Super Challenge Saturday & Up Close with Modern Sugar Blvd.

Good Morning everyone! I am so excited about this week's challenge because I have been given permission from the Sugar Momma herself, Candie, to offer you the free digi image Shop Gal for the challenge. Here's the coolest part... if you've already created your entry for the challenge that was posted on Modern Sugar Blvd which ends tomorrow, you may upload your entry to SCS or direct me to your blog and use what you've already created for this challenge, too!

This is a mini image that is the link to the actual image on Modern Sugar Blvd. Please click on the link to download the image. Then create something fun, fresh and sweet with this pretty gal. Use the keyword BLOGC8 on SCS or leave a comment here or on Joni or Gabby's blog so we can see. The prize is 2 Modern Sugar Blvd digi's that I have ready to go to the winner. You have until next Friday night by midnight EST to post your entry. Have fun!!



But before you head off to play with your image, I am so happy to get to introduce to you to Candie. She was so sweet to agree to an interview. Joni did an interview of Marie with TGF and I thought that was such a fabulous idea. It made Marie so much more personal to me. I wanted to give you that same feeling, get to know Candie and how wonderful she is!

Thank you Candie for joining me here today on my blog!

How long have you been papercrafting?

I have only been papercrafting for the past couple of years. So I still have a lot to learn! But that's what makes it so fun as I enjoy learning things from others and that's why I'm also so excited to have such a big DT. As all the Sugars are sweet and everyone single Sugar has a different talent...

What inspired you to begin Modern Sugar Blvd?

Well we wanted to make MSB not your average stamp and scrap shop. Lots of different unique things that you won't find everywhere else!! Something different, fresh, new and fun!!

Tell us a little about you.

I'm just your average everyday girl! I'm a pretty simple person. Ok... Enough about me... Let's talk about the "Sugars".. As they are the ones who really holds the blvd. together!! Without Ami, Anita, Brandi, Cassie, Crystal, Diana, Georgia, Jana, Jodi, Joni, Lindsay, Mandy, Mary, Melissa, Michele, Rachel, Sharon, Sue, Tenia, Valerie & Wendy MSB would not exist!!And our artists!! Every single line that we offer the artist has their own story for that line that has touched my heart in some way!

Where do you hope to take Modern Sugar Blvd? What can we expect to see in the future.

Well so many stamp & scrap companies start out small and go large and go large fast. Our goal is not to go to the extreme as I feel sometimes when you go that route you lose the closeness that the small company offers!! And to me it's about creating memories for you and for the person that you're giving your creation to. Because every card or creation really does have a story to tell. And a handmade card truly is priceless as it comes from your heart! Our #1 goal is to provide you all with unique products to help you create that moment!

We will also offer other unique gift items for you and for you to gift to someone else. Things that tell a story or touch my life in a way that I want to be able to provide that option for you all too!! Yes, I know this is not the normal scrap and stamp thing to do.. But we're going to be doing it!!

And we will also be offering our own private line of products!! <--- We can't wait to roll these out in the next couple of months! We hope you will think they are as sweet as we do!!

Overall we really want MSB to be a place you can come, hang out, get some really sweet ideas that will make you create happy!! So if you have a smile on your face after you leave the blog or the store.. Then we have done our job!!

From One Sugar To Another Sugar... Create and Be Happy!

My Sample for Super Saturday Challenge

I hadn't posted this because I wanted the challenge and the interview to stay on top. Hopefully what I think I can do works. Otherwise, please page down to see the interview.


I cased the card layout from one of Tami Mayberry's cards that she showcased in a recent blog post. It was so easy, so simple and still very cute. It is a true 42 cent postage stamp card! No ribbon, no bling, just clean and simple. MSB's Shop Gal gives it all the class it needs.

The base is whisper white. Then I cut some scraps to 1 1/4 x 3 of Mellow Moss and Almost Amethyst and ran through the Cuttlebug with different folders. Then distressed the edges a bit. I colored Shop Gal with Primsacolor Markers (Violet Mist, Eggshell, Limepeel, Driftwood and Light Mocha. Hair color is Copics Raw Silk). I then matted her to black so that she stands out.

Be sure to visit Joni and Gabby's blogs for their creations. And please leave Gabby a little prayer for her Mom.

When you upload to SCS use keywords BLOGC8 and leave a comment so we can ooooh and awww!

Happy Easter!

Good Morning! Happy Easter weekend. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and that's full of sunshine and family.

Welcome to another edition of Super Challenge Saturday! Joni is hosting this round and she's picked a super sketch that is by none other the super talented Maria Bell. This sketch was so much fun to play with! I hope you like it, too, and join our challenge.


Here is my card that I made with this sketch. All the materials, including the super cute Magnolia stamped image came in a kit swap that I participated in that Jessica hosted. That was a lot of fun, too! I figured I better start using some of these awesome kits!

