Speedy's Friends Blog Challenge #14

What an honor it was been being a part of this fine Blog team! Getting to use these wonderful stamp sets and being in the company of some of the finest rubber stamp artists out there, has been the highlight of my three months.  I plan to always make this challenge a part of my week. Vicki.  I thank you for all the work you do in organizing the samples and blog information each week.You are amazing.  

Thank you cards are always nice to have on hand, so I hope you will join us in this challenge this week and link them over to Mark's Finest Papers for your chance to win a prize.

CCEE1030_floral sketch

This stamped image was part of a card I stamped around mother's day that I had messed up the sentiment by stamping it on crocked. So, it's been laying around my recylcing pile for a few months. It finally made it onto a card for this CCEE challenge today. I'm also using up a few old design papers and ribbons to deplete the volume in my stamp room. I loved this sketch and I'm always up for a floral card.

One layer of summer fun

This is a one layer card. I sponged the wave pattern with bermuda bay ink, stamped the images with tuxedo black memento ink and then colored in with some copic markers. I hope it screams "SUMMER" to you. I always love to think of the sea and the beach in the summer. This is for the CAStastic Wednesday
Challenge this week that requires a summer theme. You can join in on the fun for that challenge here.

This is a sneak peek at a new stamp set being released by Mark's Finest Papers in August.

A Sneak Peek from MFP

I have spent a good part of today cleaning my stamproom and my stamp workspace. These design paper scraps were in a pile and I decided to piece them together for this layout and used this new set from Mark's Finest Papers that will be out in August. Don't you just love this little seahorse? I colored it with my copic markers and then I added a little sparkle pen over it.

STVColor challenge #9

Black and ivory were the colors this week with whichever color you wanted to accent them with. I chose gold. I embossed the gold and had fun with the dry embossing on this card as well. After running it through my cuttlebug, I added versamark ink and then dusted gold embossing powder over it and heated it. I loved the way it turned out. The stamps are from Mark's Finest Papers. 

Speedy's Friends' Blog Challenge #13

Claudine's challenge for us this week is to make a masculine card. Those are always a challenge for me, because I use ribbon so much on my cards. This card is a matchbox design, and I thought it needed something at the top so I used ribbon and then shrank it with my hot air gun. I figured a messed up ribbon might be appropriate for a manly card. LOL This is a sneak peek at a new set coming out in August from Mark's Finest Papers. It is perfect for male cards. It is called Regal and Proud. I hope you will join in on the fun and link your card over at Mark's Finest Papers' Blog for a chance to win new stamps.

Belli Challenge #96

This week's challenge is a sketch and use something that moves: a piece that swings over, a shaker card, a waterfall card, a spin card.....anything you dream up. Just be sure to grab up something old from your stash to include on your card. I used a brad on my sentiment to make it swing out. I also used the metal piece ( I really don't know what those are call, but it's been in my hoarded SU metal fastener embellishments box forever.) It helps hold this gatefolded card close. Can't wait to see what you create and make sure you link it over on the Belli Challenge blog here

.The card base is kraft paper from SU, the design papers are from Basic Grey's Max and Whsiker's collection. The stamps are from Verve. The sentiment moves up and down with the brad.

Speedy's Friends' Blog Challenge #12

Back when Vicki asked me to select a  challenge for this date in July, I thought about how hot that time of the year is where I live. So, the warm colors of the color wheel immediately came to mind. So, this week's challenge is to use red, yellow, and orange on your card. You can link it to Mark's Finest Papers and you might be one of our lucky winners for a MFP's set. I can't wait to see what you come up with for this week.

Mark's Finest Papers' Final Day of the July Blog

Mark's Finest Papers' Design Teams are celebrating our NEWEST STAMP RELEASE with a Blog Hop. Our very talented Design Teams have created exciting paper crafts for your inspiration. With the addition of New Design Team members, this is going to be a really fun-packed Hop! Sit back, and hold on to your mouse! This is going to be a FABULOUS ride! Come Hop along with us!

We have 4 New Stamp Sets Released today: Background Fun, Southwest Cowboy, Flourishes & Frame, and Apples & Camellia. For your convenience, all 4 stamp sets are available for purchase TODAY!

For your chance to win BLOG CANDY, (a set that will be released NEXT month), visit and comment on each of the following design team members' blogs on July 13, 14, 15, and 16, 20101, 2010. On Saturday, (July 17, 2010), a winner will be chosen FOR EACH DAY from those participants who visited all the blogs listed for that day. ( There will be four different winners, one winner for each day.)

