My Friend *Inspired By Stamping*

It's a double post kind of day around here. This one is a share featuring some Inspired By Stamping stamps.

My Friend card

I got a lot of great friends and I thought of each one of them while I created this card. 

I used the Fancy Circles set to create my circle accents. They also acted as my visual triangle for the card. 

How about you, how do you share your "crafty" pursuits with friends?

Thanks for stopping by.

Till next time,

Grace

Die Versions September Holiday Release

Hi there friends. Today I'm sharing my latest projects for Die Versions. DV presented Holiday themed dies for this month. I heard that there's only about 109 days before the Christmas season and what better way to welcome it with some Yuletide inspired projects...

Holiday Wishes card

Size: 5 ½ x 4 ¼”

Featuring:

DVCR 010- “Holiday Wishes” Corner Concept

DVW 281- “Boughs and Bells” Whispers

Notes:

I added the bells cut on my card using foam adhesive to make it stand out against the background a little bit better.I wanted to add some texture to the page without taking away from the beautiful die cut shapes and words so I used my embossing folder to create the raised swirls in my background. 

Peace, Love, Joy card

Size: 4 ¼ x 5 ½”

Featuring:

DVCC 007- “Peace Love Joy” Cute Cubes

DVP 094- “Dove” Sweet Petities

Notes:

I wanted the cute cubes die to stand out so I adhered it to a beige paper block first before adhering it to my card. I also wanted to add some “shimmer” to the dove cut, so I smeared it with some glitter glue. Make sure you let it dry completely before adhering onto your card. 

Thank you for stopping by and make sure you check out the rest of the ideas and die showcase at the Die Versions blog here.

till next time,
Grace

Colorado Springs Balloon Festival

For Labor Day last week, we decided to skip sleeping in and finally "experience" the Classic Balloon Festival that goes on in our town during Labor Day weekend. I've heard so many good things about it from neighbors and friends. I've always wanted to go but felt like my extra hour (or two) of sleep was far more important. Well this year, it was different. I dragged the family and with camera in tow went downtown to experience this "popular" event. Here are some of the photos we were able to capture...

The balloons were scheduled to launch at 7am and so we got up before the sun even rose and was surprised at the amount of people we saw when we got to the park at 6:30 am. I'm not sure if you can tell in this image but if you look at the horizon, the sun is just barely coming up (reflection is shown on the top of the mountains as the sun rises in the East)

It was definitely an interesting view to watch the balloons get set up. Here they are testing out the fire for the hot air...

Then they take out this massive balloon all wrapped up. Some used a tarp before pulling out the balloons while others didn't.

Then with a fan, they started filling the balloon with air. It looked like this in the beginning...

and then just a few minutes later, it started to expand...

A few family pics while we wait for the launch...

Some balloons getting their shape as they are filled with air.

Launch time is getting closer...

Here's the balloon that we've been watching ready for its ascent to the skies....

and there she goes....

The photos don't do justice at the beauty of these balloons...

and they are off....

There are tons of people and finding a spot to photograph the balloons minus the crowd was extremely difficult. But this was definitely worth the sacrifice of not getting my extra hour of sleep.  Notes for next time, bring some chairs or blankets to sit on and pack breakfast so we can stay longer.

That's our Balloon Festival experience. Thanks for stopping by.

Till next time,
Grace

Inspired by Stamping September Catalog

Hi friends. It's that time of the month again where Inspired by Stamping releases it's online catalog. 

Each page provides details of our stamp set! Plus, inspiration from our designers! This new

catalog was designed to give you even more inspiration and interaction than ever before with Inspiredby Stamping products.Cool Features:- Browse the catalog with ease on your tablet or computer.- Get the entire release in one spot! Plus, zoom in on your favorite products, projects and cards.- Watch video tutorials from our YouTube channel right inside the catalog!- SHOP ONLINE! Order products by clicking on the stamp set which takes you directly to our onlinestore.Here’s a few peek at what is inside!

View the design team cards and projects that they used with each stamp set!
Where can you find our Online Catalog?
You can download it here, today.
All future catalogs will be available for download at our Store. Click Here!
We’d LOVE to hear what you think! After flipping through our catalog, leave a comment below or at Joanna's bloghere.
We hope you enjoy our new inspiration catalog!

Till next time,
Grace

Build a Snowman *Inspired By Stamping*

Welcome to the last day of blog hop for the September release event for Inspired by Stamping. Today's share is all about the cute Build a Snowman stamp set.

Christmas Memories card

I printed off a Christmas printable piece from IBS to house my adorable snowman. I had fun with this stamp set.I stamped the body and all of my accents for him (arms, hat and scarf) on white cardstock. Trimmed it and then adhered it to the snowman. I used colored pencils to add some color to the hat and scarf. I then stamped the face features onto the snowman body to give him some "personality". 

