Paper Maniac Inspiration- Scrapbook Pages

I was so happy when the Paper Maniac girls decided we would showcase scrapbook layouts for you this week. I have fallen so behind in my scrapbooking, and this was a nice little kick-in-the-butt to get some pages done. I have been wanting to scrap this photo of my daughter for the longest time, so alas, its finally done! Now to keep the albums going (especially now, with another little one in the mix) :-)

Unity Stamp Co also posted a really fun scrapbook sketch this week, as part of their new challenges. Its a challenge with a prize (Hodgepodge of Happiness kit). Check it out if you have the time!

Here is a close-up of the stamps and papers I used on this page:

Supplies: (All found in the Paper Maniac Store) Stamps: Unity Stamp Co- March Stampin Sotre Kit "Adventures in Happiness," Treasure to Me kit and Could I Be Any Cuter kit. Paper: Bazzil- White base, Teal circles. October Afternoon designer paper- Farm Fresh. Ink: Memento. Accessories: Copics. Finished size: 8X8" Sketch used: USCSSC1.

Thanks for stopping by, Happy Scrappin'!!

HHH- Hip HOP HaNgOvEr....

OK, so, I NEVER have enough birthday cards on hand, so I decided to start making/stockpiling some, especially since the Unity Kit of the Month for May is just chock full of adorable images and sentiments. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this kit!! Its so fun and versatile. I also made this as an additional card for Wednesday's Unity Challenge, which was to make a card using the following colors: Tangerine, Turquoise, Yellow and LOTS of White, since I didn't like my first card too much. LOL.

This is also my FIRST post for Unity's Hip Hop HaNgOvEr. Today's HHH theme is OUR HERO's, being that Memorial Day is right around the corner. My hero is the man whose picture you see below. That is my darling husband, Eric. He is my hero and my rock. I would not, and could not, be where I am today, without him. He is my BEST FRIEND. He is the most WONDERFUL father to our child. I honor him today because he is the most friendly, caring, funny, generous and responsible person I know. He also does his best as a police officer to protect the public and natural resources entrusted to him in the NJ State Park Service. I am extremely proud of him. AND...I LOVE him with all of my heart.

Card supplies: Stamps: Unity Stamp Co- May KOM. Papers: PTI White, Stampin Up- Turquoise, YoYo Yellow. Designer Paper: DCWV- Rainbow stack (glittered paper- soooo awesome). Ink: Memento- Black and Tangelo for sponging. Accessories: Copics for coloring the images, Scallop border punch.

Thanks so much for stopping, have a wonderful day!! HUG your HERO!!!

Enjoy your day...

Here is the card I made for today's Unity challenge. Michelle challenged us to make a bright, summery card using the following colors: Turquoise, Tangerine and Yellow, along with LOTS of white. I decided to make another no-layer card, using the new Kit of the Month from Unity Stamp Co. I am sooooo LOVING this kit, it's gotta be one of my all-time Unity fav's!! It has a great variety of stamps, as it does every month, however this month, the stamps are just amazing. I know I say this every time, but the KOM keeps getting better and better.

Card Supplies: Papers: PTI- White, Stampin Up-Turquoise, Tangerine, and YoYo Yellow. Ink: Memento- Black, Tangelo, Summer Sky and Bamboo Leaves for sponging. Accessories: dimensionals, Shimmerz, Copics and SU Markers for coloring images.

Thanks for stopping by, have a wonderful day.

Celebrate...

Here is a card that I made for Jeanne's challenge (USAC4) for Unity's Birthday Party, which was to make a 1-layer birthday card, meaning just a card base. This type of card has always been a challenge for me, as I like putting LOTS of layers on my cards. This is actually the 2nd-try card. (The first one I ended up throwing out, because it looked BAD....very, very BAD. lol.) We were, however, able to embellish the card as much as we liked......

I ended up paper-piecing the present, since my markers were not cooperating with coloring the image. The papers are from a Martha Stewart designer paper pad. And, I hope that paper-piecing counts as embellising here and not an additional layer. :-)

Paper: PTI White. Martha Stewart DSP. Stamps: Unity Stamp Co: April KOM and Giant Present. Ink: Memento Black and Dandelion for sponging. Accessories: Michaels ribbon, Lilac Shimmerz, Dimensionals. Techniques: Paper-piecing, paper-piercing, sponging.