TO THAT MEANS IF YOU MISSED A DAY, YOU STILL HAVE OTHER CHANCES WIN! And, you can go back and comment, as the winners will be chosen Saturday morning!

July Guest Designer: Melisa Waldorf - http://melisawaldorf.blogspot.com/
Nancyruth - http://nancyruthat.blogspot.com/
Lois - http://clownmomcreations.blogspot.com/
Vicky - http://www.villagestamperramblings.blogspot.com/
Jeanne- http://nannysroom.wordpress.com//
Anne - http://inkinginred.blogspot.com/
Debbie- http://www.debbieseyer.com/
Peggysue- http://rosesbymywindow.blogspot.com/
Faith = http://stampinwithmarkiesmom.blogspot.com/
Vicki - http://allidoisstamp.blogspot.com/
Susan - http://simplicitybylateblossom.blogspot.com/
Judi - http://paper-rose-petals.blogspot.com/
Patty - http://winnieswhimsandmycrafts.blogspot.com/
Karen - http://karenskreativekreations.blogspot.com/
Connie - http://sodakstamping.blogspot.com/
Roxie - http://paperscraper.blogspot.com/
Joanne - http://sleepyinseattlestamps.blogspot.com/
Liz - http://rightbrainmadness.blogspot.com/
Claudine - http://cardsbyclaudine.blogspot.com/
Dawn - http://dawnmercedes.blogspot.com/
Mark's Finest Papers - http://marksfinestpapers.blogspot.com/

The pink cardstock is MFP's strawberry freeze, the design paper is from

Basic Grey. The stamp set is Apples & Camellia from Mark's Finest Papers, I colored it with copic markers.

I added a little heat to the pink organdy ribbon to give it a shriveled look.

Mark's Finest Papers' July Blog Hop

Mark's Finest Papers' Design Teams are celebrating our NEWEST STAMP RELEASE with a Blog Hop. Our very talented Design Teams have created exciting paper crafts for your inspiration. With the addition of New Design Team members, this is going to be a really fun-packed Hop! Sit back, and hold on to your mouse! This is going to be a FABULOUS ride! Come Hop along with us!

We have 4 New Stamp Sets Released today: Background Fun, Southwest Cowboy, Flourishes & Frame, and Apples & Camellia. For your convenience, all 4 stamp sets are available for purchase TODAY!

For your chance to win BLOG CANDY, (a set that will be released NEXT month), visit and comment on each of the following design team members' blogs on July 13, 14, 15, and 16,  2010. On Saturday, (July 17, 2010), a winner will be chosen FOR EACH DAY from those participants who visited all the blogs listed for that day. ( There will be four different winners, one winner for each day.)

SO THAT MEANS IF YOU MISSED A DAY, YOU STILL HAVE OTHER CHANCES WIN! And, you can go back and comment, as the winners will be chosen Saturday morning!

Thursday July 15: Flourishes & Frame

July Guest Designer- Melisa Waldorf- http://melisawaldorf.blogspot.com/
Nancyruth - http://nancyruthat.blogspot.com/
Lois - http://clownmomcreations.blogspot.com/
Vicky- http://www.villagestamperramblings.blogspot.com/
Jeanne - http://nannysroom.wordpress.com/
Anne- http://inkinginred.blogspot.com/
Debbie- http://www.debbieseyer.com/
Peggysue- http://rosesbymywindow.blogspot.com/
Faith - http://stampinwithmarkiesmom.blogspot.com/
Susan- http://simplicitybylateblossom.blogspot.com/
Judi- http://paper-rose-petals.blogspot.com/
Patty- http://winnieswhimsandmycrafts.blogspot.com/
Karen- http://www.karenskreativekreations.blogspot.com/
Connie- http://sodakstamping.blogspot.com/
Roxie- http://paperscaper.blogspot.com/
Vicki- http://allidoisstamp.blogspot.com/
Joanne-http://sleepyinseattlestamps.blogspot.com/
Dawn- http://dawnmercedes.blogspot.com/
Claudine- http://cardsbyclaudine.blogspot.com/
Liz - http://rightbrainmadness.blogspot.com/
Mark’s Finest Papers - http://marksfinestpapers.blogspot.com/

All the papers, ribbons, and even the metal embellishments as well as the stamp set is from

Mark's Finest Papers.

STVSKETCH today

I loved this layout for the sketch challenge over on Stampin' TV. I used Mark's Finest Papers stamps and lime freeze paper (Mark's Finest Papers).The dp is from Basic Grey.  I stamped the pears and sentiment in tuxedo black Memento ink and colored the pears with copic markers. I had fun creating this ribbon treatment, and added some rhinestones as the final touch.

