It's a Birthday Blog Hop for a Lollipop Girl!

It's Krista Palakiko's birthday today and a few of us are throwing her a surprise birthday blog hop.  If you've come here from Cyndi's'blog then you are on the right path, but if you just popped in you might want to hop on over to the beginning at the Lollipop Crafts blog.  Why?  Well one lucky hopper will win a SURPRISE PRIZE!  

 

All you need to do is hop along to each friend’s blog, leave some love, then head back to the Lollipop Crafts blog and let them know you completed the hop.  Who knows maybe along the way some of Kris' friends might be giving away RAKS of their own, so make sure you stop and give some love to everyone.  The winner will be announced on Sunday, March 18th.  

 

**If you get lost along the way the MASTER LIST is on the Lollipop Crafts Blog.

Now head on over to Mimi's blog to see what beauty she has created for Kris.

New Release +Winter Wonderland Challenge at Jellypark

Don't you think penguins are adorable? This little guy is no exception and is one of the "New Releases" this week at Jellypark. I got some new papers in the mail and couldn't wait to use on my project, these are from MME 6 x6 stack called "Blink of an Eye" which I picked up at 2 Peas in a Bucket.  I started with a sketch from My Time Made Easy and inked all my papers with CTMH Desert Sand pad. I colored my lil' guy with my Copics and then paper pieced his hat, adding brads to the little pom-poms. I outlined everything using my black spica pen and finished it off with a couple buttons with ribbon.

Now not only is it "New Release Day" but it's challenge day to at JellyPark, this week's challenge is called "Winter Wonderland"- so show us those projects featuring snow/snowflakes!  They are actually predicting a little dusting her in KCMO, which the kiddos will love as we haven't had hardly any snow this year!

Come over an join the fun and check out the team's projects for the new releases HERE and challenge HERE. Don't forget that Jellypark Juniors is now open for all those little crafters, we would love to see their projects and leave some love for our future stars! To pick up any of new images (or older ones) Stop by th Jellypark store.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

My Time Made Easy- sketch

Happy New Year + Thank You Card

Hope everyone's 2012 is off to a great start already, our starting off a little bumpy with a sick kiddo. My lil' Lucas started puking a little after midnight and continued until almost 7 am on Sunday.  Finally got him down to sleep and he was out until about 1:30 pm, one more round and then things finally settled down, he went to bed early on Sunday and slept until after 10 am on Monday.  Of course he work up and was raring to go, so we headed out to watch to movies to see "Chipwrecked" before having to head back to school today. So finally I think things are settled down, what a way to start the New Year right?

Well this allowed me lots of time to color and I have a stack of images ready to assemble, so be ready for some new projects soon!  I invite you all to come join us this week at Sunday Sketch & Stamp, we have a wonderful sketch from our fearless leader Maggie.  I decided to work with this super cute lil' man from Jellypark called "boy with sign." I added the sentiment from a Stampin" Up set, I love the versatility of this lil' guy!  Make sure to check out Jellypark's new challenge this week HERE too!

I am entering this card in following challenges:

Sunday Sketch & Stamp- sketch

Craft Your Passion #87

Are you ready for another challenge from Craft Your Passion? This week is an easy one, it's 

"anything goes + add glitter" and we have 2 sponsors- Pattie's Creations and The Pixie Cottage. The design  team is using images from both sponsors, my image is called "Pattie Boop & Allie Waiting for Santa" courtesy of Pattie's Creations. I have added sparkly fluff to the window seal and Santa hats.  Come over and see what the DT has created, we would love to see your projects!

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Pattie's Creations- Christmas

The Holiday Season is upon us!

It's hard to believe the last weekend of November has passed and December is just around the corner!  I have been super busy creating gifts for the upcoming holidays and crafts for my son's Winter party, needless to say the paper has been flying and my crafting area looks like a bomb went off! LOL!!!

Monday brings challenge day over at Kaboodle Doodles where our theme this week is 

"bundle up for winter"  and we are sponsored by Stamp 'n Doodle. Make sure to come over and check out what the rest of team has been up too!