Thanks for stopping by....come play the challenges with us!!

You & Me...Simple & Sweet

This is a card I made for the Unity challenges this week. Jennifer Buck challenged us to use the colors: Kraft, Baja Breeze, Ruby Red and So Saffron. What a pretty color combination!!! I was able to finally use some of my favorite stamps from the March Kit of the Month from Unity Stamp Co. as well. If you haven't joined in on the BIGGEST BIRTHDAY PARTY EVER, you MUST....head to Angela's blog for the deets.

Stamps: Unity Stamp Co- March KOM. Papers: SU- Kraft, Baja Breeze, Ruby Red and So Saffron. PTI- White. DCWV designer paper- Green Stack. Ink: Memento- Black, Dandelion for sponging. Accessories: Hero Arts 3 mm pearls, Copics for coloring, May Arts Satin ribbon, and distressing.

Thanks for stopping by, have a wonderful day.

The Promise of God....

Here's another HIP HOP Challenge for you, brought to you from Lori today. Lori suggested a "recipe" challenge today, and her recipe was to use: something clear (buttons, acetate, glossy accents, ghost shapes etc), ribbon, and something from your latest Unity order. I used some clear-ish buttons from Foof-a-la (along with the bigger blue ones) and May Arts satin ribbon. The stamp is from my latest Unity order, and its called the Promise of God. This stamp is just amazing and speaks wonders, I love it!! I used SU Pacific Point and PTI Aqua Mist cardstock as the layers for the card. The white (PTI) layers are sponged with a foam sponge with distress inks. I used faded jeans distress ink and cool caribbean for the bottom layer, and fire red and pink on the top layer with the stamp. The SU Scallop border punch was used for the border on the stamped layer. Please check out the other Unity Challenge Girls' blogs located on the left, for some AWESOME inspiration. If you play along and upload to the SCS gallery, please use the keyword USC09, AND....of course, dont forget to party with us at HIP HOP Thursday. 10am Central time, in the Unity forum on SCS. Thanks for stopping by and have a HAPPY STAMPING day!

AND, the LADIES had a challenge too....

Ok, now for the LADIES preHip Hop challenge.... our challenge today, was to make a masculine card. This was hard for me, since I like to make my cards all glittery and "frou-frou." LOL. I ALWAYS have so much trouble making cards for my MEN!! I came up with this card you see here. I used the brand new Autumn Vine DSP from Stampin Up, which, I must say is the most flippin awesome paper I have EVAH seen, EVAH! I {LOVE} it! I also used my new Unity October Kit of the Month, which arrived in the mail yesterday! This kit is AWESOME. That's where the adorable quote on the bottom of the card comes from, and the big leaves are from Giggle Grove. The colors are: Sage Shadow, Chocolate chip, More Mustard and Really Rust. I used yellow dew drops and chocolate satin ribbon to finish it off.






And this is DH, Eric, he is proud of his challenge card.
See the post below for more details on Eric's card, and to leave him some LOVE!! :) Thanks for stopping by, and have a HAPPY STAMPING day! Dont forget to celebrate HIP HOP with us in the SCS Unity forum tomorrow. The fun begins at 10am Central Time!!

Unity HIP HOP Hubby Challenge! YES, that IS Eric, stampin away....

BWAHAHAHAHAHA, I am STILL cracking up, that my hubby ACTUALLY participated in this challenge!! Im so proud of him. LOL. The Unity Chickies thought it would be a good idea to challenge our hubbies to make a card, after all the men at the Unity Stamp Co had posted some cards on their website. I asked Eric if he wanted to participate, thinking all along that he would say NO WAY, Are you NUTS?? and, low and behold, he says, "Yeah sure." (I think he likes the challenge aspect) Go Figure... So, he decided to go with a Halloween theme. It was kinda scary allowing him in to my stamping sanctuary, first because he would actually realize how much stuff I really have..not like he doesn't walk by it every day, but he was actually rifling through it now. SCARY!! And second, because I didnt wan't him to destroy anything- hahaha, I am VERY PROTECTIVE of my stamps. Anyway, I showed him where all my Unity was kept, and when he opened the drawer, he said, "Whoa!" Haha. Ok, so he chose the super cute stamps fround in the Boo Crew and Oh Spooky Day sets, and stamped away. At one time, he said to me, "Hun, this one doesnt have any wood on it," and I said to him, "that's ok." And he proceeded to put it right in the ink. I was laughing so hard, and he was wondering why it wouldn't stamp right, so I told him it needed to go on an acrylic block!!! Heres some more pictures of the fun time:

NICE TECHNIQUE, Babe














MMMMM, Beer...He said it helps his creativity.

