FLLCJUL10

One of my favorite things to eat in the summer is fresh peaches. This cobbler is really easy and quick so I decided to share it on the Flourish challenge.
Their peach stamp is one of my favorites.

MOJO 147

Julee's sketches are always fabulous for the Mojo Monday Challenges. I really lkie this one.

I used the small rose from the Spring Rose set by Mark's Finest Papers' Speedy the cat stamps.

I used my favorite color combo on this and added a little gold to just add a little pazzazz.

Speedy the Cat's Friends' Blog Challenge #11

Cathleen selected the challenge this week. She wanted us to use punches. I LOVE punches so this was a great challenge I thought. My sister, Lynn, taught me this clever little trick of punching with the Martha Stewart punch without putting the wings out. I did it that way for the white panel behind the rose. It is so nice to have a clever sister to give you a new idea to try. I love this Momma's Favorite Purple paper from Mark's Finest Papers. It is the prettiest purple paper I have ever found. I used the Spring rose set for my card this week. It is one of my favorites from Mark's Finest papers. Even the lovely purple ribbon is from Mark's Finest Papers. That Faith, she just has it all. So don't forget to get over there to see all the new things she keeps adding to the store over there at Mark's Finest Papers.

I am so pleased to see this challenge growing to be so popular. Thanks to Faith's generosity with the prizes, it really makes it fun to come join in. I hope you get out your favorite punches, make a pretty card, and if you have a Speedy the Cat stamp set, you know we would love to see how you used it. Please link your card over on Mark's Finest Papers blog site.

Color Dare #72

Finally getting my color dare card for this week loaded here on my blog. Sorry I was late.

The stamps are the roses set from Mark's Finest Papers. I loved the barely banana and blush blossom, and I am going to miss these two colors from Stampin' Up.

Belli Challenge #95

Stamps by Marks' Finest Papers
Used Spellbinders to get my shapes
I had such a busy day Wednesday I forgot to download this.

Stampin' Bee's Challenge #66

The challenge this week for Stampin' Bees is dots. I found this paper for 20 cents yesterday and so I put those polka dots to immediate use. These apples are from the soon to be released Apples and Camellias set from Mark's Finest Papers. I used ladybug red ink which matched this polka dot ribbon from Mark's Finest Papers perfectly.

CTD100

You won't want to miss the excitement today going on over at the Color Throw Down Challenge. They are celebrating 100 with tons of great prizes, one of which is from
 Mark's Finest Papers.

My card is using a set from Mark's Finest Papers called Butterflies and Dianthus. Mark's Finest Papers also handled these wonderful brass charms, one of which I added to this card. They have gorgeous papers, Spellbinders, and lovely embellishments you will want to check out.

Stampin' Sisters in Christ #46

This is a gift card holder. The gold sleeve slides off so you can open the card and find the gift card inside. I thought this would make a welcome home gift for one of our young soldiers returning home to show a little gratitude for what he has done for our country. I thought a gift card to a resturant for he and his family would be a nice way to say welcome home!!! I think 2 Chronicles 7:14 would be a great daily prayer for our country every day.

These stamps are from Mark's Finest Papers. I used versamrk ink and gold embossing powder.

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge

While browsing through the challenges over on Daily Dare, I found this one for the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge. It was to use WATER on your card. Here's a little house mouse stamp that I have never used, and thought it perfect for this challenge. The cardstock is soft sky and bermuda bay from Stampin' Up.

Speedy's Friends' Blog Challenge - die cut

This week I am just being a participant because Faith and the Design Team are handling the challenge to give Speedy's Friends' Challenge Team the 4th of July weekend off. I still couldn't resist a great challenge so here is my card I made with the Apples and Camillia  set soon to be released from Mark's Finest Papers. I know it's too early to think about those "back to school" days, but soon that theme will be filling the  aisles and ads! This set will be perfect for that same theme. The ribbon and charm are also from MFP.

Just add Ink #24

What a great sketch this was for the Just add Ink Challenge this week! I've been exploring the land of challenges lately and have tried to add some new ones to my week. I love challenges because they take some of the thinking out of the designing of the card. It gives you a starting point and helps me feel like a mission to accomplish!! This card is using bermuda bay paper, which is retiring from Stampin' Up. I'm trying to use some things up around in my stamp room. The stamp set used is called Flourishes and Frames from Mark's Finest Papers, which will be released in July. Some of the  many things I love about Speedy's stampsets are they are an affordable price, they are clear and easy to use, and each set has a wonderful collection of great sentiments in various sizes to use with that set. If you haven't tried any stampsets from Mark's Finest Papers, I would encourage you to give one a try.