Punkydoodle Papers - Stamps, Ink, Paper and a Little Whimsy. . .

Isn't Technology Amazing?

So here I am at about 33,000 feet - I'm flying to my first of what will be a series of meetings in DC.  What's so amazing? I'm posting while in-flight via American Airlines WIFI.  Lest you get all excited thinking this is new (ask the Japanese airlines how long they have provided in-flight wirless) and that you can get all your Christmas shopping done while on your way to Grandma's for Thanksgiving. ... a few of the downfalls.  Not all AA flights offer WIFI.  Those that do charge you.  If you haul your laptop on board there's no guarantee that the plane you have will be WIFI enabled.  The benefit? Isn't it obvious?  You can comment on MY blog - and of course you should since I tipped you off about airline WIFI!

More to come when I land. . .

Snowmen for Noah - A Challenge

I was overwhelmed by a story I read on the Limited Supplies Challenge this past Friday.  The story was about a five year old boy who has been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer.  He is so brave and the story is so moving! Please click on THIS LINK to read his story and view the video.  I would encourage each of you to take a minute and make a card for Noah.  His address is:

Noah Biorkman - 1141 Fountain View Circle - South Lyon, MI 48178

I chose this wonderful new image from Stamping Bella called "Group Hug" - what a perfect image for this sweet boy! I stamped it on Whisper White cardstock in Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored it with Copic & Spica markers. . .

 

and then finished it off with one of Joanne's Buttoney Bows. . .

 

Thank you for visiting! Come back soon!

Lesa

 

Soccer Balls & Tiaras (oh, and a spooky winner too)

I just finished reading a very sweet story from Jen del Muro's blog.  It was about a conversation Jen had with her 3-year old daughter.  It was so cute and you can find it HERE.  It made me reflect on thoughts about my own daughter who is now a teenager.  I remember the days she wore bows to match every outfit and pranced around the house in her plastic princess shoes (she wore them with everything - even her pajamas).  That was then. . .

This year she decided to go as a soccer player for Halloween.  I mean seriously - I was willing to buy a costume rather than have her put on a uniform she has to wear every Saturday.  I made many suggestions and obviously wanted her to do something different, but with teenagers you pick your battles.

 

Here's my soccer player with a couple of her friends at our annual Spooktacular. . .

 

And here's the Monte Cassino Middle School Class of 2011 - what a great group of kids!

You may recall the the poem regarding the ghosts in my stamping room - well the ghosts have chosen Jackie as their spooky winner!  Congrats Jackie!

 

My Favorite Halloween Costume. . .

I couldn't resist. . .this is my sweet niece styling in the cutest ever bumble bee costume purchased by her favorite Aunt! ME!  Isn't she the cutest?  Suffice it to say, whatever this precious girl wants (or doesn't even know she wants, heehee) - Aunt Lesa is going to get it for her!  The best part of the costume? Hearing her say "Beeeeeeeeeeee" when you asked her what she was wearing. Too stinkin' cute!

A Spooky Give Away

 There are ghosts in my studio and they say I should give some stamping goodies away. . .

Leave a comment on this post so I can please these annoying ghosts. . .

There will be ribbon, embellishments and paper to start. . .

Brads and stickers and some chipboard hearts. . .

You have until midnight on Halloween eve and whether or not in ghosts you believe. . .

some goodies could be on their way to your home in a few short days!

IHP Birthday Bash - Day 3 Challenge

I cannot tell you how excited I am to be part of the i {heart} papers Birthday Bash!  My sweet friend Gretchen Belknap asked me to join her in designing birthday party favors and decorations! Today is Challenge 3 and these were such fun projects! 

When you are hosting a party, you want to create an atmosphere of fun and excitement. Ribbons, streamers, table decorations and special party favors all set the stage for celebrating!

Our challenge for you today is to use IHP embellishments to dress up your card (scrapbook page, 3-D item, etc.), table decoration, or party favor. Remember, everything this week has to do with birthday celebrations...so be sure your creation is birthday related!