Now this week at Lollipop Crafts is all about "B is for...." so the skies the limit on what you can create. We are sponsored this week by Karber Stamps and I have used this adorable image called "Christmas Millie."

Make sure to check out what the rest of the LC team has done and come back on Thursday as we spotlight our fabulous sponsor!

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Karber Challenge- anything goes

"Tis the Season" is our theme this week over at Craft Your Passion Challenge and we are sponsored by Simply Betty Stamps, since I just joined the CYP team I didn't get to work with a SBS image.  However you must go check out their store because they have some FANTASTIC images perfect for your holiday projects! I have created this CAS card using the sketch from Clean & Simple Stamping and Unity stamps.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Get Hippity with Ippity- embossing

Last but certainly not least you must stop over by The Crazy Challenge and join this week's challenge.  It's all about "snowflakes and/or stars" and we are sponsored by Ellephantastic.  I chose to work with

"sketchy snowman" and added this fun sentiment. I wanted to make it look like he was catching snowflakes in his mitten.  Come over and see what the rest of team has created, you won't be disappointed!

I am entering this card in the following challenges:
Ellephantastic- weather related

Happy Holidays

A little snow is being predicted here in Missouri tonight, so far no SNOW which I am happy about!  I am not ready for winter just yet, however I thought why not make a snow themed card tonight!  I just got this great set from Unity called "Winter Greetings" drawn by none other than my friend, Tracey Malnofski.

I decided to start with the sketch at Eat Sleep Stamp and grabbed papers from Bo Bunny Snowfall Collection 6x6 pad.  I have colored the image with copics and then added a little glitter to Mr. Snowman's hat/coat.  I also added a little sparkly fluff to the snow he is standing in, everything is inked in CTMH Cocoa ink.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Eat Sleep Stamp-sketch

 Here is another simple card design using Inkadinkado Winter Trails stamp set (which I have never used).  I created this for the "pearls and swirls" challenge at Dutch Dare Card Challenges being sponsored by
The Stamping Boutique. I have used CTMH Indian Corn Blue ink and carsdstock and added lots of pearls to both my sentiment and flourish.

Unity KOM Challenge- October

I am now officially a Unity addict!!! I signed up for the Kit of the Month in September and fell in love when I received my October kit which is perfect for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Each month Unity has a sketch challenge on their blog, all you have to do is use ANY Unity KOM to be entered.  I grabbed this cute image from the Jan. '11 KOM-To the Moon & Back, papers are from Authentique:Gathering 6x6 Bundle.

I am also entering this card in the following challenges:
Squiggles and Giggles- go dotty

Introducing Smoochie+ DT Call

When I saw this adorable image I couldn't wait to get her printed to color, her name is Smoochie and she is one of the newest images from Tracey Malnofski over at The Stamping Boutique. I was browsing facebook and saw a DT call over at My Creative Time with a deadline of tonight and decided to enter this project just under the gun!

For my project, I decided to start with the sketch this week at Sunday Sketch & Stamp, however I have rotated it! Solid cardstocks are from CTMH and outdoor denim (this was textured so lighter blue was from reverse side) and chocolate. Isn't that patterned paper gorgeous?  It is from Bo Bunny:Snowfall Collection and is a 6 x 6 stack I picked up at Archiver's this week! I used my scalloped circle Nesties to frame image and sentiment, image is colored with copics. I added a little glitter around edges too. Flowers were created using my Die-Namics Mini Rose Die and complimented using my EK Success punch for leaves, I dipped each one of the flowers in glitter as well.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:
Crafty Ribbons- Bingo (Punches or Dies/Flowers/Ribbons)
Hanna and Friends-glitter
Totally Papercrafts-glitter it
Card Makin' Mamas-die cuts
Inspire Me Fridays- anything goes
Sweet Stampin'-anything goes
Send a Smile for Kids- For the Girls

Lollipop Crafts Spoltlight: Robyn's Fetish

If you are looking for my 4 Crafty Chicks guest designer post, please scroll down below this post. 

