L-INKed with Friends

SQSC 15 Merry Christmas

It is official.  I can now say we are heading towards Christmas and not feel like I am rushing the season. I am not a fan of starting to celebrate before Thanksgiving even though I love this time of year.  I really want to focus on why we celebrate Christmas.  I thank God for His wonderful gift of His son Jesus. I wish you all the peace and love this special holiday brings to you and yours. This card also gives me warm memories of a home I grew up in.  My first home was not as large and grand as this picture but I always thought of it as the most special place to be with a Mom and Grandparents that truly loved me and made me feel so warm, happy, and secure.  My Parents and Grandparents are no longer with us but I want to state that I am so grateful for the special moments they gave me and my sister all the days that we had with them.

How about sharing what Christmas means to you by creating a card to show all of us? Use this sketch and head on over to Stampin' Queens Sketch Challenge 15 to see other inspiring cards and upload your creation this week. I can't wait to see what you have made!.

All supplies are Stampin' Up! and can be purchased through my website by clicking HERE.

Thankful for Fall

I LOVE the Fall. Just when you think you can't take another day of heat, Fall shows up.  After a summer of bizarre weather, I was so ready for the crisp air, falling leaves, and warm colors.  We don't have many more leaves on the trees but I will savor each one while I can.  This sketch challenge just seemed right to showcase my favorite set "Gently Falling" from the Holiday Mini. A touch of gold Smooch completed the effect I wanted. The card was simple to make but has great "Wow" factor.
All supplies are Stampin" Up! and can be purchased on my Stampin' Up! website.

More card designs and details of this weeks Stampin' Queens Sketch Challenge can be found HERE.

Come join in and I look forward to seeing your designs.

Treats So Sweet SQSC 12

Is anyone else getting hungry for all the great treats we have during this time of year?  I love to cook for other people and this is the perfect opportunity to go all out.  Kind of like having a potluck except I get to make all the food and my excuse is that we HAVE to have this much variety for the holidays. So my card for the SQSC Design Team has a baking theme. Enjoy and I hope you will be inspired to join in and make your own Holiday card for us to see. The sketch challenge is fun and sure to spark some creative ideas. 

 

All Supplies are Stampin' Up! and can be purchased from my website HERE.

Stamp:  Got Treats

Ink:  Chocolate Chip

Paper:  Domestic Goddess DP, Chocolate Chip, Pool Party, Shimmery

Accessories:  Basic Pearls (pg 198), 1/2" Scallop Dots Ribbon, Decorative Label Punch 

 Click HERE to go to the Stampin' Queen Sketch Challenge Blog.

Day of Gratitude SQSC 10

Let's start off with my card for the design team.  I really like the card but I don't recommend you photograph super early in the morning when the sun is shining through the leaves of a tree.  While it was picturesque at the time, I am not sure the mood was conveyed in this photo.  But, I wanted to post this right away so bear with my poor lighting skills ;)  the sketch is fun to play with and I encourage you to join in by going to Cristena's Stampin' Queens Sketch Challenge Blog to see other wonderful cards the team has come up with.  Post your creation. We want to see it :)

The Sketch:

All products used are Stampin' Up!  You can purchase these through my online store HERE.

Stampset: Day of Gratitude

Ink: Early Espresso, Pool Party, River Rock

Paper: Very Vanilla, Early Espresso, Pool Party, River Rock, Spice Cake DP and Frostwood Lodge from the Holiday Mini.

Accessories: Espresso Satin Ribbon, Decorative Label Punch

 

SQSC 9 Out On A Limb

It is Stampin' Queens Sketch Challenge day and I loved creating this card!  I have no idea how an idea comes into my head when I see a sketch but this one came in fairly complete and I am really happy with how it turned out.  Gotta have some coloring (was not too hard to shade) and adding dimension adds even more interest. But the excitement doesn't end here. 

The final result :)

The Challenge:

Check out the other fabulous designers HERE and then start creating your own masterpiece to enter.  Can't wait to see what you make this week :)

All supplies Stampin' Up! and can be purchased from my website by clicking here.

Stamps: Out on a Limb, Dark and Dreary

Paper: Very Vanilla, Basic Black, DP Frightful Sight, Shimmery

Ink:  Basic Black, Basic Brown, Stampin' Write Markers

Accessories:  Decorative Label Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals, Jewels Basic Rhinestone

SQSC 7..another great sketch to try

Time for another sketch to stimulate your creative juices.  I am loving the Simply Scrappin' Kit "Christmas Lane" and as many of you know, I challenge myself each year to come up with as many card designs as I can with one kit.  I am on a roll so why not be inspired with Stampin' Queens Sketch Challenge Blog for some of my cards?  Here is my design team entry followed by Cristena's sketch.  Head on over and check out the rest of the design team creations.

