*Playing in Paradise #49*

I am here to share with you, my final post as a Playing in Paradise Challenge Team Member....  I have stepped down from this team as my creative time is extremely limited.  I found that being on 3 teams, the only things I was creating anymore were for challenges.  I am hopeful that I will be able to carve out a little time to create for me instead of creating for design team commitments.

This week, Kasia has a Tic Tac Toe challenge for us.... you need to choose any three items in a row to use in your creation.

I chose Text, Button and Ribbon....

Items Used

*Cardstock: PTI White; Basic Black
*Images:  Hero Arts Sending Smiles
*Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black
*Tools:  Perfect Layers
*Embellishments:  American Crafts ribbon; assorted buttons

I invite you join us in playing this week... simply add your card to the links at the bottom of the challenge post HERE before midnight on Thursday for your chance to win a prize from Scrapbookers Paradise as well as a chance to play along with the Design Team in a future challenge.

Take a few minutes to check out what the rest of the Design Team has been up to...

*Allison

*Kasia
*Laurel

*Merlie

*Nina

*Playing in Paradise #48*

Welcome to another Playing in Paradise Challenge!  I am lucky enough to be the first challenge host in 2012!

I have fun playing with tall and skinny cards... and I hope you will too!

The card I have created is 8.5" long and 3.75" wide...

Items Used

*Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Baja Breeze, Ruby Red
*Images:  Stampin' Up! All Year Cheer I
*Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black; Copics
*Tools:  Big Shot; Couture Creations Intrinsic embossing folder
*Embellishments:  unknown ribbon; Petaloo flowers (coloured with Copics); Doodlebug flocked brad

I invite you join us in playing this week... simply add your card to the links at the bottom of the challenge post HERE before midnight on Thursday for your chance to win a prize from Scrapbookers Paradise as well as a chance to play along with the Design Team in a future challenge.

*Playing in Paradise #47*

Welcome to another Playing in Paradise Challenge!  This is our last challenge of 2011 as the Design Team is taking a little break for Christmas.  We will be back on January 6th with a new challenge!

It's time for another one of Allison's versatile sketches... she likes to create sketches that can be used for cards or scrapbook layouts.

I absolutely LOVE this tree die by Memory Box....  it's amazing how detailed it is!

Items Used

*Cardstock: PTI White; Bazzill Bling
*Patterned Paper:  unknown
*Tools:  Big Shot; Memory Box die; Stampin' Up! scallop border punch
*Embellishments:  unknown ribbon

I invite you join us in playing this week... simply add your card to the links at the bottom of the challenge post HERE before midnight on Thursday for your chance to win a prize from Scrapbookers Paradise as well as a chance to play along with the Design Team in a future challenge.

Take a few minutes to check out what the rest of the Design Team has been up to...

*Allison

*Kasia
*Laurel

*Merlie

*Nina

*Playing in Paradise #46*

Welcome to another Playing in Paradise Challenge!  It's Merlie's turn to host the challenge and she's asked us to create a something using buttons!   You all know how much I don't like buttons, right ???  LOL!!!

I borrowed the idea for my card from Miss Merlie herself... she made one similar to this last year... before my button addiction began...

Items Used

*Cardstock: PTI White; Stampin' Up! Basic Black; Bazzill Bling
*Embellishments:  assorted buttons; unknown ribbon

*Tools:  Perfect Layers; black marker

I invite you join us in playing this week... simply add your card to the links at the bottom of the challenge post HERE before midnight on Thursday for your chance to win a prize from Scrapbookers Paradise as well as a chance to play along with the Design Team in a future challenge.

Take a few minutes to check out what the rest of the Design Team has been up to...

*Allison

*Kasia
*Laurel

*Merlie

*Tracy

*Playing in Paradise #44*

Welcome to an other Playing in Paradise Challenge!  We hope that you will have some fun playing along with us this week, making a monochromatic creation!

I really love the look of white on white... so that's what I decided to play with.... and I added a little sparkle for some dimension.

