Well its hard to believe it’s May 1st!

That mean another Papertrey Ink Design Team Challenge! I think these are so fun & challenging (DUH! That is why its called a challenge! Time for MORE coffee). I love a challenge.

This month Nichole has a fun challenge that includes all of YOU as well! You will have to pick from each design team member’s source of inspiration photo to create YOUR OWN version! (So I guess I hope you like mine :D)

The CHALLENGE: Get inspired by a Spring Themed photo or image

Well, when I got my May 2009 issue of Family Fun Magazine, I found page 77 very intriguing! (its a great magazine if you have children! Always full of kid friendly stuff to do!)

So here it is-

How fun (and Spring!) is a Mother’s Day Tea party? I know I am SO wanting to have one with my girls!!

Look at that FABULOUS table cloth, and the tea pot! I fell in love with the idea of everything paper-made, and the colors are just gorgeous!

So I got to work!

Using Guide Lines Grid 2 paper, and the Wishing You stamp set I tried to get fancy schmancy and made my own paper, with a similar version of the pattern on the table cloth.

 I used the following ink:Pure Poppy, Hibiscus Burst, Pumpkin (SU!), and Summer Sunset

Here is my stamped patterned paper, next to the inspiration piece.

I stamped the tulips facing eachother. I think it makes a cool pattern Not exact-but that is the point-INSPIRED BY!

OK! Paper made! Now what to make????

Well I figured if I did have a tea party with my girls it would be fun to put various yummy teas in a fun box! Nothing TOO complicated. I wanted QUICK!

So, My Timeless Template- Rounded Wrap Up to the rescue!

PS Did you see Nichole BIG ANNOUNCEMENT post about the templates?

—-> READ HERE!!! So exciting!

OK back to the FINISHED project

Tea For Two

Isn’t it SO cute?!

I just used my patterned paper to make a wrap for my box. I then stamped my tea pot from Tea for Two, to match the yellow tea pot in the inspiration photo.

This is Alexa Modeling it for you all!!

 She did a great job!

Here is another. I am having SOOO much fun getting photos of my kids 😀 AND  including my projects ( killing 2 birds with one stone-priceless!) I think they make the BEST props! LOL!

Alexa LOVED being the center of attention for this project.

This was HER favorite photo-so I had to include it

Now I will show you how my finished project looks next to my inspiration piece:D

Now seriously! Doesn’t my box look like it was MEANT to be for that party in the book? I LOVE it!!!! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE!

You may be wondering what we did with the rest of the paper!

Now LOOK on the table! See the folded fan like thing?

Well  the magazine were directions for a fan. Alexa wanted to make it (so I helped score it and stuff) and she decided it would be a Fan FLOWER!

The way the pattern was stamped, it does make a COOL “flower”. Good idea Alexa!

Anyway-that is what I did for my challenge.

Be sure to check out the Design Teams blogs so you can pick a inspiration piece and play along (let me know if you do try mine 😀 I want to see it!)

Now I need to finish up my first post that features all my challenge team members! Wait till you see what they did for tomorrows Sketch Challenge! WOW!

OK signing off!

Hope you get lots of inspiration today 😀

YOU GOTTA READ THIS! 

FIRST-this is the THIRD post for today (yeah Im THAT BUSY and needing to share! LOL!) So don’t miss my VIDEO, or my Peek post!

Now I have to share some info that I am OVER the MOON about-literally!

Some of my blog readers alerted me that I WON 2 contests!!! WAHOO!!

Now the COOL thing is I never enter stamping contests or anything, but since I don’t have time to send in stuff for publication , I figured WHY NOT! So, I took some time to give it a try this time 😀 It paid off 😀

This was for the Cards & Gifts Week Challenge:

Contest One- over on The PaperCrafts Connection Blog This one you have seen. it used the My Timeless Template—>Take Along Tote!

Then I was alerted to this one!

Contest Two-The Mothers Day Gift Challenge

This was one of my most favorite projects using The Perfect Match template

But for ME the coolest thing was seeing that TWO of the winners, in other categories, used the My Timeless Templates too!!!!!!!!!!!! Is that not awesome??

