Inky Antics stamp set for Sunshine Mail

I was on the fabulous Design Team at the Sunshine Mail Foundation for almost two years, so I was especially pleased to be the winner of the Inky Antics giveaway benefiting Sunshine Mail. I won one of their adorable Balloon Buddies HoneyPOP Clear Stamp Set by artist Tammy DeYoung, as well as two packs of rainbow honeycomb paper! 

Because this design is all about the pop-up inside, I kept the front simple. I stamped the sentiment (which are separate stamps for each phrase) onto the large balloon stamp. I drew the ropes myself, and added a 3D bow from American Crafts.

For the inside, I stamped the image directly onto the base card and colored it with Copic markers. The honeycomb paper was easy to cut, with help from the template stamp in this fun Inky Antics stamp set. The trick with the honeycomb pop-up is to score the base card with a slight spine; I just followed the directions on the package, not what I usually do! I added some strips of the same DP I used for the front.

Inspiration/Challenges:
Aud Sentiments Challenge #112: Thinking of You type sentiment
Craft for the Craic August Challenge: Craft Item You Have Never Used Before (Honeycomb paper)
Simon Says Stamp: Anything Goes
WordArt Wednesdays: Anything Uplifting goes

The current challenge at the Sunshine Mail Foundation is "Anything Goes" & the only real rule is that you send in at least one card (it doesn't have to be the card you enter in the challenge; Donation guidelines here). My mom and I just sent in over 30 cards, and I thank Inky Antics for this lovely gift that I'll use for more Sunshine Mail.
Thank you for visiting,

Anything Goes with the Sunshine Mail Foundation

The new challenge at the Sunshine Mail Foundation is "Anything Goes" & the only real rule is that you send in at least one card (it doesn't have to be the card you enter in the challenge; Donation guidelines here).

This was a bittersweet project for me, as it's my last as a member of the Sunshine Mail Design Team. It seems like just yesterday that I posted my first project, but it was actually June 2012. All of my Card Cupids/Sunshine Mail projects are archived here. Many thanks to the organization for all its good works! Glad I'll still be able to join your challenges.

I used the Lulu set by our sponsor StampArt Design by Kathryne.

I kept it relatively simple. The grass paper is from my stash, and the green mesh is recycled from a bag of avocados!

Shabby Tea Room #205

Inspiration/Challenges:
Chocolate, Coffee & Cards #58: One Button, One Bow, One Flower
Digi Sketch Challenge: Use the Color Green (T)
Shabby Tea Room: Sketch

Thank you for visiting, and hope you'll join us at Sunshine Mail,

Anything Goes Sunshine Mail + Valentine's Twist

It's time for a new Sunshine Mail Foundation Challenge (January 15 - February 1). Our theme is "Anything Goes with a twist for Valentines Day" and the only real rule is that you send in at least one card (it doesn't have to be the card you enter in the challenge; Donation guidelines here).    

This challenge is sponsored by Meljen's Designs, so I used her Sweet Little Foxy digi stamp:

I paper-pieced the fox onto a shiny bronze paper, using a white cardstock and a Colorbök patterned orange paper. I added details with Copics and bright orange Liquid Pearls.

I used Core'Dinations cardstock and my Silhouette to cut the Fold & Tuck Flowers by Alaa' K, available at the Silhouette store. 

The sentiment is from an Inky Antics set, and is heat-embossed in shiny green on a raffia-type paper. I also used an orange burlap ribbon and a fun ladybug-themed lace from my stash. The backing paper is from Graphic 45.

I made the heart border in Sure Cuts A Lot (SCAL), cut it on my Silhouette from an orange cardstock, and added fluorescent orange embossing powder with a Versamark pen. I also made a versoin with smaller hearts, that I used inside:

Mema's Challenge

Inspiration/Challenges:
Card A Day Blog: Valentines
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge: Anything goes using PP as a backing / 2nd entry
Mema's Challenge: January BINGO* (second column: Embossing, Dies, Flowers) / 2nd entry
Rogue Redhead Designs #31: Paper Piecing

Update: This was the prize winner for Rogue Redhead Designs #31. Thank you!