Items Used:

*Cardstock: PTI White
*Ink:  Versamagic
*Tools:  Marvy snowflake punch
*Embellishments:  Ultrafine clear glitter on Scor-Tape; Stampin' Up! Iridescent Ice embossing powder

I invite you join us in playing this week... simply add your card to the links at the bottom of the challenge post HERE before midnight on Thursday for your chance to win a prize from Scrapbookers Paradise as well as a chance to play along with the Design Team in a future challenge.

Take a few minutes to check out what the rest of the Design Team has been up to...

*Allison

*Kasia
*Laurel

*Merlie

*Tracy

*Playing in Paradise #43*

This week, for the Playing in Paradise Challenge, Kasia challenged us to use household items in our creations!  

I decided to play with a technique I haven't used in a VERY long time....  you simply take a piece of waxed paper and crumple it up....  smooth it out somewhat with your hand and place it between two pieces of cardstock.  Put scrap paper around the sandwich to protect your iron and your ironing surface... and then iron with a hot dry iron.  The heat from the iron transfer the wax to your cardstock.  If you do it with glossy cardstock you can then use the wax as a resist for ink techniques.  I liked the way it looked on it's own...

Items Used:

*Cardstock: PTI White; Stampin' Up! Pear Pizzazz, Chocolate Chip
*Images: Stampin' Up! All Year Cheer 1
*Ink:  Stampin' Up! Chocolate Chip
*Tools:  Perfect Layers
*Embellishments:  unknown satin ribbon

I invite you join us in playing this week... simply add your card to the links at the bottom of the challenge post HERE before midnight on Thursday for your chance to win a prize from Scrapbookers Paradise as well as a chance to play along with the Design Team in a future challenge.

Take a few minutes to check out what the rest of the Design Team has been up to...

*Allison

*Kasia
*Laurel

*Merlie

*Tracy

*Playing in Paradise #42*

It's my turn to challenge you all for the Playing in Paradise Challenge... and I decided it would be fun to play with a round card!!!

I had fun with this one.... a fun die from Spellbinders and a great idea for a sentiment that helps keep my card upright when it's standing!!!

Items Used:

*Cardstock: PTI White; Bazzill Blin
*Images: Kaiser Craft Christmas Sentiments
*Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black
*Tools:  Big Shot; Spellbinders Nestabilities; Perfect Layers Tools
*Challenges:  SBPC#42

I invite you join us in playing this week... simply add your card to the links at the bottom of the challenge post HERE before midnight on Thursday for your chance to win a prize from Scrapbookers Paradise as well as a chance to play along with the Design Team in a future challenge.

Take a few minutes to check out what the rest of the Design Team has been up to...

*Allison

*Angie
*Kasia

*Merlie

*Tracy

*Playing in Paradise #41*

This week, for the Playing in Paradise Challenge, Allison has another great sketch that can be used for either a card or a scrapbook page.

Items Used:

*Cardstock: PTI White; Stampin' Up! Baja Breeze, Early Espresso
*Images: Hero Arts
*Ink:  Stampin' Up! Early Espresso
*Tools:  Perfect Layers
*Embellishments:  unknown flower; Doodlebug sugared brad; Kaiser Pearls

I invite you join us in playing this week... simply add your card to the links at the bottom of the challenge post HERE before midnight on Thursday for your chance to win a prize from Scrapbookers Paradise as well as a chance to play along with the Design Team in a future challenge.

Take a few minutes to check out what the rest of the Design Team has been up to...

*Allison

*Angie
*Kasia

*Merlie

*Tracy

*Playing in Paradise #40

It's the first Friday of November... and I'm slowly giving up my flip flops.  I can't wear them to work so I might as well make the break.  My new job starts on Monday morning and I am both excited and nervous about it!  It will be a big transition for me and for the family.  I haven't worked full time outside the home since before Alex was born in the spring of 1995.  The kids are older now and perfectly capable of chipping in and helping out.... let's just hope they agree LOL!

