Valentine’s Day Blog Hop!

Welcome to a BIG Valentine’s Day Blog Hop! What started out as one person’s idea to share a little love with a few friends.. grew to be 40+ participants and 19 sponsors giving away a total of 21 prizes!

Hopefully you just came from Cyndi Bundy’s blog, if not you can start at the very beginning which is Taylor Usry, I’ll wait for you.

So I loved the Featured Stamper210 gallery that I had to case this card of hers.  I used Just Bugz by Our Craft Lounge. I stamped the bee and colored with Copics: Y18, Y15, Y13, Y11. Used Y11 on the wings with the blender pen. Went over the bee’s body with copic Black. I used Chatter Box rub-ons for the sentiment. Added some sheer blossoms with some bling for the middles over top of the ribbon.

So what is Valentine’s Day without something sweet? So for your viewing pleasure…. I have for you… Sweetheart Valentine Cupcakes! 



I was asked to make cupcakes for a Couples Valentine party last Friday night that I was also attending. I made 24 chocolate and 24 vanilla cupcakes iced with Pink extra special buttercream icing.(it’s called extra special because it has a cup of whipping cream in with the buttercream!) I filled them with a chocolate mousse. It was a nice little surprise for everyone when they ate them. Believe it or not there were actually cupcakes leftover!

So I printed out MyGrafico’s Cupcake Wrapper on plain cardstock to use as my template. I downloaded Love Bug Clipart and printed out the digi paper that is included in the set. Taped on the cupcake template on the back and cut it out. You get 2 cupcake holders per sheet of paper. And the best thing about the cupcake wrapper and love bug clipart… they are FREEBIES at MyGrafico! Look how cute these are!

Hope you have enjoyed my projects. Don’t forget to leave me some love as  I may just be one of  the chosen blogs to give away some candy and believe me, you don’t want to miss out on this blog candy!

Now hop on over to Angelique Nederpel to see what love she has to share with you.  Don’t forget to leave your love (comments) as you hop along because the more love you leave, the more chances you have to win and we don’t know which blogs will be handing out the candy so you’ll want to leave love at every stop! Comments will close on Thursday 6:00 pm EST.

 

      Happy Valentine’s Day!

                     Amber

MyGrafico #78 – Anything Goes

So this week at MyGrafico it is anything goes. We got to play with Cheri Wenger’s Vintage Pine and Traditional Christmas Damask Papers by Cupcake Cuties.



I decided to try my hand at a Christmas photo card.



The pictures of us were taken during our annual sleigh ride at our Christmas in the Village. We’ve been taking the sleigh ride for at least 4-5 yrs. Each year we freeze and wait for what seems like hours just for a 5 minute (okay, maybe it is a 10 minute) ride. But it’s become a tradition for us and best of all it’s free .

This is my last week designing for MyGrafico as we are

starting our Christmas break a little early. But don’t worry, I’m sure I’ll be back with more digi pages cause once you start… you don’t want to stop! Also don’t forget there is a DT call going on for MyGrafico and you still have time to try out for a spot!


         Thanks for stopping by
                     and 
            Happy Holidays!

 
                                  Amber

MyGrafico #77 Anything goes

So for the MyGrafico challenge, it was anything goes. We got to play with Christmasy Stamps and Let it Snow Digital Paper.  Once again I did a digi layout. My layout came from JessicaSprague.com, Photoshop Friday #26. I even used her tutorial, that comes along with the layout, on how to create soft glow photos.

Both photos were taken last year at little one’s storytime. The first one is with the Children’s librarian, Bev, that does the storytime with the kids. We made Bev the hat she is wearing as a Christmas gift.  The second one is of the head librarian, Nancy, dressed as Mrs.Claus. The kids always get a coloring book and a candy cane.

Here the same layout but using Traditional Damask digi papers.

 

         Thanks for stopping by!

                     Amber

MyGrafico #76–Girly Girl

This week at MyGrafico, we were to make a girly girl card using Blackleaf Studio's Unicorn Digi's!  I love unicorns but I also love hot air balloons so I had to go with that image for my card.

I used copics and prismacolor pencils to color my balloon. I wanted to add something to my balloon so I stitched some ribbon roses on my balloon over the flowers that are already there. Sponged on some clouds and added a big bow on the side. I love how this card turned out.

       
          Thanks for stopping by!

                    Amber

MyGrafico #75– Color Challenge

If you are looking for my sneak peek Our Craft Lounge post, You can find it here as you DON’T want to miss it!

So this week at MyGrafico we got to play with Cupcake Cuties - Autumn Tags and Borders & the Give Thanks Autumn Elements. Our challenge was a Color challenge in of course Autumn Colors.