Dana (who was just picked for my Challenge Team!) used Lolli-Pop Along, and the Rounded Wrap up!for her entry! Her blog post here

Dana is also giving away a My Timeless Template-HERE!

 Then the other winner Julie used From the Desk of-for her entry! Here is her blog post! It came out SUPER cute!!

—————————————————————

THEN-I was sent a link to THIS POST! You must read it!

I cannot believe it!! Joan Bardee likes me!  OK maybe not me, but My Timeless Templates 😀 Joan is a amazing person. Someone whose opinion I always valued. She is very blunt, straight forward (and funny/talented) crafter! She tells it like it is. Now I don’t KNOW her personally, but feel like I do through her writing.

So when I was sent this link and saw she was HONESTLY reviewing my templates-I almost got sick! LOL! I thought OH! NO!! What if she hated them? But then I read some of the sweetest words a designer could read about the product they put their blood, sweat, and tears int0!

I got teary reading it (like I do with ALL the posts or comments I see people make about them) because to hear that people really like them is amazing. A true dream come true. I’m use to gushing over other peoples stamp images or products, so when someone gushes over something “I” did, its amazing. I’m just a SAHM-to three amazing kids, with a BIG DREAM, and am stuck living in a little town, where no one knows what stamping is! LOL! So to share it all here is just crazy!

On another note: I swear I didn’t pay her! LOL! She put so much time and effort into her post for YOU to get a non-biased view from a customer / crafter.

Im just in shock. Thank you Joan for making my day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! TRULY! How can I say thank you?! You have a girl almost speechless!

NOW last but not least-Nicholehas had a hard time accessing the gallery and whatnot-but I swear her announcement for the Templates is coming soon! You won’t want to miss it!

WHEW!!! Glad I go the extra shot of expresso in my iced coffee today! I needed it 😀

WOOT! WOOT!

I got a video done! Actually I got 6 done 😀 I changed my Mondays with Mytime Video category to Mytime Movies/Videos! The Monday must do is too much pressure! Just know I plan on doing a WEEKLY video-at minimum. I am enjoying it alot. I hope you are too.

SO, the video that I am sharing today is one that I have gotten hundreds of emails asking for! LOL! So I hope it doesn’t disappoint!

Today’s video is a Start to Finish approach to using the Copic  Airbrush System.

Many of you wanted to see it in action, to help YOU decide if its a must have. SO I hope this helps you. (and yes-you need it! LOL!)

I also share how you can use the Ciaos in it too! YES! You can! No buying new markers!! So no worries there. See I LOVE saving my peeps money 😀

Keep in mind Im NOT a copic professional! Im just like YOU-a stamper who learns my PLAYING! This is a video on how I use it, and it seems to work for me 😀

Enjoy-and I would LOVE to hear your feedback as this video took FOREVER-as I made a finished card sample from each portion of the video that I shared.

OOPS! One of my segments (doing the orange dots on the card-no worries same thing as the pink dots) goes black!!!!!!!! Please either fast forward, or continue on because the rest comes in OK

I can’t edit the video once saved, and ahve NO IDEA why this happened :C) SORRY!

[veoh v18355593yJjBpRkQ]

If you want to safely view  ALL the videos I published on Veoh, please CLICK HERE! 

NOTE: DO NOT CLICK ON THE THUMBNAILS !If you click ON the thumbnails AFTER the video it takes you to the Veoh site. Some of the content there I am told is “R” and “X”rated and you may not want to do that around young children. So if you just watch the video here on my blog, and avoid the thumbnails you should be OK. Not sure WHY they don’t have ONLY stamp related videos pop up, but I guess some aren’t.

Bottom line: Click at your own risk!

I am not responsible for content that links to the videos from the Veoh site.

Thank you

WARNING! There are some extreme close-ups of my face when showing you stuff on the video! I apologize! Im a dork!

Now I will share the view of the cards that I feature in the video. Sadly they were taken at dusk :C Bad idea!

NOTE: All my cardstock/patterned paper, and most ribbon (not first card) is from Papertrey Ink

Here is the first card I share

Let your light shine

Stamp/Sentiment-In the Parlor from Lizzie Anne Designs NEW! Spring Release

This used a masking technique with the Copic Air Gun & Eclipse Tape. It looks so cool doesn’t it?

