Too Sweet

Hi, everyone! I have been busy digging out of the HUGE blizzard we had yesterday. We had about 15 inches of snow with tons of drifting...opened the garage door this morning only to come face to face with a giant drift, & we've had to dig out the back deck several times so the dog could go out. We also briefly lost power a couple of times & had no cable or Internet this morning. We've had no school the past two days, & we're all wondering if they'll be school tomorrow...there's still many roads to be plowed, plus we're expecting -20's wind chills in the morning!

After all that shoveling, I'm exhausted, but I wanted to sit down & make a quick card for this week's Etsy Inspired challenge. The featured shop is called Too Cute Kawaii, & I chose these sweet doughnuts as my inspiration.

Here's what I came up with. I paper pieced the frosting on my little doughnut, then added the googly eyes to his face. My layout is based on cardabilities sketch #24.

Hope you like it!

Stamps: Sweet Kawaii (My Cute Stamps), Feelin' Fruity? (My Favorite Things)

Paper: Spring Rain, Pure Poppy, PTI kraft, SU pp

Ink: Adirondack Espresso

Accessories: Nestabilities Labels 4, PTI ribbon & blue button, green button (stash), googly eyes, dimensionals

EBTKS Challenge 28

Hi, everyone! It's time for another Everything But the Kitchen Sink challenge! It is with mixed emotions that we announce this will be the final EBTKS challenge. We have enjoyed all of the challenges & your creativity in completing them, and we want to say a huge THANK YOU to everyone who has participated in this venture over the past year. However, the entire EBTKS team has gotten busier, so the time is right for us to move on.

Now, before you get too sad, let's talk about our final challenge. I am the hostess this time, & I was inspired by this velvet pillow & fleece blanket on my couch...so our focus this time is on TEXTURES! Think felt, flocking, ribbons/fibers, even dry embossing.

Our wonderful sponsor this time around is Limelight Papercrafts!

If you haven't heard, Limelight is also closing its doors, so you will want to hurry over to get some AMAZING deals on stamps, rhinestones, paper, and more!

Our winner for this challenge will receive this prize pack from Webster's Pages, which includes a vellum & die cut kit along with the Whimsy Heart Perfect Pack.

Now on to my project. I absolutely LOVE felt, especially for wintry projects...there's just something so warm and inviting about felt that fits the season perfectly.

SO, I chose to make a little treat bag using some new goodies from Papertrey Ink. The mug and scalloped layer are both made from yummy Hawaiian Shores felt.

And you're probably wondering what's inside, right?
Take a peek...

Nothing mind-blowing, but I thought'd make a sweet little thank you for my sister-in-law, who was our Thanksgiving hostess this year.

So, ready to play along? Just link up your finished creation on the EBTKS blog. You have until midnight CST on Thurs., Dec. 9 to be eligible for the prize.

I can't wait to see what you create!

Stamps: Warm Happiness Too (PTI)
Paper: PTI white, PTI pp
Ink: Real Red
Accessories: gift bag, Nestabilities circles & scalloped circles, PTI Warm Happiness die, PTI ribbon & felt

EBTKS Challenge 27

Hi, everyone! It's time for another Everything But the Kitchen Sink challenge!


Our sponsor is our very own Courtney's Practicing Creativity Designs! Our winner will receive the Rejoice stamp set...perfect for your Christmas cards this year!


Since it's the 15th of the month, that means we're doing a sketch challenge.

Winter is our hostess, and she was inspired by this mosaic from her home.









Here's the mosaic translated into a sketch...









And here's my take on it.

So, ready to play along with us? Just link up your interpretation of the sketch to the EBTKS blog. All entries must be received by midnight CST on Wed., Nov. 24 to be eligible for the prize.

I can't wait to see what you create with this fun sketch!

Stamps: Peace, Joy, Love by Ali Edwards (Technique Tuesday)
Paper: Real Red, PTI white, American Crafts pp
Ink: Real Red
Accessories: paper piercer, Martha Stewart snowflake punch, Kaisercraft pearls

EBTKS Challenge 26

Hi, everyone! Welcome to Everything But the Kitchen Sink Challenge 26!

Our hostess AND sponsor this time around is our very own Kelly Marie, owner of Lawn Fawn stamps!

She chose this photo from her home and used the colors as the inspiration for this challenge.






Our winner will receive some Lawn Fawn stamps! Now shouldn't that winner be YOU?






I personally love this color combination, so whipping up a card was a snap. I'm still working on those birthday cards my school's Parents Club requested for ALL the staff...I need all the b-day cards I can get!

