Pilin' On the Seasonal Kiddos

Our new theme at Pile It On is Boys of Summer/Winter; and since it's the 3rd Sunday of the month, we have an optional bonus theme: Girls of Summer/Winter. You may enter the challenge as many times you like, as long as you are inspired by at least one other Challenge theme. We're sponsored by Crafty Sentiments Designs, and I used their adorable "Let's See" digi stamp.

The ladybug paper is from Graphic 45. The yellow paper is a handmade paper with a lot of texture, and I embossed it with a Taylored Expressions folders. The cloud dies are from Latin Crafter, and the sentiments are from Echo Park's Alice in Wonderland set, and I stamped them with distress inks. I made the ladybugs with a tiny circle die. The daisies are from a lace ribbon. I had lots of fun making this!

Inspiration/Challenges:
AAA Birthday: (1st Mon, Birthday cards only) For the Girls (Birthday sentiment on the inside)
Joy of Sets Tic Tac Toe Challenge: (1st Sat) Tic Tac Toe (ribbon/twine + die cuts + emboss)
Sweet Sketch Wednesday: (Wed 2W) Sketch #162

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Pilin' On the Seasonal Fun

Our new theme at Pile It On is Boys of Summer/Winter. You may enter the challenge as many times you like, as long as you are inspired by at least one other Challenge theme. We're sponsored by Crafty Sentiments Designs.

Inspiration/Challenges:
Crafty Cardmakers: (Mon 2W) #237 Dies or Punches (sentiment, curve & cloud dies)
Crafty Friends Challenge: (Sat 2W) #113 Things Beginning with "B"  (Boats, Boy, Border)
Feeling Sketchy: (P1/15) Sketch
The Male Room: (Wed 2W, male projects only) Multiple Layers
My Time to Craft: (Fri 2W) #400 Seaside
Simply Create Too: (M) #15 Anything Goes + Twist: Use Pattern Paper

Update: This was a Top Pick for Feeling Sketchy #220!

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Pilin' On the Holiday/Vacation

The themes this month at Pile It On are Transportation and/or Holiday/Vacation. You can choose one or both themes, and you may enter the challenge as many times you like, as long as you are inspired by at least one other Challenge theme. We're sponsored by Dr. Digi's House of Stamps, and I used his fun scene with Lifeguard Lyn.

The sentiment was inspired by the sign at some swimming pools: WARNING No Lifeguard on Duty. My sign reads: WARNING Nervous Parent on Duty.

The blue panel is a piece of a blue towel; my Father-in-Law has gifted us many of these over the years, and thought it would be perfect tp include on a Father's Day card for him. He's always been amazingly supportive of my crafting & I know he'll get a huge kick out of this.

The palm tree shaker is from Queen & Co. and I filled it with stars & a gorgeous sequin mix from Spiegelmom Scraps that I recently won from Stick It Down. The Father's Day sentiment is from a Dilo en Español stamp set. The banners are cut from rubber strips.

Inspiration/Challenges:
Cardz 4 Guyz: #221 - Father's Day
Challenge Up Your Life: #112 - Tic Tac Toe (blue, stamp, palm tree)
Crafty Sentiment Designs: Water
Double Trouble Challenge: Holiday/Vacation + Embossing OR Add a Sign
Moving along with the Times: #99 Sketch

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Pilin' On the Transportation

Our new theme at Pile It On is Transportation. You may enter the challenge as many times you like, as long as you are inspired by at least one other Challenge theme. We're sponsored by Dr. Digi's House of Stamps.

Inspiration/Challenges:
Alphabet Challenge: (Fri, 2W) E for Embossing (on globe)
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper: (M, P1) Anything Goes with Patterned Paper
Cuttlebug Mania: (Tues, 2W) Use Orange (I was very inspired to make orange my main accent color!)
Happy Little Stampers: (M, P9) Anything Goes with Dies
Make My Monday #97: (Mon, 2W) Interactive/Kinetic
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: (Wed) Anything goes
Southern Girls: (Thurs, 2W) Tape It, Lace It or Tie It

Update: This was chosen as a favorite at Southern Girls!

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Pilin' On the Boozy Snacks

The themes this month at Pile It On are Beverage and/or Food. You can choose one or both themes, and you may enter the challenge as many times you like, as long as you are inspired by at least one other Challenge theme. We're sponsored by Bugaboo Stamps, and I used their Frame It - Red Wine digi stamp to make this shaker card.