Thank you for visiting, and hope you'll join us at Sunshine Mail,

Anything Goes at Sunshine Mail

Happy December! It's time for a new Sunshine Mail Foundation Challenge. Our theme is "Anything Goes" and the only real rule is that you send in at least one card (it doesn't have to be the card you enter in the challenge; Donation guidelines here).

Our sponsor is Deasy Designs, so I used one of their freebies:

 It's on an Action Wobble:

Inspiration/Challenges:
Action Wobble Challenge: CAS card
Crafty Ribbons #72: Anything Goes with Ribbon
Creative Card Crew: Sweet Treats
Digi Sketch Challenge: Paper Piecing (2nd entry)
Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays): Anything Goes (2nd entry)

Thank you for visiting,and hope you'll join the Sunshine Mail Challenge,

Shine On! -- Anything Goes at Sunshine Mail

It's time for a new Sunshine Mail Foundation Challenge (November 15 - December 1). Our theme is "Anything Goes" and the only real rule is that you send in at least one card (it doesn't have to be the card you enter in the challenge; Donation guidelines here).   

We're also having a big giveaway to collect lots of cards for a bunch of request special requests. We all make so many cards, we can definitely send in one or two to give a child a smile! You can enter the giveaway here.

Our sponsors are Di's Digi Downloads and Big Heads Stamps, two really fun digi stamp companies, and I used Renoir by Big Heads:

The outer frame is modified from the Frame 2 cutting file that came free with my Silhouette software. I used baker's twine to sew the border onto the frame.

I digitally placed the polka dot background (digi paper by Mel Stampz) into the image, but I also fussy-cut the image out, for a bit of dimension. The umbrellas are printed on a shiny white paper, same as the outer frame. I colored the image with Copics, and heat-embossed the sentiment (Verve Stamps) in gold. The cloud is popped up with foam tape.

Inspiration/Challenges:
Crazy 4 Challenges: Let's frame it
Ooh La La Creations: Stitching
The Paper Girls: Cut it out! (Die or Fussy Cutting - This has both)

Thank you for visiting,and hope you'll join the Sunshine Mail Challenge,

Circus Fun with Sunshine Mail

Happy November! It's time for a new Sunshine Mail Foundation Challenge (November 1-15). Our theme is "Anything Goes" and the only real rule is that you send in at least one card (it doesn't have to be the card you enter in the challenge; Donation guidelines here).   

Our sponsor is StitchyBear's Digi Outlet, and I'm on the Stitchy Bear DT (OSAAT) so it was especially fun for me to use one of their creator's images. I used Fun in the Jungle by Lil Diva Stamps:

I cut the Circus Tent shapes on my Cricut using the Paper Dolls Cricut cartridge. It's cut three times at 4.25 inches, on black and white shiny papers and a polka-dotted cardstock.

I paper pieced the image with some DPs from my stash. This is a great use of small scraps. I added some details and color with Copics and a white Sakura glaze pen. The base image is cut-out with deckle scissors and edged in black.

The sentiment is actually a leftover from another project... I stamped the sentiment in Memnto brown on a scrap of DP andcut it down to a banner. I adhered it with this Seal brad. Mom sent me a bag of them, they are just too cute! I traced the lines on the brad with a black PITT artist pen.

For the base card, I just folded a piece of cardstock in half, traced the tent shape, and hand-cut it.

Inspiration/Challenges:
Digi Makeover Challenge: Use your Scraps
House That Stamps Built: Paper Piecing (October 23 Theme challenge)
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Anything Goes
Stampin' Royalty: Anything Goes

Thank you for visiting, and hope you'll join us at Sunshine Mail,

Fall-time at Sunshine Mail

Happy October! It's time for a new Sunshine Mail Foundation Challenge (October 1-15). Our theme is "Fall" and the only real rule is that you send in at least one card (it doesn't have to be the card you enter in the challenge; Donation guidelines here).  