This week our spotlight is on our wonderful sponsor  Robyn's Fetish Digital Stamps And More. I worked with this cute bear all ready to go trick or treating called "bearly a pumpkin."
Don't forget about our challenge #53 this week which is "no sentiment"- that's right let your image be the star!!! Check out what the rest of the Lollipop gals have created for today's spotlight here.




Here's a little bit about our sponsor:

Robyn's Fetish Digital Stamps And More, a division of I Did It Creations, was created and is
is owned by Robyn Weinrib.  Robyn offers a wonderful variety of digital stamps and digital papers, designed to meet the needs of all digital paper crafting addicts for every occasion.

PRIZE FOR WINNER:  Robyn's Fetish Digital Stamps And More is happy to offer the winner of this challenge 5 digital stamps or 4 digital stamps and 1 digital paper set of their choice. Now that's a great prize!!!

365 Cards

Day 212 at 365 Cards is to create a background using 4 colors.  I used the stamp set "Friendship Blessings" from CTMH and inks (sunflower, chocolate, autumn terracotta, & garnet) to create my background.  The overall card design is from Clean & Simple Stamping Blog.

Day 209 is a fun little sketch that I was able to use scraps for once again, gosh I love to be able to use up all these little prieces of paper that I cannot seem to part with! Cardstocks are from CTMH in sorbet and cocoa.

Day 214 is all about seeing 3 little birdies on your cards, I have had this cute little stamp forever just waiting to be inked up so this was the perfect challenge! This is one of my fave card designs from Clean & Simple Stamping and will be a definite go to design for future cards. I colored the birdies using copics and then added a little sparkle on hats with some glitter.


Day 210 

365 Cards

This past week at 365 Cards it's all about creating masculine cards, I have given it a go and although some I have used "non-traditional" male colors I think they came out pretty good!

 Day 202- use the sketch to create you card with masculine style

 Day 203- Back to School with a masculine style

 Day 204-Outer Space with masculine style

 Day 205-Summer vacation with masculine style

 Day 206-Love with masculine style

 Day 207- Sweet treats with a masculine style

Day 208- Funny cards with masculine style

365 Cards

I created this card using this wonderful image from Meljen's Designs and the sketch from 

365 Cards #195. I turned the sketch on it's side and made the inside look like candy corn to match.

I am using this card as my 365 Cards #196 project for to "divide & conquer"- you must have 5 parts, so I am counting my stars/dots strips as 4 parts and my cream strip as the fifth.

Challenge #197 is all about using bead on your project at 365 Cards, so I pulled these purple colored ones to add to my card.  I just love the embossing from the spider web Cuttlebug folder.

Sentiment standout is the challenge #198 at 365 Cards and so I chose to use my new fave Halloween stamp from the $1 section at Joann's.  Paper is from the Oct 31 paper pad from Fancy Pants Designs. 

 

Here is another scrap card I made for 365 Cards challenge #199,

pick a highly memorable year in your life, and use that to inspire your card. Last year was very memorable for me as I lost 50 lbs and felt like a flower blossoming into a woman that had been lost for a long time.

 

 

365 Cards challenge #200 is about digging through your junk drawer and using something from it on your card, well I have a stash of buttons in mine so that is what I used in center of bow on that big present.

365 Cards challenge #201 is "1+1=1 beautiful card,"

Pick two of your dearest friends and choose something about them to contribute to your card.  It can be anything you want that makes you think of them. This lovely card design idea if from my friend Darla for a card swap and it's made with CTMH products which makes me think of my fabulous CTMH consultant and friend Sue.

Cooking It Up With Katie/Exciting News!!!

I know I shared this card yesterday (you can see all details here), but it's pulling double duty for the challenge this week at Cooking It Up With Katie.  Our sponsor this week is Sassy Studios so you know a sweet prize will be up for grabs!

Our recipe for this week is as follows:

"Something girly, add some green, and finish with a group of 3."

I get to add this fun little badge to my blog as one of my cards from last week was selected as a spotlight-WOO HOO!  You can check out my card here!