I used two of my favorite food related papers to make the background. I added some pretty washi tape to the bottom, along with a scrap of gold ribbon and a swizzle stick from Southwest Airlines. For the shaker, I printed the Bugaboo image on regular cardstock and colored it with Copic markers. For the background, I used rubbing alcohol and a towel to create texture after coloring it with a Copic marker. I printed the sentiment from TLC Creations onto a transparency. I filled the shaker with microbeads and glass beads and tiny fruits from Queen and Company. I used black fun foam to pop the frame. The base card and frame are a double-sided paper. The tiny glasses in the top left corner are from a Memory Box die set.

Inspiration/Challenges:

1. Crafter's Cafe #219: (P1/15) Shaker Card or Tag
2. Stinkin' Inkers: (1st Tues) All Tied Up/Use Ribbon, Twine, Fiber (piece of leaf ribbon)
3. Pile It On: (1st Sun) Beverage and/or Food
4. Three Amigos Blog Hop Challenge #26: (1st Fri) Food/Drink
5. Tuesday Throwdown #431: Frame It

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Pilin' On the Hot Beverages

Our new theme at Pile It On is Beverage. You may enter the challenge as many times you like, as long as you are inspired by at least one other Challenge theme. We're sponsored by Bugaboo Stamps.

My Mom gave me this "Special Tea" Heartfelt Creations rubber stamp set forever ago, as in years, and this is my first time inking it up! 

On the inside, I used the pop-up mechanism from the Cup Pop Stand die set from Karen Burniston/Elizabeth Craft Designs, but used a die/stamp set from Heartfelt Creations for the pop-up piece (more recent acquisition, but not by much, and I use this all the time.) The mother's day sentiment is a rubber stamp from Fiskars. For the pop-up piece, I used a a quilted paper piece I made eons ago that was just waiting for a good home!

Inspiration/Challenges:
Cheerful Sketches Challenge Blog: (P1) May Sketch
Coffee Loving Cardmakers: Spring/Summer + Coffee/Tea/Cocoa
Mod Squad Challenge: (Wed) Happy Mother's Day
A Place To Start: (1st Mon) ATG Goes or Use 3 of Five given items (Tag, Vellum, Die)

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Pilin' On the Scraps

The themes this month at Pile It On are Lots of Layers and/or Use Your Scraps. You can choose one or both themes, and you may enter the challenge as many times you like, as long as you are inspired by at least one other Challenge theme. We're sponsored by Angie's Digital Stamps, and I used her At the Beach digi stamp. I only used scraps from my offcut box to make this shaker card.

The mason jar & umbrella dies are from Elizabeth Craft Designs; I bought it from Elizabeth herself at the Stamp & Scrapbook Expo in Mesa, Arizona, last September, with the intention of using it to make a shaker card. So glad I finally got around to it! I filled the shaker with blue microbeads, green & blue star sequins, and glass beads. I heat-embossed the sentiment (Lili of the Valley) in blue onto the towel part of the image. I had inked the gradient blue background a long time ago, and it ended up in my stash, just waiting for the perfect project!

Inspiration/Challenges:
Archiscraps: (P1) Squeeze (The digi stamp is "squeezed" into the mason jar!)
Die Cut Divas: (P1, die cuts) Water
Sognando Scrap Challenge #66: (P1) Green & Blue
Stick it Down (P1) Card Sketch

Update: This was the 2nd Place Winner for Sognando Scrap Challenge #66! Looking forward to being their Guest Designer!

Update: I was the lucky prize winner at Stick it Down!

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Pilin' On the Layers

Our new theme at Pile It On is Lots of Layers. You may enter the challenge as many times you like, as long as you are inspired by at least one other Challenge theme. We're sponsored by Angie's Digital Stamps. I used die cuts to make this fun card.

I cut the edges with a grass die from Elizabeth Crafts. The eggs were cut with oval dies. The llama is from a Recollections die/embossing set. I used a white-coated pink paper & sanded it to added contrast. I hand-cut the bunny ears & rounded its tail. I know it's silly, but it makes me laugh! I made the sentiments myself. The googly-eyed animals are stickers from my stash.