Before you begin, take a few minutes to review the challenge guidelines! You’ll want to follow these rules to maximize your points and qualify for the opportunity to WIN the prize for today’s challenge and the Grand Prize, all announced on the last day of our festivities!

To qualify for the prize of the day, all you have to do is upload your challenge card/project to Splitcoast Stampers (SCS) and/or Paper Craft Planet (PCP) with the appropriate tag so we can find it. Today’s challenge tag is IHPBB3. The daily challenge winners will be randomly selected at the end of the week.

To qualify for the Grand Prize of being IHP Guest Designer for the month of November, here’s how it will work: Every challenge card/project you enter will earn you points (see below), and one with the most accumulated for the week the Grand Prize winner. So the more challenges you enter, more points you earn — and the better your chances of winning the Grand Prize (and the bigger the value of your Guest Designer box will be)!

You will have until October 25th to post your work, and you can enter as many challenges as you like, but you CANNOT combine challenges in one project. All winners, including the Grand Prize winner, will be announced at the Birthday Bash on October 26th.

Birthday Bash Points

For each project:
5 points for each challenge card/project you make, upload and tag to SCS
5 points for each challenge card/project you make, upload and tag to PCP
2 points for uploading to your blog and linking at least one IHP item used to the IHP website

One time points:
2 points for signing up to receive our newsletter*
2 points for joining our PCP group*
2 points for becoming our fan on Facebook* 10 points if you participate in all 6 IHP Birthday Bash challenges

*When you sign up, or if you are already signed up, a comment on the IHP blog Birthday Bash week so your points can be credited.

Here are the hosts for each day.  Be sure to check their blogs on their scheduled day to find out that day’s challenge.  You can also check the main IHP Birthday Bash page at the store.  It will be updated daily.

Day 1(10/19): Kate(owner), Sarah Anderson, and Dee Jackson Day 2 (10/20): Deb/Latisha Yoast Day 3 (10/21): Gretchen/Lesa Smaligo and Lynn/Asela Hopkins Day 4 (10/22): Cathleen/Kerri Michaud and Carolyn/Maria Fiscella Day 5 (10/23): Megan/Chris Veneruso and Kendra/Debbie Fisher Day 6 (10/24): Tracy/Heidi Van Laar and Amber/Kerry Davis Day 7 (10/25): Sunday, day of rest (finish up your challenges!) Day 8 (10/26): PARTY! GRAND PRIZE (winners are announced)

AND NOW - ON TO THE PROJECTS!

I chose the color scheme of chocolate and bubble gum pink (and all the shades of both) based on the gorgeous Indian Summer Collection by Basic Grey.  All the paper was so pretty - I had to use it all! I started my party favors with a shaker place card. . .

 

How fun is this? This was my first time to use a Shaker Pouch, but it certainly won't be my last! I love how simple they are to use and how they add such a "WOW" factor to an otherwise simple place card. 

Next, I moved to a super simple centerpiece - again using the Indian Summer paper collection. . .

 

This gorgeous Burgundy Satin/Grosgrain Ribbon and the Adhesive Rhinestone Lines added the perfect touch!

My next project was so fun to make, but so hard to photograph, because it was so long! I had to take it apart in order to get a good picture, but I'm sure you can imagine it in once piece. . .

 

This was by far my favorite of my four projects! I used the Spellbinders Large Scalloped Square Nestabilities to cut three different squares (two background - and one for each letter).  I attached the squares together with Pink Pastel Mini Brads to create a Happy Birthday banner.  The best part? You can simply fold it up and put it in a Ziploc bag to use again! Here's a close up. . .isn't the Indian Summer Paper just beautiful?

Last, but certainly not least. . .how about a little goody for your guests to take home?

 

I used the Round Tin with Clear Lid and added the wonderful rhinestone lines around the edge.  The sentiment is from Just Rite!

Since the lid is clear - I used one side for "decoration" and the other for a thank you message. . .