 

Lots of cards to share

What's on your playlist? That's the 365 Cards challenge #194-what is at top of your playlist.  One of my faves is Pat Benatar so I grabbed that heart w/wings and paired it with this fun sentiment! I have a huge variety of music, but trying to find something to coordinate was a hard one until I found these stamps from CTMH.

365 Cards challenge #193 is all about geography- use your gave favorite vacation destination as your inspiration.  I would love to go to Hawaii one day, this paper from SEI with all the big flowers makes me think of the island.

Just a simple card inspired by the a sketch/card I found over at Skipping Stones Designs, I loved the card using the peacock feather.  This is for the color challenge over at 365 Cards challenge #192 also!

Another card using scraps from my stash, I just love the simple design of this one.  I created this card for 365 Cards challenge #191, I normally love lots of embellies and very white space so this is "so not me!" The sentiment was a FREEBIE at Sentimental Sundays.

I am entering this card in following challenges:
Digi Makeover Challenge- pinks/greys/black/white
Crafty Boots- anything goes

Talk about a challenge, well check out 365 Cards #190- our recipe was as follows:

" 4.25 x 5.5 card, 4 stickers, 4 buttons, 1 sentiment, and 1 extra cardstock."  So I created my baseball using a circle cut with the cricut, added stitching with red pen, and inked with CTMH desert sand ink. The word "slam" are stickers from my baseball collection of goodies!

FORE!!!  Isn't this little Changito monkey adorable? I created this card for the challenge at Cards For Men, which is the letter "G"and what say men & G more than golf.  I was once again inspired by sketch at Skipping Stones Designs. I created my golf ball using one of my Cuttlebug embossing folders and then inked the edges with CTMH chococlate ink.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:
Creative Stamp Friends- card for a man

Cupcake Craft challenge this week is to create a patchwork quilt on your project. I grabbed some scraps from Cosmo Cricket-Earth Love 6x6 pad to create my patchwork pattern and inked edges with CTMH chocolate ink.  Lots of layers, flourishes cut using my cricut, and added my sentiment from 

CTMH Thank You set.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:
Craft Your Passion- flowers
Happileigh Scappin- browns/oranges/yellows

Merry & Bright

 I saw the challenge over at  365 Cards and thought I would give it a whirl, it's a hard one as you must use 6 patterned papers on your project! I raided my scraps and came up with this fun way to recycle and use up all those small pieces of paper you cannot bare to part with. I had a whole collection of Basic Grey papers from the Figgy Pudding and Fruit Cake line that complimented each other perfectly!  Inked the edges of everything, added a bow and sentiment from CTMH "Christmas Melodies" set!  Be prepared to see this design a lot as I am in love with it!

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

365 Cards- pattern frenzy (use 6 patterned papers)
Crafty Boots-anything goes
Make It Monday-anything goes

Ric Rac, fabric, or lace- Oh my!!!

If you are lookinf for Lollipop Crafts or The Crazy Challenge posts, please scroll down!

It's challenge day again at Kaboodle Doodles and for this week if you are like me you will need to dig deep into your stash for this challenge! Our challenge this week is all about using "ric-rac, fabric, or lace" on your projects and we are excited to be sponsored by Robyn's Fetish. One lucky person will win 5 images from the Robyn's Fetish Designs & More Store.

We got the pleasure of working with Christmas/Winter images and I decided to work with this cute little guy called "Christmas Twee." Paper piecing was in order, so I printed my image twice (once on white, once on olive green) and started the fussy cutting!  I added a little color around tree using my G99 copic, the star is colored with Smooch, and a little bling to make this tree sparkle. I chose to work with the sketch from 

365 Cards (rotated is on it's side). A little ric-rac, added a little embossing, and inking my edges with CTMH olive ink to make complete!