I was inspired by my lampshade for the side panel design on my card! Simply, fun & funky!

Now the next card-same great colors-same stamp set too!!

Without you there its just an empty chair

I have to say I LOVE my colored chair!

Now making this background with my Airbrush system was WAY fun!!! Simple card with lots of WOW! factor. I love the RETRO modern feel this has. SO HAPPY!

Now you know me and butterflies! I use a masked punched butterfly image, and created a 3D  scene with punched butterflies! (Punch is by Martha Stewart)

By layering on another punched butterfly (also Martha Stewart) from vellum cardstock, they appear to be fluttering off the card! 

I used Out on a Limb for my branches-an lightly stamped floral blooms.

I absolutely fell in LOVE with the NEW! Tiny Words & Borders set by JustRite Stampers. It fits PERFECTLY in the SU! 1 1/4 inch circle punch! LOVE THAT! I’d been hoping for more smaller sentiments and images like these 😀 These are coming soon! I got a preview 😀 Im a lucky a girl 😀 Check out what is next—HERE! WOWZERS!

AND they are having a GIVEAWAY TODAY!

Check this out

Today on the blog they are celebrating 300,000 hits with a JustRite Make a Wish Blog Candy Giveaway.  Blog candy ends Friday Night at midnight.

Here is the link to the giveaway.

https://justritestampers.blogspot.com/2009/04/blog-candy-celebration-make-justrite.html

You know I had to help you WIN something right?!

OK moving on……..

This card uses the nestabilites as a frame-so easy, and a stunning look!

Here is the full card.

Just clean-simple and elegant. You don’t always need a million layers and embellishments for a great look!

This set is Garden Inspirations from Lizzie Anne Designs NEW! Spring Release

It also uses a sentiment from that release-Everyday Sayings (on the tag)

I love it

OK I have ANOTHER post to share, so I need to run! I also have to wrap up my PTI Design Team challenge, more template stuff, and my first My Time To Create Challenge stuff with my team. I am going to try to get out and COMMENT on your submissions as well. Im sorry I have been AWFUL about that :C I know that everyone who reads and checks them out gains so much inspiration form you when they peek at the collective enteries 😀 So thank you!

Thanks for reading, and watching!

I’d love to hear what you thought of the video, and if you plan on trying or buying!

Also what is your favorite project?

Oh boy did I bounce out of my seat when I saw these peeks!! Today I am sharing images from All That Scraps.

These images will release on  Monday May 4th! A good note to self-All That Scrapshas their the release the FIRST Monday of every month! In case you are addicted but can’t keep up! LOL!

This set peek is Emma & Trevor -at the Beach!

Strawberry Beach

Now When I saw these images I was taken back to my LOVE of Strawberry Shortcake as a little girl! I had the doll, where you squeeze her tummy, her breath smelled like strawberry!! How cool was that?! LOL! As kids (back in the day” we got excited over scent doll breath! Now my girls doll, suck on a bottle, EAT doll baby food, pee & POOP! as well as talk, cry, coo, and move all over! Is that not insane? Im scared to see dolls 20 years from NOW! We wont need to have babies! LOL! They’ll have synthetic ones that probably grow too!

Here is my close up

So I had to color her LIKE Strawberry Shortcake. Im excited over this collection 😀 Problem is I ONLY see her as Strawberry Shortcake! LOL!

Now we have another Strawberry Shortcake girl

Surf & Sand

How cute is she? I just love her. The paper was very inspirational to me as well. I got it at Target years ago!

Now tell me you don’t see a MODERN Strawberry Shortcake too? (Sorry I just can’t get over it!

Here is my UBER close up-eek!

I made sand by air brushing, as well as dotting on various shades of Copic marker 😀 I like the look!

The sentiments are by AmyR-Beach Sentiments (previewing tomorrow). I can tell you they totally rock. If you want perfect summer sentiments you will LOVE this set. I think there are 17 fabulous sentiments. I love the mix of blog and scripty 😀 Wait till you see the set 😀

Well that is it for this post.

Be sure to stop by theATS blog for your chance to win this set 😀 AND see the fabby peeks from the design team!