 

I hope you enjoyed my Chocolate and Bubble Gum Pink party! Time to party on! Check out what the rest of the girls created today. . .and then click HERE for the all the birthday bash details!  Thanks for joining us today!

Day 3: Gretchen Belknap/Lesa Smaligo and Lynn Mercurio/Asela Hopkins

Ingredients:Place Card: White Cardstock, Indian Summer Pattern Paper, 1/4 Inch Pink Glimmer Ribbon, Cuttlebug, Petite Scalloped Oval Large Nestabilities, Just Rite Curlz Font, Shaker Pouch, Cupcake Image from Hero Arts, Glitter (inside the Shaker), Small Pastel Sheer Blossom (flower on the cupcake)Centerpiece: Small Silver Pail, Indian Summer Patter Paper, Burgundy Ribbon, Rhinestone Lines (all from i {heart} papers)Happy Birthday Banner: Indian Summer Pattern Paper, Classic Scalloped Squares Large Nestabilities, Cuttlebug, Just Rite Curlz Font, Pastel Mini Brads, Cupcake Image from Hero Arts, Small Pastel Sheer BlossomThank You Favor: Tin with Clear Lid, Indian Summer Pattern Paper, Standard Circle Nestabilities, Petite Scalloped Circle Nestabilities, Palette Ink, Rhinestone Lines

Time For the i {heart} papers BIRTHDAY BASH!

Be sure to check out DAY 3! That's right! I will have some super fun projects to share with you! I'm so excited to be part of the Birthday Bash! Thanks Gretchen!

 

IT'S HERE!  The i {heart} papers Birthday Bash! That’s right, IHP is turning 1 year old this month, and a whopper of a party is under way!

First, let’s talk about the party! There will be prizes galore (free stuff – you like free stuff, don’t you?), and a Grand Prize winner will be chosen at the end to be the IHP Guest Designer for the month of November!

There will be 6 birthday party themed challenges, one posted each day starting on Monday, October 19th. Each challenge will be hosted (and posted) by one of the IHP Design Team members. It will also be posted on the IHP Blog and on the store site here on this page. Some special invited guests will be posting throughout the week, too! Each challenge will have its own prize.

Here are the hosts and challenges for each day:

Day 1: Kate, Sarah Anderson, and Dee Jackson

MONDAY OCTOBER 19

SCS/PCP tag IHPBB1

What’s the first thing you do when you’re planning a Birthday Bash? Before you can choose invitations, decorations, etc., you must decide upon a color scheme, so our first IHPBB challenge has to do with color.

Our challenge for you today is to make a card (scrapbook page, 3-D item, etc.) using the colors of our IHP logo:  celery, light blue, rose and black (colors in any brand). Remember, everything this week has to do with birthday celebrations...so be sure your creation is birthday related!

Prize package: 1 yard of 1-1/2" Silk Celery, atyou Spica Glitter pens in black, pink and baby blue, 1 yard of ¼” Glimmer Ribbon Black and a 12x12 Urban Prairie Collection pack!

Day 2: Deb Felts/Latisha Yoast
Day 3: Gretchen Belknap/Lesa Smaligo and Lynn Mercurio/Asela Hopkins
Day 4: Cathleen Torina/Kerri Michaud and Carolyn Mustopa/Maria Fiscella
Day 5: Megan Lock/Chris Veneruso and Kendra Wiestock/Debbie Fisher
Day 6: Tracy Schultz/Heidi Van Laar and Amber Kroenig/Kerry Davis

To qualify for the prize of the day, all you have to do is post your challenge card/project to Splitcoast Stampers (SCS) and/or Paper Craft Planet (PCP) with the appropriate tag so we can find it. The tag (and the prize) for that day’s challenge will be posted on that day.

You will have the full week (until October 25^th, midnight EST) to post your work, and you can enter as many challenges as you like, but you can’t combine challenges in one project. The daily challenge winners will be selected at random at the end of the week.