I am entering this card in following challenges:

365 Cards- sketch

Sunday Sketch & Stamp

It's another challenge day over at Sunday Sketch & Stamp and although this is not my team's week after seeing the Sam's sketch I wanted to play along. and had this image laying on my desk already colored.  Don't you just love these cute little shy bears?  Well you can pick this image called Bearly Early Bears up and others at Squigglefly. I used scraps again which are all from CTMH Jingle paper pack and cardstock/brads in Juniper, ink is CTMH Tulip.  Surpirse sentiment is also from a CTMH stamp set.  Come and play along this week here and check out rest of team's projects!

Today was a fun and exhausting day for me as I competed in a brutal 5K race called the Warrior Dash, this race is decribed as 3.1 hellish miles and not only do you run the course but there are obstacles that you have to complete along the way. The end of the race commences with you leaping over fire and then wading through a mudpit covered with barbed wire.  This race was extremely hard with lots of hills and muddy trails along with temps above 100 and heat index/humidity were horrible.  Heats of 500 people took off every half hour and I was in the noon event, needless to say they ended up closing down last 4 heats due to excessive weather conditions and after sending almost 60 people to hospital. 

However I am so proud to say "I completed every obstacle" and although my time was not anything to brag about I am proud to say I finished and call me crazy but I would do it again.  I know it would have never been possible before losing the 50 lbs I did last fall.  I thought I would share a few photos, these aren't great beacause they are taken with a cell phone (I forgot the camera) but you get the idea!

I am entering this card in following challenges:

Come & Get It-anything goes

Cooking It Up With Katie

With Father's Day just around the corner this week's challenge at Cooking It Up With Katie is perfect to create those last minute projects for those wonderful men in your life.  Our challenge this week is "Something for dad, make it funny, and add some buttons." We are excited to be sponsored this week by Bonibleaux Designs at Dude Time Doodles and they have some hilarious images/sentiments to work with.  I chose to work with Hammock Harold and HH Sentiment #4 for my card and once again I have gone digital.  All elements are courtesy of Pixel Scrapper and the overall design is from the sketch challenge over at Card Positioning Systems. 

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Bows & Berries-masculine
The Crazy Challenge-monochromatic
Cupcake Craft-masculine/dad projects
Incy Wincy Designs- Father's Day
Ooh La La Creations- Father's Day
Stamps R Us- 3 embellies (buttons), 2 papers, 1 image
Make It Monday- anything goes


Card Positioning Systems-sketch
Creative Inspirations-Father's Day
Dream Valley Challenges- Father's Day
Sentimental Sundays-Father's Day
Sparkles Forum-Father's Day
Stamptacular Sunday-dads or grads


Craft Your Days Away-Monochrome
Crazy 4 Challenges-Masculine
Mark's Finest Papers-Faather's Day
One Stop Craft Challenge- Father's Day
Secret Crafter- Male card
Stamp, Scrap, & Doodle- Father's Day

Shannon's Sentiments #30-Sketch

It's Saturday which means another challenge day over at Shannon's Sentiments and this week is a sketch challenge from our hostess Michelle.  I decided to keep exploring the digital world and try my hand at a card this week. I used Paint.net to create my card and got all my design elements from Digi Scrap Depot.  The patterned paper from here is and the black background paper/ribbon/frame around sentiment I got from Pixel Scrapper. The sentiment is from the "Lots of Thanks" set, head on over to the Shannon's Sentiments to join the fun and check out rest of DT's creations!

Sunday Sketch & Stamp #58

Hope everyone has had a relaxing weekend so far, it has been extremely hot here so we have been soaking up as much a/c as possible. My kiddos took off for a small fishing trip with my parents so we were enjoying the piece and quiet, we are only a week into summer vacation and they are already on my last nerve with all the bickering and fighting- It's gonna be a long summer, lol!!!  Tonight we have Micah's HS Baseball banquet and then get ready for another busy week!

I am still working on getting my mojo back after surgery and have lots of projects in the works.  Today bring another sketch challenge over at Sunday Sketch and Stamp, which I am a design team member. I had this fabulous paper from last month's scrapbook club, it's from CTMH and called Fanfare.  The image is courtesy of The Stamping Boutique and colored with copics.  Head on over here and join us and check out the rest of DT's wonderful creations!