Chocolate Distress

It's time for a new cue word over at CASology!  This word made me think of heading to the freezer for chocolate ice cream.

Stamps:  Lawn Fawn (Here's the Scoop, On the Mend - sentiment)
Dies:  Lawn Fawn (Stitched Journaling Card)

A damsel in distress...simply needs chocolate.  Don't you agree?!  I have a piece of wall art in my craft room that states, "Chocolate doesn't ask silly questions.  Chocolate understands."  I really think the nutrition officials should just give in and make chocolate a vitamin.  We all know it's a necessary part of life for most of us!  Perhaps my interpretation of the cue word is a little far fetched, but over at CASology we leave interpretation of the cue words wide open!

The ice cream image is colored with Copic markers and a touch of Crystal Effects was added to the hot fudge topping.  The main panel is a Stitched Journaling Card from Lawn Fawn and is popped up with foam dots for a little dimension.

Be sure and go say a quick hello to the design team members & this week's guest designer!  They work so hard each week to create inspiration!

Ardyth Percy-Robb
Deidre Payne
Hannelie Bester
Hazel Hodgkins
Jacquie Southas
 Jen Wills
 Joyce Mehrberg
Judy Marino
 Kymona Tracey
 Melissa Chipperfield (You are here.)

Sherrie Mannion

Tracey McNeely

Guest Designer:  Annie

Then, don't forget to link up your own creation on the challenge blog by Monday at NOON (CST) for your chance to win a prize from Lawn Fawn, our sponsor this week!

Have a terrific Tuesday!

Hugs & Kisses

We're gearing up for a visit from grandparents today in our house.  DH's parents will arrive sometime this evening and stay through the weekend!  They always bring love and lots of fun to wear out the kids (...and the kids will wear them out)!

I've been going through my stash of crafty things, purging and reorganizing.  This has been a rather slow process this summer, but I'm doing a little every week and things are starting to come together in the new craft room.  I'm amazed at how my style has changed over the years and I have quite a pile of things to donate or sell.  Feels so good to be taking an honest look at things and I'm discovering new inspiration in the middle of it all!  I'm looking forward to using all the newfound goodies as autumn nears and my days slow a little (at least, I hope they do...).

I made a card using one of my forgotten stamp sets with grandparents in mind.

This is a sets from Ms. Kimm Creates.  I love her stamp sets (& need to add a few of the newer ones to my updated stash)!  The images & fonts fit my simple style so well!  This particular set is called Death by Chocolate.  I framed the images and sentiment using Lil' Inker's Dual Dotted Squares Dies, a recent favorite of mine.

I typically spend more time with my camera than with my stamps in the summer months, so I'll share an update of the kids.  Hope you don't mind!  While I miss regular stamping and blogging in the warmer months, I don't want to miss the joys of childhood that these four create!

Enjoy the rest of your week!

CASology #115: Chocoholics Beware!

It's time for a new cue word challenge over at CASology!  Better hope your will power is going strong this week!  Me?!  I'm just stocking up on extra M-n-M's for the occasion.

My mind wouldn't let me do anything other than the obvious on this one!

I've had this particular stamp set from Gel-A-Tins forever!  I'm not even sure if they still sell it!  Probably not.  I love the little saying:  "Man cannot live on chocolate alone.  But a woman can!"  There may be a some truth to that, especially if you have coffee to go with it!

Be sure and go visit the blogs of the design team and this week's guest designer!  They'd love to hear from you!

 

Ardyth Percy-Robb
Gillian Ross
Jen Wills
Joyce Mehrberg
Judy Marino
Kimberly Wiener

May Park - taking a break 

Meghan McMillan
Melissa Chipperfield (you are here)
Tracey McNeely

Then, don't forget to link up your own chocolate creation on the challenge blog by Monday at NOON (CDT) for you chance to with a prize from this week's sponsor, Create a Smile!

Have a terrific Tuesday!

CASology #91: Ransom NOTE

Today marks the beginning of a brand new cue word week over at CASology!  Like many of the cue words, this week's word can be interpreted more than one way!

I took off in a direction that will give away the fact that I'm a big mystery novel lover.  Oh, and I have a thing for chocolate too...