Inspiration/Challenges:
A2Z Scrapbooking Linky Party: (P1) Fun Fold
Animal Friends Challenge #73: (P1, must have an animal) Lambs / Sheep
Dies R Us Challenge #118: (P1/15) Anything Goes using dies that the store carries (Elizabeth Craft Designs)
Make My Monday #93: (Mon 2W) Something Humorous (my Llambit is relatively humorous!)
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: (Wed) Animal Antics
Tinker- Dream #75: (P15) Spring / Easter

Update: This was chosen as a Top 3 for April's A2Z Scrapbooking Linky Party!
 

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Pilin' On the Rainbows

The themes this month at Pile It On are Your Favorite Color and/or Rainbows. You can choose one or both themes, and you may enter the challenge as many times you like, as long as you are inspired by at least one other Challenge theme. We're sponsored by The Paper Shelter, and I used their Glittery And Sparkling set.

The rainbow stamp is from Scrapper's Paradise, and the cloud-shaped shaker is from Jillibean Soup.

For the inside, I used a background image that comes with the Glittery And Sparkling set.

Inspiration/Challenges:
A2Z Scrapbooking Linky Party: (P1) Colour it In
Cheerful Sketches Challenge Blog: (P1) Sketch
Crafter's Castle: (1st Sat) Anything Goes + option of Glitter
The Fairy and The Unicorn: (1st Sat) Anything Mythical & Mystical
Jo's Scrap Shack #273: (Fri) Anything Goes
Paper Shelter Challenge #374: (Wed) Digital Image
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: (Mon) Feminine/Girly

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Pilin' On your Favorite Color

Our new theme at Pile It On is Your Favorite Color. You may enter the challenge as many times you like, as long as you are inspired by at least one other Challenge theme. We're sponsored by The Paper Shelter. Every color has a special place in my heart, but Purple has definitely been a favorite in my life: We were married in a purple building & my husband wore a purple suit! Plus it's the official color of our local U.S. Football team, the Baltimore Ravens, so it's a common color to show off!

I made an origami dress to go along with this sweet image from Lili of the Valley. The tutorial makes a larger dress, but I was able to make this from a 2x2-inch piece of cardstock that I had previously decorated.

Inspiration/Challenges:
Creative Sketchy Girls #33: (P20) Use Ribbon or Lace
Inkspirational Challenge #181: (Sat 2W) Use Your Stash
Scribbles Designs Challenge #74: (P15) 3 or more Layers
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Anything goes
Shopping Our Stash #390: (Tue 2W) Fabulous February (Stone: Amethyst, Flower: Violet or Primrose)
Southern Girls: (Thurs 2W) Girl Power
Sweet Sketch Wednesday #154: (Wed 2W) Sketch

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Pilin' On the Blues

The themes this month at Pile It On are Pretty in Pink and/or Feelin' Blue. You can choose one or both themes, and you may enter the challenge as many times you like, as long as you are inspired by at least one other Challenge theme. We're sponsored by All Dressed Up, and I went all-blue since earlier this month I went all-pink!

I made a shirt-and-tie card. Instead of a silk tie, I made a bolo tie.

The base is a jean-patterned paper I've had for ages. I created the sentiment for the pocket on my computer using the Home Sweet Home font, added a blue background, and printed it on silver paper. I used a layer of blue cardstock underneath the pocket & front seam. I did the stitching with a Sakura white gel pen. I cut the buttons with a Stampin' Up! die from ivory paper to simulate bone. I capped the black-and-gold rope with aluminum foil. I made the "turquoise" with a mix of three Stampendous powders: Periwinkle, Glacier, and Copper Enamel. I die-cut it with an oval die, and cut another oval and covered it with silver embossing powder. I'm pleased with the result!

Inspiration/Challenges:
Crafter's Cafe #213: (P1/15) Fancy Folds or Embossing

Everybody-Art-Challenge: (Tue 2W) Jeans (fabric or paper)
Happy Little Stampers Dies Challenge: (P9) Always Anything Goes with Dies 
My Time to Craft #390: (2W) Men Only
TIME OUT Challenge #129: (2W) Retro

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Pilin' On the Pink

Our new theme at Pile It On is Pretty in Pink. You may enter the challenge as many times you like, as long as you are inspired by at least one other Challenge theme. We're sponsored by All Dressed Up, and I used their Happiness digi stamp.

I've wanted to make a bra card for quite a while, and I especially wanted to use a stamp like a tattoo. I used a template by Kasia.