This week, for the Playing in Paradise Challenge, Merlie has asked us to make an easel card.... I love easel cards!  There are lots of directions out there.... just Google Search it.....  I used the directions found HERE

Items Used:

*Cardstock: PTI White; Stampin' Up! Basic Black
*Pattern Paper:  Jillibean Soup
*Images:  Stampendous; Hero Arts Sending Smiles
*Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black; Copics
*Tools:  Spellbinders Nestabilities; Martha Stewart border punch
*Challenges:  SBPC#40

I invite you join us in playing this week... simply add your card to the links at the bottom of the challenge post HERE before midnight on Thursday for your chance to win a prize from Scrapbookers Paradise as well as a chance to play along with the Design Team in a future challenge.

Take a few minutes to check out what the rest of the Design Team has been up to...

*Allison

*Angie
*Kasia

*Merlie

*Tracy

*Playing in Paradise #39*

Happy Friday everyone!!!    Friday means another challenge over at the Scrapbooker Paradise blog... and this week Tracy challenged us to create a masculine card....  definitely not easy for me.... I don't even make cards for my husband LOL!

Items Used:
*Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip
*Pattern Paper:  My Mind's Eye
*Images:  Hero Arts Essential Messages
*Ink:  Versamark
*Tools:  heat tool
*Embellishments: clear embossing powder; unknown button; Twinery twine
*Challenges:  SBPC#39

I invite you join us in playing this week... simply add your card to the links at the bottom of the challenge post HERE before midnight on Thursday for your chance to win a prize from Scrapbookers Paradise as well as a chance to play along with the Design Team in a future challenge.

Take a few minutes to check out what the rest of the Design Team has been up to...

*Allison

*Angie
*Kasia

*Merlie

*Tracy

*Playing in Paradise #38*

Happy Friday everyone!!!    Friday means another challenge over at the Scrapbooker Paradise blog... and this week we're playing spooky!!!  It was Angie's turn to choose the challenge and she chose Halloween....

Now, before we get to my card, you have to understand that while I love Halloween, I have only made a few Halloween cards ever.... and those other ones were for a class I was going to teach at the scrapbook store when I worked there.  The class never happened.  I had some Halloween paper, but no Halloween stamps.... so you're getting one heck of a quick and easy and simple card....

Items Used:
*Cardstock: Coredinations; Stampin' Up! black
*Pattern Paper:  Imaginisce
*Embellishments: Thickers; Twine
*Challenges:  SBPC#38

I invite you join us in playing this week... simply add your card to the links at the bottom of the challenge post HERE before midnight on Thursday for your chance to win a prize from Scrapbookers Paradise as well as a chance to play along with the Design Team in a future challenge.

Take a few minutes to check out what the rest of the Design Team has been up to...

*Allison

*Angie
*Kasia

*Merlie

*Tracy

*Playing in Paradise #37*

Happy Friday everyone!!!    Friday means another challenge over at the Scrapbooker Paradise blog... and this week I made my fellow challenge design team members a little crazy by choosing a one layer card!  That's right... the only cardstock or paper allowed is the base of your card.... stamp it, ink it, embellish it.... but only one layer!

Items Used:
*Cardstock: PTI White
*Images: Bo Bunny; A Muse
*Ink: Blue Encore Ultimate Metallic; Versafine Onyx Black
*Embellishments: Kaiser rhinestones and pearls
*Challenges:  SBPC#37

*Playing in Paradise #36*

It's time for another Playing in Paradise challenge over at the Scrapbookers Paradise Blog... and it's time for another of Allison's sketches!  

As soon as I saw the sketch, I knew I wanted to play with some Christmas papers and images....

Items Used: 

*Cardstock: PTI White; Stampin' Up! Real Red

*Pattern Paper:  unknown

*Images:  Impression Obsession
*Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black; Copics

*Tools:  Big Shot; Spellbinders Nestabilities

*Embellishments:  grosgrain ribbon; Stickles

I invite you join us in playing this week... simply add your card to the links at the bottom of the challenge post before midnight on Thursday for your chance to win a prize from Scrapbookers Paradise as well as a chance to play along with the Design Team in a future challenge.

Take a few minutes to check out what the rest of the Design Team has been up to...

*Allison

*Angie
*Kasia

*Merlie

*Tracy

*Playing in Paradise #35*

It's time for another Playing in Paradise challenge over at the Scrapbookers Paradise Blog...

