Paper Playtime SIWS Challenge #82 - Polka Dots!!

Happy Monday!! I hope you had a fabulous weekend :) It's time for a Say It With Sentiments Challenge at Paper Playtime. The theme for Challenge #82 is Polka Dots...we want to see your Polka Dot projects along with a sentiment. The prize for this challenge is the "Chalkboard Special Kit" from Close To My Heart Consultants Lucy Kelleher (CTMH USA) and Darla Haverstock (CTMH Canada).

Lucy - CTMH USA
Website: http://lucyk.ctmh.com/
Blog: http://love2createitall.com/

Darla - CTMH Canada
Website: http://darlah.ctmh.com/
Blog: http://www.stampinunderdoctorsorders.blogspot.com/

I made this card for a dear friend :) The solid cardstock is from Close To My Heart. The yellow and white polka dot paper is from My Mind's Eye Sunshine Forever stack. The base is a Spellbinders Grand Rectangle embossed with the Polka Dots Embossing Folder. The next layer is a Spellbinders Labels 25, the edges inked with Cantaloupe Memento ink. The next layer is a Spellbinders Labels 5 embossed with Swiss Dots Embossing Folder.

The center label is a Spellbinders Labels 4, stamped with a music notes rubber stamp and inked with Cantaloupe Memento Ink. The yellow polka dot flower is from Close To My Heart, the edges glittered with fine white glitter. The reason I chose this color combo is because I had a beautiful aqua flower as well but I tried to wet it to shape it and ruined it :( So this aqua flower is a punch with crystals added. The twine is from CTMH, as are the butterflies. The butterflies were inked with Cantaloupe ink, stamped with Perfect Medium and glittered before the gems were applied. The tag is a Spellbinders Nested Pennant die. "My Friend" is from K Andrew Designs Winged Things stamp set.

I am linking this up at DL.ART Happy Birthday Linky Party - Anything Goes

Now it's your turn!! Head on over to Paper Playtime to see the incredible projects my design team sisters have created for today's challenge, then link up you Polla Dot project!! I can't wait to see what you create :)

Karen's Birthday Blog Hop!!

TO ENTER MY 1,000 FOLLOWER GIVEAWAY, CLICK HERE!!

Welcome to Karen's Birthday Blog Hop!! I am so excited to participate in a hop in honor of my dear friend Karen of Little Scrap Pieces!! What better way to celebrate her birthday than hopping along with a few of her crafty friends!!

If you've arrived from the sweet and creative Diana of DL.ART, you are in the right place!! If you are just joining me from your dashboard, or reading this via email, please be sure to CLICK HERE to start at the beginning with Diana to catch up on all the FUN!! And make sure you stop and wish the birthday girl Karen a happy birthday at the end of the hop!! She will have blog candy up for grabs :)

For my project today, I have a card and gift box I am sending to the birthday girl :)

The patterned paper is from Basic Gray's Sweet Threads. The solid cardstock is from The Paper Studio. The base of the card is a Spellbinders Fleur de Lis Square, and the next layer is a Spellbinders Labels 12, embossed with a Cuttlebug folder (I have no idea the name...I wish they would write them on the folders!!) The base of the center label is a Spellbinders Ironworks Accents die. The center label is a Spellbinders Standard Circles Small, inked and stamped with Memento Bamboo Leaves ink. "Celebrate" is from K Andrew Designs Sweet July stamp set. The gems are from Recollections and the awesome crinkle ribbon is from the birthday girl, Karen!!

The inside medallion is also an Spellbinders Ironworks Accents die, and "Today is your day" is from K Andrew Designs Positive Thoughts stamp set.

In keeping with the same design as the card, the top of the box was cut with the same Ironworks Accents die. Then clear plastic was adhered inside and the inside decorative pieces were attached with Glossy Accents.

I have blog candy!! I am giving away this cute set of Heidi Grace school-theme stamps:

All you have to do to be eligible to win is:

1. Be a follower
2. Leave a message with a way to contact you

That's it!! I will choose a winner on 8/26. I am also having a 1,000 Follower Giveaway you can enter by clicking HERE.

Thanks so much for stopping by!! Now you can hop to the next stop, the sweet and talented Jayne of Jayne Designs!! Here is the entire lineup in case you get lost along the way :)

Diana http://dianamlarson.blogspot.com/
Lisa http://indymermaid.blogspot.com/ < HERE
Jayne http://jayne-designs.blogspot.com/ <NEXT
Norma http://pinkblingcrafter.blogspot.com/
Carri http://doubleclickconnections.blogspot.com/
Amy http://amyscraftingspace.blogspot.com/
Sherrie http://sherriescraps.blogspot.com/
Georgiana http://www.carsonscricutcreations.blogspot.com/
Shelly http://mypaperlove.blogspot.com/
Jessica http://chick-n-scrap.blogspot.com/
Karen http://littlescrappieces.blogspot.com/

Getting Cricky Back To School Blog Hop!!

TO ENTER MY 1,000 FOLLOWER GIVEAWAY, CLICK HERE!!

Welcome to the "Back to School" Getting Cricky Blog Hop!!

We're so happy you could join us for this month's Getting Cricky Design Team Blog Hop!! We'd like to invite you to visit each of our DT Sisters' Blogs and our very special Guest Designer, An'Jenic of AJ Scrapbooking & Cards!!