To qualify for the Grand Prize of being IHP Guest Designer for the month of November, here’s how it will work: Every challenge card/project you enter will give you points (see the list below), and the one with the most points accumulated for the week will be the Grand Prize winner. So the more challenges you enter, the more points you earn — and the better your chances of winning the Grand Prize (and the bigger the value of your Guest Designer box will be)!

All winners, including the Grand Prize winner, will be announced at the Birthday Bash on October 26^th here, on the IHP blog and on our PCP page.

Birthday Bash Points

For each project:

• 5 points for each challenge card/project you make, upload and tag to SCS
• 5 points for each challenge card/project you make, upload and tag to PCP
• 2 points for uploading to your blog and linking at least one IHP item used to the IHP website

One time points:

• 2 points for signing up to receive our newsletter*
• 2 points for joining our PCP group*
• 2 points for becoming our fan on Facebook*

10 points if you participate in all 6 IHP Birthday Bash challenges

*When you sign up, or if you are already signed up, leave us a comment on the

IHP blog during Birthday Bash week so your points can be credited.
 

A Special Gift

Because i {heart} papers loves birthdays so much, they’ve decided to contribute 10% of sales, beginning on October 19^th and through the end of October, to Hope Lodge New York City.  Hope Lodge, run by the American Cancer Society, “The Official Sponsor of Birthdays,” offers free, temporary housing for cancer patients and their families who are undergoing treatment. The nurturing, comfortable environment at Hope Lodge allows patients to focus on what is most important - fighting cancer. What better way to celebrate a birthday than to help those who are helping more birthdays happen!

i {heart} papers Birthday Bash & A Special Gift!

I promised some good news earlier this week and here it is!  i {heart} papers is having a birthday and yours truly was chosen to be one of the project designers for the birthday bash!  My sweet friend and IHP Design Team member Gretchen Belknap asked me to participate with her and I was so stinkin' excited!  We've got some yummy birthday projects for you so be sure to stay tuned during the upcoming week!  Here are all the details!

Get ready for the i {heart} papers Birthday Bash! That’s right, IHP is turning 1 year old this month, and a whopper of a party is planned! There's also a special gift planned to help others celebrate more birthdays. You’ll read more about that at the end of this post.

 

First, let’s talk about the party! There will be prizes galore (free stuff – you like free stuff, don’t you?), and a Grand Prize winner will be chosen at the end to be the IHP Guest Designer for the month of November!

 

There will be 6 birthday party themed challenges, one posted each day starting on Monday, October 19th. Each challenge will be hosted (and posted) by one of the IHP Design Team members. It will also be posted on the IHP Blog and on the store site HERE. Some special invited guests will be posting throughout the week, too! Each challenge will have its own prize.

 

To qualify for the prize of the day, all you have to do is post your challenge card/project to Splitcoast Stampers (SCS) and/or Paper Craft Planet (PCP) with the appropriate tag so we can find it. The tag (and the prize) for that day’s challenge will be posted on that day. You will have the full week (until October 25^th) to post your work, and you can enter as many challenges as you like, but you can’t combine challenges in one project. The daily challenge winners will be selected at random at the end of the week.

 

To qualify for the Grand Prize of being IHP Guest Designer for the month of November, here’s how it will work: Every challenge card/project you enter will give you points (see the list below), and the one with the most points accumulated for the week will be the Grand Prize winner. So the more challenges you enter, the more points you earn — and the better your chances of winning the Grand Prize (and the bigger the value of your Guest Designer box will be)!

 

All winners, including the Grand Prize winner, will be announced at the Birthday Bash on October 26^th.

So get ready to PARTY!!!! You won’t want to miss the fun!

 

Birthday Bash Points

 

For each project:

5 points for each challenge card/project you make, upload and tag to SCS

5 points for each challenge card/project you make, upload and tag to PCP

2 points for uploading to your blog and linking at least one IHP item used to the IHP website

 

One time points:

2 points for signing up to receive our newsletter*

2 points for joining our PCP group*

2 points for becoming our fan on Facebook*

10 points if you participate in all 6 IHP Birthday Bash challenges

 

*When you sign up, or if you are already signed up, leave us a comment on the IHP blog during Birthday Bash week so your points can be credited.