So, wanna play along with us? Just link up your finished creation to the EBTKS blog. You have until midnight CST on Nov. 8 to be eligible for the Lawn Fawn prize.

Stamps: Garden of Life, Birthday Basics (PTI)
Paper: Basic Gray, PTI white, Bazzill Swiss Dots
Ink: Basic Gray
Accessories: PTI ribbon, Kaisercraft rhinestones

Everything But the Kitchen Sink Challenge 27

Hello! It's time once again for an EBTKS sketch challenge! Hope you're ready to be inspired!

Before we get to the sketch, I want to mention our fabulous sponsor for the challenge...Paper Maniac! They offer an awesome variety of crafting goodies, including stamps, inks, Copic markers, ribbons, and Nestabilities, just to name a few. Our winner for this challenge will receive a $20 gift card to Paper Maniac.

Our hostess this time around is our founder and fearless leader, Courtney. She found inspiration for the sketch in this cute picture frame...







And here's the sketch Courtney created. Fun, right?















Here's my take on it. I kept thinking about a fun way to do the stripes, and when I came across this stamp in my stash, the rainbow idea popped into my head immediately.

Be sure to stop by the EBTKS blog to see how ALL the designers interpreted the sketch.

We'd love to see YOUR take on this sketch, too! Link up your finished creation on the EBTKS blog. You have until midnight CDT on Sun., Oct. 24 to be eligible for the Paper Maniac prize.

Now get creating! I can't wait to see what you come up with!

Stamps: Friendly Advice (Inkadinkado)
Paper: Ruby Red, Pumpkin Pie, So Saffron, Old Olive, Brocade Blue, PTI white
Ink: Adirondack Pitch Black
Accessories: Cuttlebug Swiss Dots, Kaisercraft rhinestones, Nestabilities Labels 8

EBTKS Challenge 24

Hi, everyone! It's time for another Everything But the Kitchen Sink challenge!

This month we are switching things up a bit. Previously, once a month we challenged you to use some type of household item on your card. Starting today, we are going to be offering an inspiration challenge on the 30th of the month. Each of the hostesses will take turns sharing an item from their home, and you are free to use it as inspiration however you wish. Sound fun?

Our sponsor for this first inspiration challenge is the fun Lilly Bimble! They have tons of cool digital paper packs, clipart, etc. to choose from. Our winner will receive 5 items from the Lilly Bimble shop!

Our hostess for this challenge is Lynnette, and she chose this fun bag as her inspiration. I just love the fun colors and pattern, don't you?









The pattern on the purse is the first thing that caught my eye, so I used one of Lilly Bimble's Damask Overlays to mimic part of the design. These overlays are sweet ; they are black designs with clear backgrounds, so you can print them out on any color paper you wish. Cool, right?

I also pulled out a couple of the dominant colors from the purse and used them on my card.

So, ready to play along with us? Using Lynnette's purse as your inspiration, link up your finished creation to the EBTKS blog. You have until midnight on Sat., Oct. 9 to be eligible for the prize.

One of my favorite things about inspiration challenges is how different the creations can be...even though we are all starting with the same inspiration piece. I can't wait to see what you do with it!

Stamps: Signature Greetings (PTI)
Paper: Tempting Turquoise, PTI white
Ink: Adirondack Pitch Black
Accessories: Lilly Bimble Damask Overlays, PTI ribbon, dimensionals

EBTKS Challenge 23

Hey, everyone! It's time for another sketch over at Everything But the Kitchen Sink!

Our awesome sponsor this time around is our very own Courtney's Practicing Creativity Designs! She is generously offering our winner a Tattered Angels prize pack that includes: tweezers, calling cards, bingo cards, custom cut-outs, and Heidi Swapp glimmer screens shapes. Cool, right?

I am the hostess this month, so I searched around my house for some inspiration. The item I chose has often sparked my hubby's imagination, but never mine...until now!

I chose his Playstation console as my inspiration piece! This machine has often saved me when I needed to craft...it can keep hubby busy for HOURS. Oh, PS3, I knew I'd find another use for you someday!










Here's the sketch I came up with...










and my interpretation. I finally broke open a PTI set I picked up at CHA in July. "All Booked Up" will be perfect for all my teacher friends (and family).

So, ready to play along with my sketch? Link up your finished creation to the EBTKS blog by midnight CDT on Fri., Sept. 24 to be eligible for the awesome prize!

I can't wait to see your creations!