The finished product. Not bad for a newbie!!
CHECK the googlie eyes out....hey, where did you find those, I have been looking for them!!! I'm proud of you, babe!! Thanks for giving it a try, as the girls say, "You ROCKED this challenge." AND...I must THANK YOU for always ALWAYS always supporting my hobby, so much FUN isn't it??

It's a HIP HOP Challenge day!

Hello girls! It is time for ANOTHER fun, FUN, fun Unity Challenge for you. This week Jess Russel picked the challenge and it was to make a non-A2 card (it can be tall & skinny, square, shaped, etc, just not A2 size). Sounds fun right?? It definitely got me thinking outside the A2 box. My card is a 5.5" square card. My mother called me yesterday afternoon and asked if I could design a baby shower invite for one of her friends at work. This is what I have come up with so far. It's not the final product, and my mind is still thinking up different ideas, but I just HAAAAAAAAD to ink up this adorable little girl outfit stamp from Unity!! The huge outfit stamp is sold as part of a set, and now as a single and is a lot of fun to color in! Card recipe: Paper: PTI White, Lemon Tart, Sweet Blush, and Berry Sorbet. American Crafts DSP. Stamps: Unity: Sweetheart Girl, Distressed Dots, Tiny Trinity and Thank You Words. Ink: Versafine Black, SU Regal Rose. Accessories: Glitter, PTI Swiss Dots Ribbon, Dew Drops, SU Scallop Circle punch and Sponging. If you are going to play along in this challenge, upload your card to the SCS Gallery using the keywords: Unity, USC7. Please check out the other Unity Challenge Girls' Blogs, located in the left column, below. Don't forget to party along with us tomorrow for HIP HOP, starting at 10am Central time in the SCS Unity Forum. The schedule of festivities can be found by clicking: here. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY STAMPING!

It's Unity Challenge Time!!!!

Hello, here is another fun installment of Unity Challenge Wednesday, our pre-HIP-HOP-celebration. Today's challenge is a sketch challenge, hosted by wonderful Maggie! Please check out the Unity forum for the sketch, and to upload your artwork into the USC6 gallery. THIS JUST IN: Unity will offer up our BRAND NEW SET "Simply Said" to one lucky challenge participant! Check out the other HIP-HOP girls' blogs listed on the left column, below, for some more awesome inspiration. My card uses the September Kit of the Month (KOM), called Friendship.Love.Miracles, which just retired yesterday. You can click on this link for more info on the KOM club and to see October's kit. I went with a winter theme for this card, which is so NOT like me, since winter is not one of my favorite seasons. Nonetheless, I was feeling winter when I made this card, so I went with it. Dont forget to play along with us tomorrow for HIP HOP Thursday, also in the Unity forums on SCS. The fun begins at 10am Central time and goes well into the night. We chat, play games, make cards, win prizes and make new friends...stop on by for a great time!! HAPPY STAMPING!!

Recipe: Paper: PTI Kraft, Aqua Mist, Pure Poppy and White, SU Prints pack DSP. Ink: SU Soft Sky, Chocolate Chip. Stamps: Unity KOM September 08: Friendship.Love.Miracles. Accessories: May Arts ribbon (Flourishes.com) Martha Stewart border punch, White fun flock (snowy touch on trees and other side of the road) glitter, copics for coloring images, and sponging.

Where there is Great Love....there is a HIP HOP challenge!!!