My layout came from JessicaSprague.com. I used digi paper Falling for Autumn Paper Pack by Cupcake Cuties and the Autumn Tags (the leaf borders).

Obviously these pictures are from a while back as my baby is now 4 yrs old! lol  I left the area under Grateful blank for now as I don’t know what journaling if any I want to put there.

So have you enjoyed seeing what I have made using MyGrafico’s images? How would you like to be on the team? Now is your chance!

        
            Thanks for stopping by!

                    Amber

MyGrafico #74 - Sketch

So this week at MyGrafico we used the following Lilly Bimble, 'Tis' the Season' digital background papers and 'Christmas' Clip Art by Stockberry Studio.  Our challenge is the following sketch:

  I’m really liking MyGrafico for digital scrapping. So I did another layout. It was really easy this time since we had the sketch to follow. I made this layout a 8x8.



Don’t forget about MyGrafcio’s Christmas Challenge. You can find all the details here.

         
           Thanks for stopping by!

                     Amber

MyGrafico #73 – Autumn colors

We used digital stamp set Sketchy Leaves by Lindsay's Stamp Stuff and Aspen Digital Papers by Lilly Bimble. Our Challenge was a color challenge of using Autumn colors.

I went with another digi scrap page using pictures from hubby’s and I’s mini anniversary get away last fall. Enjoy:

        
           Thanks for stopping by!

                   Amber

MyGrafico #72 – Make it Sparkle

So this week at MyGrafico we were challenged to “Make it Sparkle”. We used JW Illustrations Digi Clip Art Halloween Owls/Digi Paper.

I decided to try my hand at digital scrapbooking again. Since we had to have sparkles of some sort on our projects, I googled how to make “glitter in Photoshop”. And used this Animated Glitter Image Tutorial but didn’t make mine animated of course. (I also made mine a little stronger in the percentage in the amount area in the Noise section.)  I glittered the owl’s wings, branch and the hanging stars. Made some sparkly brads and even added a scalloped frame to the picture. All the paper (but the frame) comes from the Digi Paper. I took the color from the purple paper to make my frame and the orange paper to the alphabets. Even digital embossed the black paper! I’m afraid to say it but I’m starting to like digital scrapbooking!

This picture is from 2006, Allie’s 2nd grade teacher and obviously this is from their Halloween party. We were playing a game where the kids had to wrap the teacher in toilet paper to look like a mummy. Allie is the one wrapping Mrs.Maurice in the picture (you can see her wings). Teachers are always great sports at the school parties.

Alphabets and frame came from the freebie section of Free Digital Scrapbooking.com.

          Thanks for stopping by!

                     Amber

MyGrafico #71 - Embossing

This week at MyGrafico we were to emboss. Any type of embossing or embossed items; like embossed papers, embossing with stamps, embossed elements, dry embossing etc.  We used Breakfast Clip Art by JD Digi Design & Falling for Autumn Paper Pack by Cupcake Cuties.

Christmas is only 9 1/2 weeks away so it’s time to start thinking of gifts. I love to give home made gifts and seeing the coffee cup image in the Breakfast Clip Art set gave me an idea.  Cappuccino Mix!

So I found a Cappuccino recipe and made up the mix (and of course had a cup to keep the creative juices flowing). I then printed out the directions on how to use the mix. Using Spellbinder’s Scallop & Standard Circle nesties, I cut out the directions, coffee cup and the layers, made sure I embossed them. Used Martha Stewart border punch for my trim. The design paper is from the Falling Autumn Paper Pack. The coffee cup is attached with dimensions.


Here is a look at the lid:

And here is the recipe so you can make your own Cappuccino Mix:

Cappuccino Mix

1 cup instant non-dairy coffee creamer
1 cup instant chocolate drink mix
2/3 cup instant coffee crystals,
    regular or decaffeinated  (I used 1 cup)
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Combine creamer, drink mix, coffee crystals, sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg, and mix well. Store in airtight container. (can leave out spices, can use flavored non dairy coffee creamer)

Makes 3 cups dry mix, 15 servings.

To prepare one serving, add 3 tablespoons mix to 6 ounces of hot water and stir well.

My project is also entered in the following challenges:

Gingerloft – Winter (winter means drinking warm stuff all day long!)
StampInsanity #31 – Creative ways to use die cuts 
Craftalicious Challenges #10 – Anything Goes
Wee  Memories #27 – Celebrate Good Times (my gift can be used for Birthday, Christmas and so on)
Just Inspirational #16 – ink or digi
Paper Cutz #63- Anything Goes
Creative Friday #28 – pimped everyday objects

          
           Thanks for stopping by!

