It is TGIF Challenge time...whoooooooo!!!  You know I love these days!  I hope you do too!  Play along if you haven't before!  It really is fun to have something new to do and some direction as you start to create.  :-)  Check out this week's challenge...

It's a Technique!!!  How fun is this?!  I'm sure you have seen Bokeh somewhere in crafting, home decor, photography, etc.  It actually is a Japanese word that means "blur".  So want to see how I handled this technique?!  There are lots of achieve this look, but I did a SUPER easy & SUPER quick version.  Want to see what I created?! ...


Kinda fun, huh?! 

Let me show you a few quick pictures to show you what I did...

1. Punch some circles from a piece of window sheet to make a template.  (I used the 1 3/4" & 1 1/4" circle here.) 

2.  Pick a piece of Designer Series Paper that you want to use and cut it to size.  (This is the part that makes this version of this technique so easy! And the size is 3 3/4" x 5" for this card.)  Place your circle template on the paper and swirl ink over the punched circle in the template...using Whisper White craft ink...creating a circle onto the paper. (Start with the largest circle.)


3. Repeat this until you have as many large circles as you want.  Then repeat with the smaller circles.  The third size circle on this paper...I just used the actual sponge dauber instead of a punched circle.  Just ink the dauber, place on paper, and twist to add the circle of color...


So fun and easy, right?!  Look how cute it is!  I kinda love it!  Love that you can see the pattern under the paper, and how it adds so much interest.

Then you just set it aside to dry and when it is dry...just add your finishing touches.  I kept it super simple since I wanted the technique to shine...

So what do you think?!  Go try it!  Head to the Challenge Blog to participate!!!!

Thanks so much for visiting!!!  I hope you enjoy this project!  Let me know if you have any questions or want to purchase any supplies!!...

Want to know what my most used stamp set from this new catalog is so far?!  It's the "Crafting Forever" stamp set!  It's SO MUCH FUN to use!  Love the images and the sayings!  Just check out this stamp set...

SO. CUTE, right?!  Love it!!

Here's the latest card I made it...


This is a quick and easy card to make...which are often the best ones!  And have to show you something fun!  You may be asking...what is that scallop from that is under the banner?!


Well this is actually the Decorative Ribbon Border Punch!  Here is how it punches out...


So you get that cute decorative side and then a scallop side as well!  It's a TWO FOR ONE punch!  Gotta love that!

Thanks for visiting!  Hope you enjoy!  Please let me know if you have any questions on anything!

When I was looking through the catalog...I literally ooooohhhhhh'ed when I saw the Striped Treat Bags.  Of course they were on my first order.  And let me just say...they are even more luscious in person.  I'm in love.  Here's the first bag I made...there will be many more to come.  :-)


Aren't these bags gorgeous?!  Love, love, LOVE!! 

Do you receive a fun orange box in the mail each month?  If not...you really should consider signing up for Paper Pumpkin!  It's a fabulous fun filled, already designed/everything included craft kit!!!  And *BONUS* - when you sign up through me...I send you an extra card each month!  I make a card with just the stamp set that comes with the kit for the month.  This is intended to give you another idea for you to do after you have completed your kit!  Fun, right?!  :-)  Well...I thought I would share you the past 2 months cards that I sent out.  I keep these simple so it can appeal to crafters of all levels...

What do you think?  Both totally easy and not using a ton of supplies. 

This first one is from the April kit, and is really similar to the kits projects.  Do a little watercolor coloring with the watercolor pencils that came as a free gift in that kit.  And then stamp your greeting and splatters (from that month's stamp set), and then add the Washi (also from that month's kit....plenty left even after all the projects are made!).  Easy, breezy...

I LOVE watercoloring like this.  SO easy to do.  Seriously, just make a little scribble around where you want it--using just one color or multiple--and then use an Aqua Painter to blend it all together!  (When doing multiple colors... blend two colors at a time, wipe off/squeeze Aqua Painter until it runs clear, and then blend two others so you don't get an ugly muddle.)


So fun, right?!  I love how each time looks a little different--depending on your blending, how much color you add, etc.  Watercoloring is one of my fave looks!  So fun and fresh and "artistic" feeling! 

This next one is so easy, and really...and Designer Paper you love could be the star of the show...


This paper is from the fun "Delightful Daisy" paper that is in the new catalog.  LOVE this paper collection...they are all works of art! 

Add some Tranquil Tide ribbon behind the greeting to make it pop a little...and you have a really simple, but fun card!


Let me know if you have any questions or want to sign up to get these glorious boxes each month!  Thanks so much for visiting!!!!

I mean, serious, HOW CUTE is the Wood Crate Bundle (called Wood Words Bundle) in the new catalog?  So in love!  Check out the project we made with it for club this month...



So much fun!  I wanted to show off all the new In Colors--so they are all used here!  The cards are super simple, but would be so much fun to slip in with any gift you give, or just on their own.  We made envelopes using the Envelope Punch Board and the new Fresh Florals paper...