Unfortunately, because I used a kit I have no idea where anything is from except the stamp. But it was fun to play with anyway. I am so glad the requirements were to include two images because the first one I colored I used my beloved Prismacolor Markers and wasn't quite pleased with the results. I wanted a much more softer look to this bunny, so I used my Kohi-noor pencils and gamsol instead. I am much happier with the results.


Oh my goodness, I forgot!!! I forgot to glitter her wings. All angels and fairies must have some sparkle to their wings!! I couldn't wait to try out my new camera. Yes, it arrived today!!! Whoo-hoo!! I still think my pictures will come out much better if I have more lighting or wait to take pictures in the real daylight! I'm working on some other things that I have to photograph, so I'll definitely try that theory out.

I hope you join us for the challenge. Head on over to Joni and Gabby's blogs to see what fabulous projects they have made. Leave 'em some love, too. When you post on SCS please use keywords BLOGC7.

Thanks for visiting me today.

Let's go fly a kite, up to the highest heights...

Good Morning! Welcome to another addition of Super Challenge Saturday! This weeks it's Gabby's turn to host and she's got an awesome sketch for you to play with! I altered her sketch a little, only because I couldn't figure out how to get the last element in on my card.

Here's the great sketch that Gabby designed for us:



Great, don't you think!

Here's my card:

I flipped mine a little and as you can see I am missing the circle element of her sketch. This image I found via a post on Splitcoast that this awesome guy has 3 free digi-images. Well, you know this has been my latest obsession so I had to go check it out. ISN'T HE CUTE!!?? OK, so who's this awesome guy. His name is Dustin Pike. Please go check out his blog. I think we are going to be seeing some great things from him!

I colored this adorable dragon with Prismacolor Markers (Parrot Green, Lime Peel, Canary Yellow and Pink) and then had to cut him out otherwise he was too big for the card. For the kite, I printed it again, cut it separately and mounted to black card stock. The dragon is pop dotted. I had to scan my card so the dimension is sort of distorted. The sentiment I took a line from the song from Mary Poppins Let's Go Fly A Kite. So now I'll be singing this song for days. Oh, by the way, it's completely lost on the scan - but I did sponge clouds to create the background.

I hope you enjoy the card. Hop on over to Gabby's blog and Joni's blog, I'm sure they've got something totally, amazingingly wonderful for you to see!!

Super Saturday Challenge Winner!

Congratulations Anita for winning another challenge!!


This is so lovely! Kristen is a Paper Makeup Stamps fairy and Anita incorporated a color challenge for Perfect Plum (love it!), Gable Green and Old Olive. This is such a wonderful color combo.

Congratulations Anita!!

Super Challenge Saturday

Good Morning!

Happy Saturday Challenge day! I am so excited to be hosting this round because I have lots of NEW to share with you.


Here's my card. Are they not the cutest fairies ever! Oh my goodness, these little girls are so sweet. They came from Renae at Two Scoops of Rice. What a wonderful blog this is. Joni - The Queen of Enabling found this blog and well, I was hooked. I pre-ordered the set Garden Fairies and as a gift she sent me this free digi. If you head on over there, tell her Melissa and Joni sent you.

Here's the challenge. I found this sketch while playing on the computer one day. This is from Sketch Lovers and I believe this is a fairly new site, she's only got a few sketches, but they're fun and sometimes having that little bit of inspiration is all we need to get the creative juices flowing. I'm sorry the picture came out sort of small, it's how it saved.

Back to the details of my card and all the new stuff! First of all, the image. I already told you about that. The background paper was one of the GinaK release party freebies. I'm pretty sure you can still download them for free and that is totally cool! This is from the Rich and Shabby collection and it is fabulous! I am loving this whole idea of digi-paper. You get to make as much as you want, you don't have to worry about Michaels not being open at 11:00 pm when you ran out of the paper you were using! And it's GORGEOUS!

I colored these little girls with my new Prismacolor Markers. Be sure to visit Gabby's blog, she's got two awesome tutorials on there for how to color with these fabulous markers. They do take a bit of practice, but they are really cool!

Lastly, the ribbon slide... is that neat or what! It's a stamp! My friend Jessica sent this to me as part of a prize for doing so well with my card kits I sent for her swap. These are from DRS Designs and they have lots of these stamps that create these slides and they are so much fun.

OK do I sound like an info-mercial now.

The Challenge Details:
1. Go create your card using the above sketch for inspiration.
2. Upload to your SCS Gallery using the keywords BLOGC5.
3. Comment here or on Gabby and Joni's blog that you participated so we can oooh and ahhh right away.
4. Please upload by Friday night, I'll announce the winner on Saturday.
5. If you don't have a SCS gallery, that's OK. Comment here and leave me a link where to find it.

Have fun! OK off to get ready for the last basketball game.

Emotional Baggage - No this is fun!!

It's Saturday - happy weekend to you! And welcome to the 4th installment of Super Challenge Saturday. First of all, Joni - our hostess for this weeks challenge, has some great samples on her blog so be sure to check out her blog and leave her some love!