Stamps: All Booked Up (PTI)
Paper: PTI white, K&Co. pp
Ink: Adirondack Pitch Black
Accessories: Copic marker

EBTKS Challenge 22

Hi, everyone! It's time for another Around the House challenge at Everything But the Kitchen Sink! Our hostess this month is Winter, and she has chosen hair accessories as our item. So search around for pins, clips, ribbons, etc...whatever you can find around the house...and play along with us!


This month our sponsor is Some Odd Girl! They have some really quirky, fun digital images that I know you all will just love! Our winner will receive 3 digi images of their choice.

The DT was fortunate to have free digis to work with for this challenge. I chose this adorable image called "Cloud Buddies" and paired it with some more of my new Echo Park papers and a sentiment from Papertrey.

My hair accessory is the ribbon...it's from my neighbor's daughter who's on a dance team...she always wears those giant ribbon creations in her hair. She let me deconstruct one of them...I just ironed it out, and I think it looks great on my card.

So, ready to join us? Just link up your finished creation on the EBTKS blog by midnight on Wed., Sept. 8 to be eligible for the prize.

I can't wait to see all your hair-tastic creations!

Stamps: Cloud Buddies (Some Odd Girl), Scattered Showers (PTI)
Paper: Taken with Teal, Kraft, white, Echo Park pp
Ink: Taken with Teal
Accessories: ribbon, googly eyes, dimensionals

EBTKS Challenge 21

Hi, everyone! Time for another sketch challenge over at Everything But the Kitchen Sink!


This month our awesome sponsor is Love My Tapes! They have generously donated 4 rolls of tape and a sheet of fabric tape for our lucky winner!



Our hostess this time around is Kelly Marie, and she was inspired by her washing machine.

Check out the fabulous sketch she put together for us this month!

Isn't is awesome? I was really inspired by it and whipped up my card in a matter of minutes.






I played with some new goodies from Practicing Creativity Designs. The sentiment stamps are from the new set called Chatterbox, and the crinkle ribbon I made myself using ribbon & Glimmer Mist from Courtney's shop. Creating that ribbon was TOO fun, and it's something I look forward to doing often in the future!

So, are YOU inspired yet? I do hope you'll play along with this fun sketch!

Link up your finished creation on the EBTKS blog. You have until midnight CDT on Tues., Aug. 24 to be eligible for the prize from Love My Tapes!

I can't wait to see all your fabulous creations!

Stamps: Chatterbox (Practicing Creativity Designs), Everyday Button Bits (PTI)
Paper: Ruby Red, PTI white, PTI pp
Ink: Ruby Red, Adirondack Pitch Black
Accessories: May Arts ribbon, Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist, PTI buttons, Nestabilities circles

EBTKS Challenge 20

Welcome to another Around the House challenge over at Everything But the Kitchen Sink!

This time we are challenging you to use buttons on your card...and not just the buttons you already have in your crafty stash. As the name implies, we want you to look through your house for extra buttons you have lying around and use those on your creation. So check your sewing kit, your junk drawer, etc. and see what you can find!

Our fabulous sponsor for this challenge is Simon Says Stamp! They have such a great selection...be sure to stop by and check out their website!
Now, I'm not a sewing kind of gal, but I am a pack rat, so I was able to dig through my assortment of buttons I've collected over the years to create this card...good thing I own lots of colorful button-down shirts!

I did a bit of paper piecing and added a googly eye to my elephant for a bit of extra fun. Oh, and my layout is Laura's Sketch 57.

So, ready to play along? Link up your finished creation on the EBTKS blog. You have until midnight CDT on Sun., Aug. 8 to be eligible for the prize. I can't wait to see what you come up with!

Stamps: Elephants (Hero Arts), Just My Type (Lawn Fawn)
Paper: Pink Pirouette, PTI white, unknown pp
Ink: Kiwi Kiss
Accessories: buttons, Kaisercraft pearls, googly eye

EBTKS Challenge 19

Hey, everyone! It's time for another fun sketch over at Everything But the Kitchen Sink! Lynnette is our hostess this month, and she's created a great sketch I'm sure you'll love!

We've also got another FABULOUS sponsor...CupCards To Go! Our winner for this challenge will receive a free mini-kit!



CupCards To Go also provided the DT with some fun goodies to play with. The papers and pearls on my card are part of the great stuff they sent...SO cute, right?

I'd love to see you join in on this challenge. Just submit your finished creation on the EBTKS blog. You have until midnight CDT on July 24 to be eligible for the prize.

I can't wait to see what you create!

Stamps: Cherry on Top (A Muse)
Paper: Pink Pirouette, Basic Grey Lemonade pp (CupCards To Go)
Ink: Certainly Celery
Accessories: pearls (CupCards To Go), dimensionals

EBTKS Reminder

Hey, everyone! Don't forget you still have time to play along with the Everything But the Kitchen Sink challenge...it ends Fri., July 9 at midnight CDT. So get out your aluminum foil and start creating!