Its HIP HOP Challenge day peeps, and Im so excited to share this card with you, because it uses Unity's Kit of the Month for September, called: Friendship.Love.Miracles. This kit is available until September 30th, and then it is gone forever....so, if you are interested, click on the link above, read about it and join the kit club fun. The kit club is phenomenal, and the kits get better and better each month. Ok, back to our HIP HOP challenge for you today. The challenge was picked by Sherry this week, and she suggested paper-piecing. Sherry gives an awesome tutorial on paper-piecing on her blog as well. This is such a fun technique and adds lots of dimension to your cards. Basically, you stamp your image on white cardstock first, and then another time, or multiple times on different desinger papers. I used the tree trio stamp from this set and stamped it on white, then 3 more times on Basic Grey's Mellow DSP, to give each tree their own appeal. LOL. You then cut very closely around the edges of the DSP stamped images, and then glue them down (or use dimensionals) onto your white cardstock image. Color and finish your image. Here I used copics to color the tree trunks, and I sponged around the white cardstock with saffron ink. I added sunflower dew drops to the four corners of the image. I also paper pieced the sentiment, which, I normally just use different colored markers to create the same effect. This was so much fun though, so I thought I would try piecing the words as well. I stamped the sentiment in Pumpkin Pie and Always Artichoke inks on white cardstock. I cut the larger words from the pumpkin pie sentiment and attached them to the Artichoke sentiment. I finished the sentiment by sponging the edges with saffron ink. HIP HOP Thursday is going to be loads of FUN tomorrow. There is going to be 3 new sets released and 4 new singles!! WOW, not to mention all the other fun specials, chatter, challenges and prizes!! Stop by the Unity forum on SCS tomorrow. The fun begins at 10am Central time and goes well into the night!! Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY STAMPING!!

Recipe: Paper: PTI White, Lemon Tart. SU Close to Cocoa, Always Artichoke. Basic grey Mellow DSP. Ink: SU Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie and Always Artichoke. Stamps: Unity KOTM September 08: Friendship.Love.Miracles. Accessories: Dew Drops (Sunflower), May Arts ribbons, and sponging.

Here's a HIP HOP Challenge 4 You!!

Its time for another HIP HOP Challenge to get us ready for tomorrow's HIP HOP Thursday, in the Unity Forums on SCS. Today's challenge was picked by Jeanne (also a new Unity DT member! Congrats Jeanne!!). The challenge this week is a color challenge- use black and pink on your card. Easy enough, right??? For this card, I used a 5X5 black scallop circle base, then layered it with a 4.5" pink layer, a 4" DSP layer and then a 3.5" pink layer. I lined the card with Martha Stewart rhinestones and white opaque dots, to coordinate with my DSP, which has lots of cirlces and dots on it. I used the HUGE cupcake stamp from the Unity set Confetti Birthday, and the "Party" stamp is also from Unity, from the Cupcakes a'la Yummy set. I paper pieced the cupcake wrap from the same DSP I used on the layers. I glittered the flame on the candle as well as the yummy icing. Light pink paper flowers line the bottom of the card. I apologize if the photo looks a bit "off." I tried to "soft focus" so that the scallops could be seen better. (Note to self: use the white background next time. lol.) Check out the other Unity Hip Hop Challenge Girls' blogs, located on the left side of my blog for some awesome inspiration, and upload your challenge cards in the Unity gallery on SCS. Tomorrow's HIP HOP celebration is sure to be lots of fun... as always, lots of chatter, challenges, prizes and FUN!! Check it out, starting at 10am Central time. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY STAMPING!!

It's Hip Hop Challenge Day Peeps!!

It's WEDNESDAY, and that means its time for another Unity Hip Hop Challenge to get us geared up and ready for tomorrow's Hip Hop par-tay! Rumour has it that there may even be a new Unity stamp set released during the HIP HOP THURSDAY celebrations. Dont' miss a minute of the fun in the Unity forums on SCS. (If you are lost and wondering what the heck HIP HOP THURSDAY is, check out this thread.) Ok, onto our challenge for today. Latisha picked the challenge, which was to create a square card with scallops on it. We even have a sketch for your inspiration, which will be posted in the forum. Link up your creation in the Unity forum so we can see everyone's work.
Unity has a bunch of wonderful quote stamps, which are pretty big and will stand out perfectly on a card front. I have always loved this bible verse and it's one I can relate to pretty well. After my father passed away in 1997, for the longest time thereafter, I struggled with my faith. I went to church, I prayed, and it just didnt feel the same. I couldn't understand why my father was taken from us so early in his life and I carried a lot of anger. It was one Sunday at mass that I heard this verse, and honestly, this may have been the only part of the reading that I "heard." But, for me, this verse says, have faith, even the smallest amount, because, with God, all things are possible. Thank you so much for stopping by, and thank you for reading my personal story. (I usually don't do that.....) HAPPY STAMPING.
Card Recipe: Paper: SU Artichoke, Marigold Morning, PTI White, Basic Grey Sugared DSP. Ink: I used SU Markers: Mustard and Artichoke on the stamp. Stamps: Unity single Move Mountains. Accessories: Pearl Dew Drops, Threading Water Border Punch.