So this week's challenge is Emotional Baggage. Ladies, we all get attached to our purses. I have a friend who is obsessed with her purses much like some of us are with shoes. So the challenge is to let a purse/bag/luggage inspire you. Upload your creation on SCS using keywords BLOGC4 and be sure to leave a comment on any of the blogs so we can check it out! Have fun!!

A Sticky Situation
Confessions of a Stamper

Here's my challenge card. My inspiration is my purse that my sister gave me. Here's how the story goes, T came out here for a visit over the summer and she had the most awesome purse with her. I told her I wanted it. So after a couple of days, she said that if I bought her one like the one I had then I could have it. Off to Kohls we went! It's a Sherpani and you just can't get them out here. Let me know what you think.


I used Chocolate Chip for the base. Then to re-create the lining of this purse I pulled out an old punch and started punching the edges. Then I backed it with some green paper and then stamped the flower centers and outlined the flowers. The mats are Tempting Turquoise and Chocolate Chip and then picked the stamp that best represented how I felt when my sister said she'd give me the purse.

Have fun with this - I can't wait to see what you come up with!

Super Challenge Saturday

It's that time again and Gabby came up with a fabulous idea! I love this.




Here's how you play:

1. Go to Gabby's blog to get the template for the heart. Follow her instructions on how to save and print it.
2. Make your card
3. Photograph and upload to your Splitcoast Gallery using the keywords BLOGC3. If you do not have a SCS gallery, you may upload to whatever online gallery you use or your blog. Be sure to post a comment on Gabby's blog with a link to your card.
4. I hear Gabby has a fabulous prize for the winning submission.

The details about my card:

I used Pink Pirouette for my base. This is just the best pink ever! I'm going to have to stock up before it retires. Next I used GinaK's Pure Luxury 80lb cardstock and embossed with a Cuttlebug folder that I can't remember what it's called. Then I printed the template directly onto Tempting Turquoise dp and cut it out. I really like double-sided paper, with this template I don't feel like I'm wasting any sides. Then I filled my heart with pretty primas. Finished it with a sentiment from a $1 set that my sister gave me.

Be sure to visit Gabby's and Joni's blogs and galleries, too. Leave them some love.

I hope you enjoy this challenge and I can't wait to see what you make!

and the Winner is....

CONGRATULATIONS! Anita Hovey is the winner of my Super Challenge Saturday Cuttlebug Challenge!! Whoo-hoo!! Isn't it just lovely!! I want that border punch. And count 'em girls, 4... F-O-U-R Cuttlebug folders were used and it's just wonderful.

Please PM via SCS your address so I can get your prize in the mail.

Super Saturday Challenge!

Good Morning Challenge Fans!

After the great fun we had with Joni's challenge, it's my turn!! This weeks challenge is a Cuttlebug challenge. I love love love my Cuttlebug. No one, especially the hubby, can say I don't get my money's worth out of my investment. I reach for it EVERY time I make a card. So my challenge to you is - make a card using a minimum of 3 Cuttlebug embossing folders without making it look over-embossed.

This is Alice Anya from The Greeting Farm, Gabby sent me some images and I think she is simply adorable!! She is so sweet and was great fun to color! I used Copics for her hair color (Raw Silk and Burnt Umber), Bashful Blue SU! marker for her dress, Copic for her skin color (Skin White) and then used Kohi-noor pencils for shading.

Cuttlebug folders used: Paisley for the background, Swiss Dots for the mat and Textile for the sentiment. The sentiment is from Papertrey Ink, Mini-Messages.

Please post your challenge entry to your SCS gallery using the keywords (for search purposes) BLOGC2. I look forward to seeing you what you create. I have a great prize ready for the winner!!

Don't forget to check out Gabby's blog and Joni's blog for their wonderful cards, too!!

Happy Saturday and go Live Your Bliss!!

Super Challenge Saturday is here!!

Good Morning! It's a chilly, but sunshiny Saturday and it's challenge day!

Hop on over to Joni's blog A Sticky Situation for all the details. It's going to be tons of fun and there is a prize!!


The challenge is cartoon character color inspired cards. I chose Cinderella: blue, pink, a touch of black and the glitz. I think this card came out great! It's also my first Anya card. I hope you likey...

I used Whisper White for the base, bashful blue, pink pirouette and glitter cardstock. The Greeting Farm's Dress Me set Anya. Then with some pink polka dot ribbon to the side and I discovered I really love stamping sentiments directly on ribbon. This technique works better on non-textured ribbons, but I love it anyway. And of course, no Melissa card is complete unless it has ribbon AND something Cuttlebugged on it. I used a combination of Copics and Kohi-noor pencils to color her.

This is a close-up (I love my hubby's camera) of the sentiment. It's a TAC stamp that I received as a gift. It has 3 stamps - "Dream" "Wish" and "Inspire" -- but no name of the set. It's perfect though. Then I topped it with primas and bling. Not bad for first thing this morning with no coffee.


I hope you enjoy my card and that you participate in the challenge. I look forward to seeing your art.