                   Amber

MyGrafico #70 – Anything Goes

This week, MyGrafico Challenge is Anything Goes. We were to use Sara Paris Styles CLOCKS & WATCHES Stamp & Sentiments and  Woofy World CROSSHATCHED Digital Papers. My mojo just wasn’t working this week, so I was late getting my project going and on top of it I had problems with the digi paper and didn’t have time to figure it out so I didn’t use the paper.

First I’m going to show you my card so you can figure out what it says:


I colored the clock with copics and went over it with atyouSpica pens. Adhered DCWV Summer Dream cardstock to the #2 chipboard and sanded it down and attached it with dimensions. Spellbinders Labels Seven was used for the two layers.

So have you figured out what it says yet? Maybe if I show you the inside, it will make sense.



“Time to Get Well!”  LOL  Thanks to Tammylee for the idea cause like I said, my mojo was seriously lacking.

The card is also for the Hope You Can Cling To Challenge, Somekinda Hope over at Splitcoaststampers. The challenge was something old (the number chipboard) and something new (the Summer Dreams paper and Label Seven). Don’t forget you have all month to play the HYCCT challenges and be entered in for prizes!

         Thanks for stopping by!

                 Amber

MyGrafico #69 – Send in the Clowns

This week’s challenge at MyGrafico is to pop it up. Joyful clowns and Circus paper is what we were to use.

We have a Harvest party every year at our church were the kids dress up and sometimes the adults get into it too. In 2005, my husband decided to dress up as a clown. He did his own face painting and even decorated his own shirt.

I  colored the clowns with copics, added stickles to them and used Helmar Liquid ScrapDots to pop up the clowns with ever other one popped up just a little more. Used three of the digi Circus papers for behind my clown. 

Layout comes from Stickers ‘n Fun, Sept.2008.  I’ve left my layout blank as I haven’t figured out if I want a title or any wording of any kind. I kinda like the clean look. What do you think?

                  Thanks for stopping by!

                             Amber

MyGrafico - Posion Apples?

MyGrafico challenge today was anything but a card using Little Witch digital stamp by Clip Art & Scrap along with Halloween Cuties paper by Goodness and Fun. 

I saw this cute bucket up at my mom’s one day and borrowed it to make my project. lol   Witch is colored with prismacolor pencils and blended with odorless mineral spirits. Used a sparkly black pen on the band of the hat, spiders and the stars on her dress. Deckle scissors were used for the purple/green layer. The pattern paper is from Halloween Cuties. 

I don’t have any Halloween candy yet but have tons of apples from our recent story time trip to the Apple Orchard. People still give apples for Halloween, right? (I hated going to those houses! lol)
 

         Thanks for stopping by!

                  Amber

MyGrafico #67 – Paper Piecing

This week at MyGrafico, we were to paper piece using the owl set and dotted paper.

I made a quick card, paper piecing the eyes on the owl and the leaves on the branch. I even used the cuttlebug on the leaves to add a little different look to them. If you look closely there are clouds on my white layer by using the cloud stencil. Made a frame with Spellbinder's Label One. Some faux stitching and some bling finish off my card. The design paper is the Dotted paper. Sentiment is from Cornish Heritage Farms.

To date I have 115 cupcakes made (not filled yet) and 9 cups of buttercream icing made! Whew!! When is this wedding again?? lol

 

         Thanks for stopping by!

                   Amber

MyGrafico Challenge #66 - Metal

So this week we were challenged to use Metal over at MyGrafico. We were also asked to use (digital) Wild West Quotes by Tainted Sweets and were also given Western Bandana Digital Paper Pack by Cupcake Cuties to use if we could.

I had an idea but wasn’t exactly sure how I wanted to do it so I decided I’d try to do it completely DIGITAL! Now I’ve never done anything completely digital so I figured I had better Google my idea first. So what did I Google?  “How to make a Wanted Poster” and found this great site. It even included links to download the tileable wood texture (by ftourini isis on deviantArt) and Paper (by Andrew C.). In step by step details from the site and using Photoshop, I was able to create my poster. There were a few steps that I didn’t follow as I knew how to do them and I do them just a little differently. But I did learn how to “tear” and “burn” my paper.

Added WANTED from Wild West Quotes till it fit my paper. I completely cut out my son from a picture and positioned him on my page, making him appear “behind” the word WANTED. I then added “Little Buckaroo” also from the Wild West Quotes at the bottom of the poster.  For my metal, I made “nails” using the Crumble Metal Styles.

Look how great the Wild West Quotes work on a digital Poster: 

WANTED … “LITTLE BUCKAROO”

I love how it turned out and that I didn’t need to ask my hubby for help at all (as he works with Photoshop all day long)!  Now this doesn’t mean I’m turning complete digital for scrapbooking etc but it’s nice to know that I can do it if I have the desire to one day. (which after this I just might have to start!)