Let's Get the Partay Started Peeps!!

Hello- its Wednesday, and you know what that means. It time to get the Pre Hip Hop partay started!! The Unity Hip Hop Challenge Girls (see right column) are at it again. Here we go with the second installment of Unity Challenge Wednesday. Remember to play along with us each Wednesday, there will be a new challenge posted in the SCS Unity forum, and what's a better way to get pumped for Hip Hop Thursday?? This week's challenge is to use Unity colors (brown and turquoise) plus one other color of your choice, if you want. Special Thanks to Cathy for picking this week's awesome challenge. For all who play along and upload their creations to the Splitcoast gallery, you will be entered to win a Unity Single. You have until Sunday to upload and a winner will be selected on Monday morning. Please use keywords: Unity, USC2 when uploading so that we can find your creations easily!!! Card Recipe: Paper: PTI White, SU Chocolate Chip, Tempting Turquoise, American Crafts DSP. Ink: Chocolate Chip. Stamps: Unity: Tiny Trinity. Accessories: Cuttlebug Border Embossing Folder, Glossy Effects, Copics for coloring, Rhinestones, Paper flowers, Oval and Scalloped Oval punches, glitter pen, tab punch, sponging. Thanks so much for stopping by. Don't forget to join in the fun for Hip Hop Thursday, tomorrow in the Unity forum on SCS, starting at 10am CST. The party goes well into the night. FUN FUN FUN! Have a great day and HAPPY STAMPING!

Button Challenged??

So- I made this card last night while Hip-Hoppin' with the girls on the Unity Forum for Hip-Hop Thursday. One of the challenges was to make a button card. I had been jumpin' at the bit to ink up this cutie stamp called "So and So Loves," by none other than my fav, Unity. The "I {heart} U" stamp is from the Unity August KOTM called Remember Happiness. I also got some happy mail from Papertrey Ink, which was some nice new paper I used for this card. Card recipe: Paper: PTI White, Lemon Tart, Berry Sorbet, and Aqua Mist. Stamps: Unity: So and So Loves, Remember Happiness. Ink: Chocolate Chip, Copics for coloring images. Accessories: Cuttlebug embossing folder, stickles, heart button. This card didn't come out exactly the way I had hoped it would, and then Hubby smudged the stickles when he checked it out. LOL. The card is growing on me now. I just {LOVE} this stamp! Thanks for stopping by and Happy Stamping!!

Unity- Challenge Wednesday!!

Well, it's Wednesday!! DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS??? It's the start of Unity Challenge Day! A bunch of us Unity addicts in the Splitcoast forum thought it would be fun for the fans of Unity to have a weekly challenge. We're calling ourselves the Unity Hip Hop Challenge Girls. So starting today in the SCS Unity Forum there will be a weekly challenge posted on Wednesdays! Hop on over and join in the fun! Each week a different person will pick the challenge. Today, Tiffany picked our challenge which was to Case (Copy and Share with Everyone) a Design Team member's creation. This challenge is totally awesome, as Unity has a super cool DT! Check out the other Hip Hop Girls' blogs on the right side column of my blog....one of them will be giving away a free stamp set from Unity!! What a great way to kick off for Hip Hop Thursday in the Unity forums. I decided to CASE Jennifer Buck with this card.

Here is my card. It's a 6X6 square tri-fold card. I have been dying to ink up this Santa image. Isn't he adorable?? And, I can't believe I brought myself to stamp a winter image in the summer, but....for some reason, this summer, I am through with! Card Recipe: Paper: Bazzill Red, Hunter Green, SU Celery, SU Dashing DSP, Vanilla. Ink: SU Choc. Chip, Copics to color the image. Accessories: dew drops, white flocking powder to make Santa's suit fuzzy, Thank you for stopping by and have a HAPPY STAMPING day!!