Throughout the hop we'll be showing all kinds of back to school projects!! We hope you'll enjoy each and every project along the way!! Sooooo, let's get hopping...

If you've hopped along from our Guest Designer AJ, then you are in the right place!! If you are just joining me from your dashboard, or reading this via email, please be sure to CLICK HERE to start at the beginning with Kristal's blog (you'll want to catch up on all the FUN!!)

Each of Kristal's stamp sets benefit charity. At least $1 per stamp set goes to benefit the charity noted on the stamp set package. Kristal is donating to the following charities: Cancer Angels, Storefront Shelter for Homeless Children, Intrepid & Fallen Heroes, E. Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Doorways Shelter for Women & Children (Domestic Violence), Wayside House for Women, Camp Good Days & Special Times, Adopt a Classroom, and Autism Research Institute. Kristal will donate $1 for every stamp set sold, retail or wholesale to the charity noted; and over time believes this will add up to some wonderful miracles for these special people. So you can feel good that each time you purchase a K Andrew Designs art stamp set, someone around the country is receiving some good help!

K Andrew's stamps are all made and assembled here in the USA, which is very important to Kristal. This ensures all product materials are safe and that jobs are being provided and maintained here in America. You can learn even more about Kristal's stamps (and pick some up for yourself) by visiting her online store: K Andrew Designs:

Kristal's stamp sets are perfect for cards, layouts, and so much more...

For my project, I'm featuring the Pirate Tales & Fish Scales and Pirate Party stamp sets:

Pirate Tales & Fish Scales

Pirate Party

For this Back-to-School project, I started with a Paper Mache treasure chest from Michaels.

Brown cardstock from The Paper Studio was embossed with The Paper Studio's Woodgrain embossing folder and then Tim Holtz Walnut Distress Stain was rubbed over the paper and wiped off to bring out the ridges. The paper was cut into strips to look like wood planks. The wood strips were adhered around the middle and top with Mod Podge. Strips of the same paper were sanded and then rubbed with the Walnut Distress Stain and wiped off. These were adhered with Mod Podge as well.

All of the holes for the brads were drilled and then fitted with the brads. The corners are Tim Holtz Corners. The flag was cut from Paper Doll Dress Up and the skull from Life's A Party. Both were distressed and Mod Podged.

The lock is a Tim Holtz Keyholes. 1" Ball Knobs from the Wood Shoppe were painted with Burnt Umber paint and adhered to the base for feet. All of the stamps are from Kristal's Pirate Tales & Fish Scales and Pirate Party stamps. They were stamped on white paper and then distressed with Vintage Photo and Walnut Distress Ink and Mod Poged.

The inside was covered with ATD Specialty Paper and then distressed for an aged look. I used maps so any little pirate could plan their search for hidden treasures :) There is plenty of room for pencils, glue and all kinds of school supplies. But wait...

There's a false bottom so kids can hide all their pirate booty, like the iPod teachers won't let them listen to, or a map with the real treasure location (marked by the negative of the flag cut on the top).

I am entering this in the following challenges:

1. Cooking With Cricut Challenge #99 - Back To School
2. Joyful Stamper's Inspire Me Friday #72 - Anything Goes 
3. DL.ART Happy Birthday Linky Party - Anything Goes

Now you can hop on over to your next stop: the awesome and talented Shawn of Crafty Chics!!

.......................................

Getting Cricky Design Team Post - Of Mice & Lil' Men

To Enter my 1,000 Follower Giveaway, Click HERE

Happy Wednesday!! I hope the first part of the week was awesome for you!! It's my turn to design again at Getting Cricky. The stamp set I am featuring today is Of Mice & Lil' Men. The sentiments on here are perfect for Disney-related projects, but I wanted to show that they can be used for so much more :)

All of the paper used for this project was heavy-duty white cardstock. The base of the card is a Spellbinders Romantic Rectangle die, followed by a Spellbinders Labels Eight die, embossed with a Spellbinders M-Bossabillity Whimsey folder, sanded and inked with Spun Sugar, Festive Berries and Fired Brick Distress Inks. The ribbon is from May Arts. Recollections gems were added to the corners and the middle label.

The next layer is a Spellbinders Labels Twenty One die, also embossed with the Whimsey folder. The next layer is a Spellbinders Labels Twenty Five die, inked with Spun Sugar, Festive Berries and Fired Brick. Once the inks dried I placed a stencil over the label and used something that I completely forgot I had in my craft room...stencil paste. It's probably been like five years since I used it last and I was sure it would be dried out. Thankfully it wasn't :) So it was slathered it on for a cool textured look.

The base of the center label is a Spellbinders Fancy Tags Three die, inked with the same three distress inks as above. The middle tag is a  Spellbinders Classic Ovals Large die, inked with Spun Sugar. "Dreams do come true" was stamped in Festive Berries and is from K Andrew Designs Of Mice & Lil' Men stamp set:

Aren't these sentiments fun?? Click HERE to purchase this awesome set or to see the entire fabulous line!!

Head on over to Getting Cricky to see my other project using this stamp set and the creative and awesome projects by my talented design team sister Jennie!! Thanks for stopping by :)