EBTKS Challenge 18

Hey, everyone! Time for another Around the House challenge over at Everything But the Kitchen Sink!

I am the hostess this month, and I chose aluminum foil. We know you'll come up with some awesome creations!






Our sponsor this time around is WPlus9! Their stamps are awesome...wish I was eligible to win!

Our winner will receive an individual set of her choice. Cool, huh?


I decided to use a punch on my aluminum foil. You should head over to the EBTKS blog and check out how the rest of the design team used it...very cool!

I just now noticed my card matches the WPlus9 logo...guess I subconsciously used it as my inspiration!

To play along, link up your finished creation on the EBTKS blog. You have until midnight CDT July 9 to be eligible for the prize. Good luck and have FUN!

Stamps: Thankful Hearts (Verve)
Paper: Basic Black, Raspberry Fizz, PTI white, PTI pp
Ink: Adirondack Pitch Black
Accessories: SU Heart to Heart punch, EK Success embossed curve punch, Nestabilities circles, Kaisercraft rhinestones

EBTKS Challenge 17

Hi, everyone! It's time once again for a sketch challenge over at Everything But the Kitchen Sink! Can you believe we are on challenge #17 already?

Our sponsor this month is Lawn Fawn stamps, owned by our own EBTKS designer, Kelly Marie Alvarez! The winner will receive a $25 gift certificate to Lawn Fawn! Woooo, that is one fabby prize!

This month Winter is our hostess, and she used this pic from her craft room as her inspiration for the sketch.

I love this sketch! It's great for those who love CAS cards, but it's versatile enough that you can add quite a bit of embellishments if you feel like it.









Here's my take on the sketch. You can't tell from the photo, but the rainbow is up on dimensionals, and the clouds were colored with a clear glitter pen.

So, ready to join in the fun? Use the sketch as your inspiration, then post your finished creation on the EBTKS blog. You have until midnight CDT on Thursday, June 24 to be eligible for the Lawn Fawn gift certificate.

I can't wait to see what you create!

Stamps: Sky's the Limit (Hero Arts)
Paper: Bermuda Bay, kraft, white
Ink: Adirondack Pitch Black, Taken with Teal
Accessories: Nestabilities circles & scalloped circles, Copic markers, Spica glitter pen, dimensionals

EBTKS Challenge 16

Hey, all! Time for another Around the House challenge from Everything But the Kitchen Sink! Our hostess this month, Kelly, picked a super fun item--nail polish! How cool is that? I can't wait to see how creative everyone will be with this challenge!



We also have a fabulous sponsor this time around--DeNami Design! Our winner will receive a $30 gift card! Just imagine all the awesome stamps and supplies you could buy with that! But you can't win if you don't play along...

I really enjoyed this challenge. I used nail polish to paint a clear Heidi Swapp butterfly. (And in case you're wondering, the polish is Maybelline's Timely Turquoise.) I added a few rhinestones, embossing, ribbon, and a sentiment. Pretty easy and I think it turned out very cool...it has a really pretty shimmer to it IRL.

So, I hope you're inspired and ready to play along with us! Link up your finished project on the EBTKS blog by midnight CDT June 8th. Now get creating!

Stamps: Signature Greetings (PTI)
Paper: Kiwi Kiss, Taken with Teal, PTI white
Ink: Kiwi Kiss
Accessories: PTI ribbon, Heidi Swapp ghost shape, Kaisercraft rhinestones, Cuttlebug Swiss Dots, dimensionals, nail polish

Everything But the Kitchen Sink #15

Hi, all! Time for another EBTKS challenge! Our fabulous sponsor this time is


Check out this awesome prize pack! I love all those bright, fun colors!

You can win it, but only if you play along with us!


Courtney is our sketch hostess this month, and her household inspiration was this pile of books. The English teacher in me was smiling ear to ear when I saw this!











So check out this sweet sketch...I love it...SO versatile! You really need to check out what the DT did with this one!


Here's my interpretation of it, with lots of my favorite things...a butterfly, bling, polka dots, and a yummy color combo.

So, ready to play along? Link up your finished creation on the EBTKS blog. You have until midnight CDT on May 24 to be eligible for the prize. Have fun!

Stamps: Polka Dot Basics, Mega Mixed Messages (PTI)
Paper: Aqua Mist, Berry Sorbet
Ink: Berry Sorbet, Versamark
Accessories: SU butterfly die, Kaisercraft & Prima rhinestones