So what about you? Have you ever tried making a digital layout or page? Do you have a favorite site that gives great step by step directions? Anything you’d be willing to share with a newbie digital scrapbooker?

             Thanks for stopping by!

                       Amber

MyGrafico Challenge #65 – Beach Colors

So this week at MyGrafico challenge is a color theme… Beach Colors that is.  We used Digital Beachtime Papers by Lilly Bimble and Digital Stamp Set Pocket Full of Shells by Cheri Wenger.

I altered a fun foam picture frame that my little one got a few years ago at a school Halloween party. Covered it with a one of the Beachtime Papers and colored the shells to match using prismacolor pencils and odorless mineral spirit. After they were attached, I went over them with crystal effects to give them a water look. The picture I put in the frame is one I took during our Summer Reading program that was out at the lake, it is of a grandmother and her two grandsons as I didn’t have any of my kids to put in it (yet).

 
And for ONE DAY only over at MyGrafico:

    


         Thanks for stopping by!

                   Amber

MyGrafico challenge #64 – Anything Goes

This week over at MyGrafico Challenge Blog we were challenged to use The School digital paper pack by Cupcake Cuties and school clip art By Kelly Medina. The theme was Anything Goes.

School starts today for us, (YAY) so I made a cover for a notepad that we gave to Benjamin’s 2nd grade teacher at open house the other night.  I printed each star three times, cut them out and glued them together, added some holes to them and then crystal effects all over them. After the crystal effects dried, I added twine to my now star “buttons”.

I used “I love school” paper for my flap, using a border punch on it. Then for the rest of the cover I used the lined paper. Here is the completed pad.

If you love these sets, come play along with us for your chance to win them. Details can be found at MyGrafico Challenge blog.

          Thanks for stopping by!

                       Amber

MyGrafico challenge #63 – Halloween Colors

MyGrafico.com challenge this week was Halloween colors and a photo inspiration. We were to use Halloween Apple Brothers or Halloween Little Flower Girl Share Candy by Cherie Reve which can be found here.

Here is the picture we were to use for inspiration:

I used Halloween Apple Brothers along with digital Halloween Cuties Paper by goodness&fun that you can find at MyGrafico.com.  I was inspired by the colors in the picture. I colored my image with Prismacolor pencils and blended with odorless mineral spirits. Cut it out of the box and added a black layer to it. Printed the Halloween paper and cut it down to fit…. my pillow box!

Wouldn’t this be a cute treat to give to that special child at Halloween?

        Thanks for stopping by!

                   Amber

Mygrafico Challenge #62 – Anything Goes

Please scroll down for Our Craft Lounge Sneak Peek post.

Welcome to another Mygrafico Challenge where this week Anything Goes! For our challenge we were to use the set Monkey Fun from Prismy Doodles at MyGrafico.com.

Before I show you my card, I’m going to warn you that it is UGLY!! I just couldn’t get it to look good (at least in my eyes) so instead of messing, messing, messing and making it worse, I stopped and left it as you will see it.

I colored the monkey with prismacolor pencils and blended with odorless mineral spirits. Added some buttons and a tag with a sentiment from Jungle Love – Our Craft Lounge.

         Thanks for stopping by!

                    Amber

MyGrafico Challenge #61 - Pastels

If you are looking for the Paper Cupcake Blog Hop post, You can find it here or scroll down a post.

Today’s MyGrafico.com challenge is a color challenge: Pastels.  This week we worked with the Hunny Bunny Stamp set by Sanqunetti Designs. You could be a winner of this super cute set if you play along with us. See the rules over at the MyGrafico challenge blog.

When I saw this set I automatically thought of a scrapbook page. I pulled out a picture of my youngest when she was only 3 weeks old posed on her “Baby Girl” blanket. The story goes like this: when Jorden was born we didn’t have a girl name picked out at all. So for 9 days we called her “Baby Girl”. When I saw this blanket at the store, I had to get it for her as her “first” name she was ever called by was on it! We finally decided on Jorden but she will always be our Baby Girl!

I enlarged the frame to fit the picture and paper pieced the bows. Also paper pieced the bunny and colored with prismacolor pencils and blended with odorless mineral spirits.

  Added some rub ons at the top that fit perfectly: Baby Girl and some hearts all in white. I made the picture a little darker so you could see the rub ons better:

And here is the completed scrapbook page:

I used papers from DCWV Baby Girl matstack. The main paper is from the Whitewash collection by ColorCore Cardstock and is really a pale pink which is hard to pick up here.

Layout is from Sketches by tamara – Challenge #130

Don’t forget to check out what the rest of the DT girls did with this set. You can find their links at the MyGrafico blog.

     
         Thank you for stopping by!

                  Amber