Joy card

With this card, I layered some holiday papers and used a journaling block paper to house my snowman. I used the same cardstock color for his hat and scarf. I stamped the sentiment image on white cardstock and heat embossed it with gold. I continued the gold theme with a sheer ribbon. 

So there you have it. Looking for more inspiration? Here's the list of blog hoppers today...

Joanna - http://wp.me/p3QhWl-3C0

• Colleen - http://www.colleendietrichdesigns.com/2013/09/inspired-by-stamping-sneak-peeks-build.html
• Grace- YOU ARE HERE
• Leah  http://paperblossoms.blogspot.com/2013/09/build-snowman.html 
• Pam http://www.pammejo-scrapbookflair.com/2013/10/inspired-by-stamping-build-snowman.html
• Rose  http://roseshappyplace.blogspot.com/2013/09/ibs-september-release-build-snowman.html
• Shea - http://glitterandbonbons.blogspot.com/2013/09/ibs-new-release-build-snowman.html
• Vicki http://allidoisstamp.blogspot.com/2013/09/inspired-by-stamping-september-sneak_9.html
• Rebecca  http://www.paperprimrose.com/?p=6373
• 
  

Here's a few more details about this release party...

Free Shipping will be available on all orders over $25. This will start on the 10th and be available until Sept 13th Friday. Sept 10th at 7pm to Sept 13th at 7pm Brisbane time only. Coupon Code: SeptFree All stamp sets will be offered at a 10% discount. September 10th will be the full release on Joanna's blog and all items will be available for purchase at 7pm Brisbane time. 

Contest!!

Sept 6th – Sept 10th, we will be giving away blog candy. Each Day one lucky winner will receive the featured stamp set/ or sets for that day.

Winners will be announced on Sept 12 on our Winners Page at 7pm.

You must leave a comment to be eligible to win on Joanna's blog Only One comment per person Each winner will be randomly selected.

Till next time,

Grace

September Stamp release *Inspired By Stamping*

I can't believe that Christmas is just around the corner. We've hit the "ber" months and that means only one thing...the Holidays are upon us. Celebrations of all kinds will be going on in the next few months and what better way to get prepared than to start those Christmas cards early or "earlier" this year.

Well I got some good news for you. Inspired by Stamping September release is just the right package of holiday stamps that you will need to bring some "handmade" touch to your holiday projects. 

Today's release shares are the Holiday Sentiment and Holiday Washi tape stamps. Here's the projects that I made with these sets...

Merry Little Christmas card

I printed off one of the printable tags that IBS is offering this month and then stamped my sentiment in the center with brown ink. I then used the Washi tape stamps as border strips, stamping them in red and light blue (to match the border color of the printable tag) and then cut them into strips then adhered them to my card. I also added a red flower (available in the IBS store) to add some textured accent in my card. 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year card

With this project, I used the Washi Tape stamped strips as banner strips on my card. I punched out a decorative frame from white cardstock and used that to hold my stamped sentiment. I inked the edged with red ink pad to make it stand out better against the background. 

So there you have it. Looking for more inspiration? Here's the list of blog hoppers today...

Joanna - http://wp.me/p3QhWl-3BY

• Calypso: http://calypsocandycraft.blogspot.com/2013/09/ibs-september-release-holiday-tags.html
• Kendra: http://luv2scrapnmakecards.blogspot.com/2013/09/ibs-september-release-holiday-tags-and.html
• Leah  http://paperblossoms.blogspot.com/2013/09/holiday-tags-and-washi-tape.html 
• Tina    http://woodedviews.blogspot.com/2013/09/mint-patties-box.html
• Vicki http://allidoisstamp.blogspot.com/2013/09/inspired-by-stamping-september-sneak_8.html
• Shea - http://glitterandbonbons.blogspot.com/2013/09/ibs-new-release-holiday-tags-holiday.html

•   Shea -http://glitterandbonbons.blogspot.com/2013/09/ibs-new-release-holiday-tags-holiday.html
•   Pam http://www.pammejo-scrapbookflair.com/2013/09/inspired-by-stamping-holiday-washi-tape.html
•   Grace- YOU ARE HERE
•   Colleen - http://www.colleendietrichdesigns.com/2013/09/inspired-by-stamping-sneak-peeks.html
•  Rebecca  http://www.paperprimrose.com/?p=6367

Here's a few more details about this release party...

Free Shipping will be available on all orders over $25. This will start on the 10th and be available until Sept 13th Friday. Sept 10th at 7pm to Sept 13th at 7pm Brisbane time only. Coupon Code: SeptFree All stamp sets will be offered at a 10% discount. September 10th will be the full release on Joanna's blog and all items will be available for purchase at 7pm Brisbane time. 

Contest!!