This image worked perfectly as a tattoo! I colorized it to dark pink, printed it on a mottled pink French cardstock along with the card shape, and colored it with Copic markers. The cardstock is from my stash; I bought it in India 14 years ago! The clothing was made with red paper doilies that I heat-embossed pink. I also heat-embossed the heart-shaped brads, but in hot pink. The rose lace is from my stash; I forgot I had it, and it worked so perfectly for this project!

Inspiration/Challenges:
All Dressed Up: (M, P15) Anything Goes with All Dressed Up image (Happiness)
Crafter's Castle: (M Sat) Anything Goes with option: Fun Techniques
Creations in Pink: (P15) #6 Anything Goes in Mainly Pink
Dream Valley Challenge #194: (2W Mon) Doily & Brad
Sisterhood of the Snarky Stampers #127: (2W Sat) V is for Valentine
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge: (W) Anything Goes

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Horses of the Sea -- Pilin' on ALL the Animals

The themes this month at Pile It On are Land Animals and/or Sea/Water Animals. You can choose one or both themes, and you may enter the challenge as many times you like, as long as you are inspired by at least one other Challenge theme. We're sponsored by A Day for Daisies, and I used the lovely Seahorse.

I used the font GoodDog for the Rumi quote: "You are not a drop in the ocean. You are the entire ocean in a drop."The frame is a die/embossing set from Cuttlebug. I filled it with blue glitter, confetti stars, and glass beads. I also used some real fishing net. I decorated the inside too.

Inspiration/Challenges:
Cuttlebug Mania: (Tue) New + dies [shaped confetti in shaker]
Do-Al(l) Kreatives #25: (P1) Think Twice [two seahorses]

Make My Monday (Mon) #87 Use Words/Sentiment [Rumi quote]
Paper Shelter Challenge: (Wed) Use Digital Image
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: (Mon) Recycle [frame is made from scrap cardboard; die-cut seahorse is made from a soda can]
Try Stamping on Tuesday: (Tue) Mix It Up Challenge [Sketch]

Update: This was chosen as a Top 3 for TSOT #391!

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Pilin' on the Soulful Animals

Happy New Year! Our first challenge of the year at International Art & Soul is Cats & Dogs, and the theme this month at Pile It On is Land Animals. I'm busy these days with the best Christmas gift ever, but my MIL was visiting and I got a bit of time to go through my stash and make a project.

The background is made from one piece of plaid-patterned paper. I used Spellbinders circle dies to cut the rainbow, inked the pieces separately, and inlaid it. The fence (Memory Box die) is the only piece I didn't ink.

The sentiment image is a clear stamp that I heat-embossed in white on black paper. The pawprint paper is a scrap from my off-cut stash.

The squirrel and bird were cut with a Cuttlebug die from glittery white foam. I added glitter embossing powder to the chipboard plaid cat.

I decorated the inside with more plaid patterned paper & another Spellbinders die.

Inspiration/Challenges:
2 Crafty Critter Crazies #20: (P1) Anything Goes with a Critter
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper: (P1) Anything Goes with Patterned Paper
International Art & Soul: Cats & Dogs
Pile It On: Land Animals
Scrapy Land Challenges: Anything Goes with Die Brand SL sells (Spellbinders)

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Pilin' On the Shaped Cards and/or Add a Charm

The themes this month at Pile It On are Shaped Cards and/or Add a Charm. You can choose one or both themes, and you may enter the challenge as many times you like, as long as you are inspired by at least one other Challenge theme. We're sponsored by Crafty Sentiments Designs. I used their Mr & Mrs Snow digi stamp and with a metal window charm to create this shaped card.

I used the "Gingerbread House" Fold-a-long die set from Jen Long/Sizzix, my favorite new die! I've had the "Happy Holidays from our House to Yours" sentiment stamp for years & it's one of my favorites. I backed the window charm with vellum & a gingerbread man that I fussy-cut from patterned paper. I colored the image with Copic markers & added some mica "snow."

Inspiration/Challenges:
A2Z Scrapbooking Linky Party: (P1) Winter Wonderland
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper: (P1) Anything Goes with Patterned Paper
Dies R Us Challenge: (P1/15) Christmas + Metal Die 
Dragonfly Journeys #130: (P1) Handmade Holiday Magic
Happy Little Stampers: (P5) Anything Christmas Goes + optional twist Snow
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge: (Wed) Christmas

Thank you for visiting & inspiring my crafting! Hope you'll join us at Pile It On,