The window, shutter and windowbox dies are from Memory Box's Small Madison Window set, and are cut from a yellow Core'Dinations cardstock. The background is made from a cream-colored cardstock that I embossed with a Tim Holtz folder and inked with his Red Brick distress ink.

The leaves on the left were cut on my Bigshot with TH's Fall Garland die. The gold ones were cut from paper covered with Rolo foil, and the orange ones from a Core'Dinations cardstock. The tiny green leaves are from a plastic garland. The leaf trims are from May Arts.

click to enlarge

The FBD digi stamp was colored with Copics, and pieced in three layers. Those acorns are so stinkin' cute! The sentiment piece on the inside is made from Doodle Pantry's Autumn Star digi set.


2 Sisters: Anything Goes
Craftitude #49: Anything Goes/Harvest
Drunken Stampers: Die Cuts
Simply Create Too #47: Fall / Autumn
Sugar Creek Hollow #70: Fall is in the Air

Thank you for visiting,

Anything Goes at Sunshine Mail

It's time for a new Sunshine Mail Foundation Challenge (August 15-31). Our theme is "Anything Goes" and the only real rule is that you send in at least one card (it doesn't have to be the card you enter in the challenge; Donation guidelines here). 

We're having an Anything Goes challenge, featuring images by this year's sponsors. I adored making my card for our previous challenge sponsored by The Paper Shelter, so I used another one of their sweet images, Sunny Day:

I colored the image with Copic markers, starting with the sand and water, which I textured with Copic blender solution & Aida/cross-stitch cloth. I added Glossy Accents to her sunglasses.

I recently won a gift certificate to Tiddly Inks at Top Tip Tuesday (thank you!), so I bought the Beach Babe Clear Stamp Set and I've been eager to ink it up! I used the border & sentiment from that set. The sentiment was stamped with bright orange pigment ink and cut out with an IO die.

The border stamp is roughly 2.5 inches long, so I stamped it in a square directly around the printed digi stamp, using Tuxendo Black Memento ink. I colored it with Copics in purple & orange, so that the starfish & sand dollars are alive!

The shiny blue paper was embossed with the Charles Cuttlebug folder. That piece is matted onto a piece of blue paper that was edged with zig-zag-patterned Washi tape. The patterned paper is cut from a sheet of Dazzling Delights DP from Graphic 45's Bohemian Bazaar collection.

The "seaweed" was cut with a Spellbinders die; I cut two pieces from a blue-green paper, and two pieces from vellum and then colored them with a bright green marker.

Crafting Life's Little Pieces

Simply Create Too #43

Inspiration/Challenges:
A Little Bit Crafty: Summer Sun
Crafting Life's Little Pieces: Sketch #61
Creative Moments #23: Sea/shore
Happy Campers: Summer
Parade Your Crafts: Down by the Sea
Ribbon Carousel Challenge: Summertime Fun
Simply Create Too #43: Photo Inspiration

Thank you for visiting,

All about Friends at Sunshine Mail

Happy August! It's time for a new Sunshine Mail Foundation Challenge (August 1-15). Our theme is "Friendship" and the only real rule is that you send in at least one card (it doesn't have to be the card you enter in the challenge; Donation guidelines here). 

I used Ava and Deacon Friends Swing by our sponsor, Bugaboo Stamps to make a simple shaped card:

I sized the image to roughly standard card size, and then cut it out on different papers to paper-piece it. The base (which I folded in half before cutting around the image) is a light blue paper from Jo-Ann's. The swing is cut from a kraft paper, and the kids (& their feet) are on a heavy Hammermill cardstock and colored with Copics. Their shirts are both scraps of Graphic 45 papers, and their jeans are printed on a jean-patterened paper. Her hair bow and the flower on her shirt are made with a light green paper and colored with Copics. I traced the "friends" sentiment with a Sakura glitter pen.

Inspiration/Challenges:

1. Creative Creations Challenge Blog: Anything Goes
2. Digi Sketch Challenge: Anything Goes
3. Make My Monday: Paper Piecing
4. Squigglefly: Paper Piecing OR Paper Piercing
5. Tammy's Scrappin Corner: Use a Digi
6. There She Goes: Paper Piecing

Update: This was chosen as a Top 3 for Make My Monday's Paper Piecing challenge!