Merlie has challenged us to use a distressing technique in our creations this week....  As Merlie and I are good stamping friends, I asked if it was good enough that I found the challenge distressing LOL!  I don't do a lot of distressing in my creations... I prefer the clean and simple look.

But I came up with something... and it's OK...

Items Used: 

*Cardstock: PTI White; Core'dinations
*Tools:  Big Shot; Crafts Too Daisy Swirl embossing folder; sanding tool

*Embellishments:  Thickers

I invite you join us in playing this week... simply add your card to the links at the bottom of the challenge post before midnight on Thursday for your chance to win a prize from Scrapbookers Paradise as well as a chance to play along with the Design Team in a future challenge.

Take a few minutes to check out what the rest of the Design Team has been up to...

*Allison

*Angie
*Kasia

*Merlie

*Tracy

*Playing in Paradise #34*

It's time for another Playing in Paradise challenge over at the Scrapbookers Paradise Blog... This week was very very difficult for me... Tracy challenged us to be inspired by a book quote or the title of your favourite book.  I LOVE to read, but I don't get inspired by quotes etc.  In fact, I don't usually remember lines from books.

I was sitting at my stamp table, wondering what on earth I was going to do.... when it suddenly hit me.  Hidden in my stash was an image of little piggies in a bathtub... perfect for a book we read to our kids EVERY DAY from conception until the younger one was about 2.  This was many years ago, but I still remember that book.


We love "The Going To Bed Book" by Sandra Boynton (as well as many of her books) and it is always part of any new baby gift we give.


And to this day, I can still recite the entire book....  "The sun has set not long ago... now everybody goes below... to take a bath in one big tub... with soap all over, scrub scrub scrub....."


And thus was born my card, inspired by a book quote...

Items Used: 

*Cardstock: PTI White; Stampin' Up! Basic Black, Island Indigo
*Images:  unknown

*Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black; Copics

*Embellishments:  unknown ribbon; Baby Blue, Waterfall and Frosted Lace Stickles

I invite you join us in playing this week... simply add your card to the links at the bottom of the challenge post before midnight on Thursday for your chance to win a prize from Scrapbookers Paradise as well as a chance to play along with the Design Team in a future challenge.

Take a few minutes to check out what the rest of the Design Team has been up to...

*Ally

*Allison

*Angie

*Merlie

*Tracy

*Playing in Paradise #33*

It's time for another Playing in Paradise challenge over at the Scrapbookers Paradise Blog... This week, Angie has asked us to create a tag....

I had a lot of fun playing with the bandana technique for my tag....

Items Used: 

*Cardstock: Black; Stampin' Up! Island Indigo
*Images:  Hampton Art

*Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black; white gel pen

*Embellishments:  unknown ribbon

I invite you join us in playing this week... simply add your card to the links at the bottom of the challenge post before midnight on Thursday for your chance to win a prize from Scrapbookers Paradise as well as a chance to play along with the Design Team in a future challenge.

Take a few minutes to check out what the rest of the Design Team has been up to...

*Ally

*Allison

*Angie

*Merlie

*Tracy

*Playing in Paradise #32*

It's time for another Playing in Paradise challenge over at the Scrapbookers Paradise Blog... 

Ally has challenged us to use the following picture as inspiration.....

I know I didn't use roses, but I took the layout and the colours into consideration for my creation...  I had a lot of fun playing with the placement of the flowers to make it look full without being too busy.

Items Used: 

*Cardstock: PTI White; Stampin' Up! Basic Black
*Images:  Hero Arts Sending Smiles

*Ink:  Copic markers; Versafine Onyx Black

*Embellishments:  Michael's Bridal flowers (coloured with Copics); Kaiser Pearls

I invite you join us in playing this week... simply add your card to the links at the bottom of the challenge post before midnight on Thursday for your chance to win a prize from Scrapbookers Paradise as well as a chance to play along with the Design Team in a future challenge.

Take a few minutes to check out what the rest of the Design Team has been up to...

*Ally

*Allison

*Angie

*Merlie

*Tracy