welcome to the first of this week’s i {heart} papers Birthday Bash (IHPBB) challenges! We’re looking forward to seeing all of your creations, and we’re very happy to have you celebrating with us!

The hosts for the week are:

TODAY Day 1 (10/19): Kate (owner), Sarah Anderson, and Dee Jackson
Day 2 (10/20): Deb/Latisha Yoast
Day 3 (10/21): Gretchen/Lesa Smaligo and Lynn/Asela Hopkins
Day 4 (10/22): Cathleen/Kerri Michaud and Carolyn/Maria Fiscella
Day 5 (10/23): Megan/Chris Veneruso and Kendra/Debbie Fisher
Day 6 (10/24): Tracy/Heidi Van Laar and Amber/Kerry Davis
Day 7 (10/25): Sunday, day of rest (finish up your challenges!)
Day 8 (10/26): PARTY! GRAND PRIZE (winners are announced)

What’s the first thing you do when you’re planning a Birthday Bash? Before you can choose invitations, decorations, etc., you must decide upon a color scheme, so our first IHPBB challenge has to do with color.

Our challenge for you today is to make a card (scrapbook page, 3-D item, etc.) using the colors of our IHP logo: celery, light blue, rose and black (colors in any brand). Remember, everything this week has to do with birthday celebrations...so be sure your creation is birthday related!

I love the soft colors of our logo, so I kept my card soft and feminine...it uses these ihp products:

Flowers for You (Our Craft Lounge)--ON SALE NOW!
Nestabilities Petite Ovals, small and large
1/2 inch Venise lace
Hero Arts clear gemstones

To qualify for the prize of the day, all you have to do is upload your challenge card/project to Splitcoast Stampers (SCS) and/or Paper Craft Planet (PCP) with the appropriate tag so we can find it. Today’s challenge tag is IHPBB1. The daily challenge winners will be randomly selected at the end of the week.

Birthday Bash Points

For each project:

5 points for each challenge card/project you make, upload and tag to SCS
5 points for each challenge card/project you make, upload and tag to PCP
2 points for uploading to your blog and linking at least one IHP item used to the IHP website

One time points:

2 points for signing up to receive our newsletter*
2 points for joining our PCP group*
2 points for becoming our fan on Facebook*
10 points if you participate in all 6 IHP Birthday Bash challenges

*When you sign up, or if you are already signed up, a comment on the IHP blog Birthday Bash week so your points can be credited.

I can’t wait to see what you all come up with!

Banana Split Sunday!

debfelts@comcast.net (Deb) — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 18:26:00 +0000

This week's challenge is a sketch! Since Fall has finally arrived in Northeast Florida, I especially enjoyed working with these warm colors! I used prints from two different designer paper manufacturers (Pink Paisley and My Mind's Eye), but I think they work well together for this monochromatic design. The Fuzzy Bear and leaves on the sentiment from the same set were colored with Copic markers and embellished with Flame dew drops.

My friends have made some adorable cards for this challenge! Hope you'll take a peek and then play along! One randomly determined winner will receive a stamp set from our September release.