 

 
Click HERE to go to the Stampin' Queens Sketch Challenge Blog.  Happy Stamping!

All supplies Stampin' Up! and can be found on my website HERE.

Get a FREE Big Shot in October

 WOW. I am so excited about Stampin' Up!'s new promotion! A FREE BIG SHOT (OR $100 in free Merchandise!!) for new demonstrators who sign up in OCTOBER!!  CLICK HERE to find out more, then click Join Now.

  Sign up to be a demonstrator and join my L_INKed with Friends team between now and October 31st and you will receive a Big Shot included with your KIT!  Already have a Big Shot?  No worries. You can choose $100 in FREE products! (Plus, you receive all the other wonderful benefits of being part of this great company.)  Now is a GREAT time to become a demonstrator.  Earn a little cash for the holidays or become a hobby demonstrator and enjoy some of the best crafting supplies around at a discount.  You have nothing to lose and everything to gain with Stampin' Up!  You can read more about becoming a demonstrator on my "Join the Fun" page.   In just a few minutes, YOU can join in on the fun too:) 

•  Purchase the Stampin' Up! Starter Kit during the promotion period and receive a Sizzix Big Shot Machine or $100 in Stampin' Up! products of your choice from any of our current catalogs. Value is at over $410 and ships FREE.

• Looking forward to answering any questions you may have :)   jmarks1@nc.rr.com

 

SQSC 6

 
It is that wonderful time of the week when we see what Cristena comes up with for a sketch challenge.  This week I saw Christmas using the Simply Scrappin' Kit "Christmas Lane".  I love these kits and love the challenge of finding new things to do with them.  The card was simple and quick to create (a real plus for all of us with busy lives). All of those fabulous strips of pattern are self adhesive die cuts!  You are really going to be Wowed with all of the great cards the design team came up with.  So head on over to the sketch challenge blog, be inspired, and share your very own creation with us.

 
All materials Stampin' Up! can be ordered from my website HERE

Stampset: Perfect Punches (pg 140 Idea Book)

Cardstock:  Simply Scrappin Kit' Christmas Lane (Holiday Mini pg 26)

Ink: Riding Hood Red (pg 179 Idea Book), Old Olive (pg177)

Accessories:  1 3/8" circle punch  (pg 212 Idea Book), Stampin' Dimensionals (pg 206 IB)

Sketch Challenge 3 Vintage Look

 

Cristena from Stampin' Queens Sketch Challenge has come up with another great challenge. (where does this girl get all these good ideas?!) I have felt inspired by the other design team members to get myself out of my designing box and use some paper that I had not really known what to do with.  I love everyone else's use...I just couldn't come up with my own.  Cristena's sketch pulled it all together for me.  Take a look at the Stampin' Up! designer paper "Beau Chateau".  Some of these sheets are perfect for scrapbooking but how do you use the large frame image in a card?  Remember, we are looking "outside of the the box" ;)   I even used the sentiment from one of the sheets. The stamped image from Welcome Christmas  is heat embossed in Stampin' Up!'s  Pewter found on page 31 in the new Holiday Mini Catalog released September 1st.  You can view and order from the Holiday Mini by clicking HERE.  Now onto to the sketch.  Let's see what you come up with and make sure to link your creation to Stampin' Queens Sketch Challenge Blog before Tuesday. Try a new paper or stampset.  Not feeling the ideas coming on?  I know you will be inspired by the great group of Stampin' Queen designers.

 

Stampin' Queens Second Sketch Challenge

 
Love this new sketch challenge.  I immediately thought of stockings hanging in the place of tags.  Must be that I am tired of the heat and that I also LOVE the new Stampin' Up! Holiday Mini debuting on September 1.  This card uses the upcoming Christmas Lane Simply Scrappin' Kit and Stocking Builder Punch. You will be seeing lots more samples using these two items:)

Here is the sketch:

 
Can't wait to see your version of this sketch.  Hed on over to Stampin' Queens Sketch Challenge Blog and make sure you enter your creation before next Tuesday for a chance to be a winner!

All supplies Stampin' Up!:

stampset: Fabulous Phrases

ink: Cherry Cobbler

paper: Simply Scrappin' Kit "Christmas Lane" from Holiday Mini

accessories: Stocking Builder Punch, Cherry Cobbler/White Baker's Twine, Stampin' Dimensionals, Mini Glue Dots, Scallop Circle Bigz Die, Square Lattice Embossing Folder