Sept 6th – Sept 10th, we will be giving away blog candy. Each Day one lucky winner will receive the featured stamp set/ or sets for that day.

Winners will be announced on Sept 12 on our Winners Page at 7pm.

You must leave a comment to be eligible to win on Joanna's blog Only One comment per person Each winner will be randomly selected.

Till next time,

Grace

Paper Secrets September Sketch (Inspired by Stamping sponsorship)

Hi friends. Today I have a special share for you. Inspired By Stamping is hosting the card sketch challenge this month over at Paper Secrets. The have two card sketches and the first one is this...

Don't you love the sketch with the banners and butterflies? Well here's my take on it, featuring Inspired by Stamping stamp sets and flowers...

Time to Celebrate card

I used the Whimsical banner, Vintage Banners and Happy Occasion sentiment sets. I also used flowers from IBS.

Wish Big card

 With this one, I used one image from the Whimsical banner as my banner image and then the sentiment from the Big Wishes set.

Make sure you stop by the Paper Secrets blog today to see all of the beautiful creations made with this sketch. Don't forget to play along too, as IBS generously offered a gift certificate to the winner of the sketch.

Till next time,
Grace

Fall is in the air (latest DT projects)

Happy Thursday friends. Today feels more like Summer but Fall is just around the corner so I created my most recent design team projects under that theme. 

Make Today Beautiful card

Here's a card I created for Die Versions featuring their August Fall release. I added some color to each individual leaf image/cut by adding colored markers on them. You can see this project at the Die Versions blog here. 

Fall Banner

Epiphany Crafts teamed up with Punky Sprouts recently and I used some PS mini album sheets as a foundation for a fall themed banner. You can see the instructions and supply list for this project along with more photos on this blog post at the Epiphany Crafts blog. 

Thanks for stopping by and Happy Crafting. 

Till next time,

Grace

Our family's version of Youth Conference

A few months ago, my husband was asked by our Bishop to "head" this year's Youth Conference. In the LDS church, our youth group, kids ages 12-18 attends a "conference" which is usually held in the summer and most of the time it's held somewhere outdoors-y. We usually have a theme and it's main purpose is to give the kids faith building experiences. 

About two weeks ago, after months of preparation, we finally held our Youth Conference. It was an overnight camping trip at Lake Isabelle, which is about 2 hours away from the Springs. It was a beautiful place and here are some photos from our trip....(note: There are about 30 in our group but because I want to keep their identities private, you're only going to see my family in the photos)

We got to the camp site on a Friday afternoon and when I woke up on Saturday morning, I was so inspired by this road, the sun shining in the background and just the quiet, peaceful feeling of being one with nature. 

Friday afternoon, we took the group on a hike up a mine shaft. We barely made it to the shaft before the rain poured on us. We stayed inside the shafts for a good 30 minutes before the rain stopped. That night we also played a fun Volleyball game between the girls and the boys. We had skits and smores. Then ended our night with a spiritual meeting around the campfire.

The following day we headed out to the lake. Some kids paddled in the water in canoes and kayaks while others tried their hand in fishing. We didn't have luck in the fishing department though.

We heard of this one natural slide near the lake and we had one youth with us that have been there before. So after lunch, we followed her lead and went on a mile hike to this natural water slide. Almost everyone who hiked did the slide. Even my husband and son. I for one was not a fan of cold water so I opted to stay on the sidelines and photograph everyone going down the slide instead. 

It was definitely a fun filled two days. We were happy to have been a part of this great event and I was so surprised that even my kids enjoyed their time at Youth Conference. These are memories that I hope they'll cherish for a long time.

Till next time,
Grace

Latest layouts for Epiphany Crafts

Last day of the week and second to the last day of the month. Can you believe we are days away from September? That means that before you know it, all of the major holidays will be arriving at our doorsteps. Time sure flies when you are having fun. 

Speaking of having fun, I enjoyed my assignments this month for Epiphany Crafts. I was able to work on some layouts for the kiddos and think outside the box in utilizing some fun EC products. Check the two layouts I made this month...

Hello Today layout

I know that it's not officially Autumn yet, but I couldn't help myself in scrapbooking these fall themed photos of my son which was taken about two years ago. I created my own brad using EC tool and brad maker. I also added some epoxy stars with the Epiphany Crafts star tool and bubble sticker. You can view more details about this project along with a how to guide in this post. 

She is layout

I love, love, love this photo of my daughter. If you've been to my home recently, you've seen this blown up into a beautiful canvas piece. That's how much I love it. But of course, I still needed to print them so I can add them to her scrapbook. 

This month, EC wanted to show how it's "hip to be square" and I took that challenge and created this layout. I love how I was able to use the EC square tool and bubble stickers to create my diamond shaped embellishments in my page. I also added some vintage charms in the mix. You can view details on this layout as well as instructions in this post. 

Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend,

Grace