Sweet Stamp Shop is sponsoring CASology this week, so I used one of their many fantastic stamp sets on my card, Alpha Tabs.  I added a few chocolate looking ink smudges for good measure and then had this crazy idea that I should crumple the ransom note a bit because, after all, isn't that the official way to make it look like I mean business?!  I preserved white space by using small letters to create both dimension and interest.  The message is the focal point of the card!

Please be sure and go take a look at the Sweet Stamp Shop's new release that is kicking off today!  You'll want to take advantage of the discount code over at CASology for 10% off (today only) in the Sweet Shop on the new release sets!

Also, go say hello to the CASology design team members and this week's guest designer on their personal blogs!  They work so hard each week to provide inspiration for you and they would love to hear from you!

 

Ardyth Percy-Robb
Gillian Ross 
Jen Wills
Joyce Mehrberg
Judy Marino
Kimberly Wiener
May Park
Meghan McMillan
Melissa Chipperfield (you are here)
Tracey McNeely

Guest Designer:  Dena

Be sure and link up your own NOTE creation on the challenge blog by Monday at NOON (CDT) for your chance to win this week's Sweet prize!

CASology #86: The Root of the Matter

It's Tuesday and that means it's time for a brand new cue word over at CASology!  This week?  We're digging deep with ROOTS!

I know this immediately makes one think of gardening, but I lack a green thumb, so decided to take this word off on a different tangent...

Stamps:  SU,

I had this vision of pigs rooting around and went looking for an image of one of those creatures.  This little fellow was perfect for what I had in mind!  And he even likes chocolate!  I added the strip of colorful washi tape at the last minute for a pop of color and to add a bit of a playful feel.

I hope you'll take some time to visit the rest of the design team members' blogs as well as this week's guest designer's blog!  They've created some beautiful inspiration for you!

 

Ardyth Percy-Robb
Gillian Ross 
Jen Wills
Joyce Mehrberg
Judy Marino
Kimberly Wiener
 Maureen Merritt
May Park
Meghan McMillan
Melissa Chipperfield (you are here)
Tracey McNeely

Guest Designer:  Claire

 

One thing I should mention:  In order to give participants more time to play along, we are extending the deadline for entries to Mondays at NOON (Central Time). Due to this extension, we will now be announcing our winners and honorable mentions on Tuesdays at 7:00 a.m. (Central Time), one hour before a new challenge begins. Challenges will begin at the same time as usual, 8:00 a.m. (Central Time) on Tuesdays.

 

 

Have a terrific Tuesday!

Priorities

Happy Monday!  It's another scorcher outside here today and, despite that, I've had my morning cup of hot coffee and a little bit of chocolate for good measure.

I decided to play along with Mojo Monday's sketch today as I'm in need of some mojo.  I woke up dragging.  DS3 has been getting up at 6 a.m. every morning lately and it's creating cobwebs in this mommy's head, I'm afraid!  I just can't get myself to go to bed any earlier to make up for the new early morning even though I know that would probably help!

Supplies:
Stamps - SU sets (Eat Chocolate, Morning Cup)
Paper - Paper Trey white CS, SU Poppy Parade, Chocolate Chip CS, Cosmo Cricket DP (Wanted)
Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black, SU Chocolate Chip, Poppy Parade
Accessories - Jillibean Soup polka dot ribbon & twine, Nestabilities (circles), Basic Grey button brad, SU Chocolate Chip marker, sponge (around main sentiment piece), SU square punch (1 3/8")
Coloring - Copic markers

I popped up the main image and sentiment piece with foam squares and added faux stitching with an SU Chocolate Chip marker.

Everyday Chocolate

I recently purchased an adorable chocolate themed set from StampinUp!  I just love it!  'Course what's not to love about anything chocolate?!  :)

The inside says, "At least you'll get one thing done today."

Supplies:
Stamps - SU Eat Chocolate set
Paper - SU Peach Parfait, Chocolate Chip cardstocks, Kraft cardstock, Paper Trey white cardstock
Ink - SU Chocolate Chip, Poppy Parade
Accessories - Paper Trey brown vintage button & twine, SU Poppy Parade ribbon, Cuttlebug embossing folders, foam squares, SU punch, Spica pens (colored the tiny hearts on the chocolates with these to add some sparkle)

This card qualified for this week's Card Sketch Challenge over at Splitcoast Stampers.