Thank you for visiting, and hope you'll join us at Sunshine Mail!

Princesses at Sunshine Mail

It's time for a new Sunshine Mail Foundation Challenge (July 15 - August 1). Our theme is "Princess" and the only real rule is that you send in at least one card (it doesn't have to be the card you enter in the challenge; Donation guidelines here).

I used Princess Aurora Honey by our sponsor, Sassy Studio Designs:

The image is printed on 100# Hammermill and vellum, and colored with Copics. I placed the dress over the image, so you could see the die cut under it. The "Dream" die cut is by K&Company.

The yellow-and-white, cloudy background was made by inking a Cuttelbug embossing folder bfore running it through my BigShot. The patterned, yellow-green background is a DP from my stash; everything is backed in 2 shades of blue Recollections paper.

The corners are notched with a Marvy punch, and the very reflective gold ribbon is from my stash. The leaf die cut was cut with a Sizzix die.

I raided my embellishment drawer for this one! So many fun little things that I've been saving for the right moment. The heart lock is an eyelet, so I used my Crop-O-Dile to punch a hole & clip on the eyelet. I put the key brad through it. The pearls are self-adhesive, but everything else was adhered with Glossy Accents, so no small bits are falling off.

Did you know that the Sunshine Mail Foundation is July's featured organization for Split Coast Stamper's July Cards for a Cause Drive/Challenge? Hope you'll join in!

Inspiration/Challenges:

1. Ladybug Crafts Ink TLT Challenge: Birthdays
2. Loves Rubber Stamps #60: Use A Hoarded Item (the embellishments have been in my stash for quite some time; the plastic castle & crown have been saved for just such a project!)
3. Paper Shelter Challenge #120: Swirly Girly
4. Stamping Sensations July Challenge: Sketch with summer colors
5. Try It On Tuesday: Metal (heart lock eyelet & key brad)

Thank you for visiting,

Sunshine Mail Foundation Blog Hop Day 5

Welcome to the fifth and final day of the Sunshine Mail Foundation Blog Hop! We're hopping all week (July 8 -12), with great prizes to be won every day.

Our sponsor today is Milk N Coffee Digital Stamps, and the prize is 5 digi images.

To be eligible to win the prizes all you have to do is:

1. Become a follower of our blog
2. Add our Badge to you blog and link back.
3. Make sure you visit and leave comments on the DT members post:
   

   • CG
   • Jessica
   • Michele J.
   • Michele C.

I used Love Call Boy by Milk N Coffee:

The telephone dial sentiment is from TLC Creations' Dial a Saying set. I tinted it in silver & gold in PhotoShop, and colored it with a Copic marker after printing. I added Glossy Accents to the middle to pop the sentiment.

The brick background
is made with a Core'Dinations cardstock and embossed with the brick-wall plate I made out of cardboard, using Creating in Carolina's Faux Brick Embossing Folder Tutorial.

And the inside:

Remember to leave a comment for your chance to win. Your next stop is Jessica. Thank you for hopping with Sunshine Mail! 

Sunshine Mail Foundation Blog Hop Day 4

Welcome to the fourth day of the Sunshine Mail Foundation Blog Hop! We're hopping all week (July 8 -12), with great prizes to be won every day.

Our sponsor today is Digi Darla, and the prize is 5 digi images.

To be eligible to win the prizes all you have to do is:

1. Become a follower of our blog
2. Add our Badge to you blog and link back.
3. Make sure you visit and leave comments on the DT members post:
   

   • Adina
   • Lyn
   • CG
   • Denise
   • Michele C.

   
   

My project for today features Sunbonnet Seamstress 2 by Digi Darla:

I used free digital papers from Cardmaking & Papercraft Magazine.

Remember to leave a comment for your chance to win. Your next stop is Denise. Thank you for hopping with Sunshine Mail!