 

A Special Gift

Because i {heart} papers loves birthdays so much, they’ve decided to contribute 10% of sales, beginning on October 19^th and through the end of October, to Hope Lodge New York City.  Hope Lodge, run by the American Cancer Society, “The Official Sponsor of Birthdays,” offers free, temporary housing for cancer patients and their families who are undergoing treatment. The nurturing, comfortable environment at Hope Lodge allows patients to focus on what is most important - fighting cancer. What better way to celebrate a birthday than to help those who are helping more birthdays happen!

A Boo-tiful Sketch & A Boo Crew Winner!

Go ahead - be jealous. . .       

I once again had the work duty of heading off to conference in a wonderful place. . .in this case, it was the Inn at the Biltmore in Asheville, North Carolina.  Wowwie Kazowwie! It was by far one of the most beautiful places I've ever been.  The leaves were just beginning to change and the weather was beautiful!  And, let me just say that Mr. Vanderbilt knew what he was doing with his country estate!  If you've never been, I highly recommend it!  (Be sure to add the Behind The Scenes Tour - it's well worth the $17.)

Now - off to my more-than-a-week late sketch by Mercy Kerin!  The sketch was to make a long card - which I don't do very often.  I struggled with this card for several days before I finally came up with this. . .

The image and sentiment were stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black.  I used my Martha Stewart Spooky Fence punch along with my Cuttlebug for all the different layers.  I found the Halloween print ribbon in the $1 spot at Target last fall.  Since I'm still using the "piece-of-crap" camera (no time to shop for a new one yet) - you can barely see my cute spider web brad in the in the middle of the stars.  Even though this was a big struggle - I think it turned out okay.  Maybe Mercy will "have mercy" on me this week!

Lastly - how about a winner for the MFT Boo Crew Digi Stamp?  Laura Hodges come on down!  You're the winner of the Boo Crew digi stamp!  (Laura, e-mail me and we will figure out the details!)

Well, I'm home for a few weeks so get ready for some more creations AND some super fun news! Then it's On The Road Again - or should I say "On A Plane Again?"

I'm Celebrating My Birthday with the Boo Crew - YOU CAN TOO!

It's a chilly, gloomy and rainy Sunday here in Oklahoma, but I love it! I'm heading downstairs for some coffee on the porch wearing my fleece pants and a sweatshirt.  It's the perfect weather for Halloween, so it's a perfect day for this card. . .

I made this for the MFT Challenge 19 which was to "go digital"!  Can you believe this cutie patootie image entitled "BOO CREW" is actually a MFT digi-stamp?  I colored this entire image with Copic markers and added the eye on the martian's candybag.  I used Pebbles chalks to create the spooky sky and colored the ground with a Copic.  You can find the Boo Crew image HERE. (see below for a special opportunity)

Let's be clear - I'm not a big fan of digital stamps for the simple fact that it makes paper piecing almost impossible and you know how I LOVE my paper piecing (especially with MFT stamps.) With a typical acrylic stamp you can ink up just the section you want to paper piece and you don't end up wasting an entire piece of patterned paper. 

HOWEVER, the digi stamps do have some major attractions - First, they have the luxuary of being heat set via your printer and this allows for you to color instantly without the fear of smearing!  Second, once you've downloaded it, you have it forever (or at least until your hard drive crashes). Third, they are less expensive.  And last, it forces the Copic & Prismacolor scaredy cat (me) to try a hand at coloring.  Those darn markers & penils make me crazy! At the end of the day - I highly recommend you check out the digi stamps for yourself. 

Today is also a special day for me - I'm 29! (with 12 years of experience)! As a special birthday celebration, I'm going to give YOU the opportunity to win the Boo Crew!  Just leave a comment on this post and a download of the Boo Crew could be yours!  Good luck and Happy Birthday to Me!

Ingredients - Stamps: Boo Crew Digi Stamp from MFT, Sentiment from MFT Too Cute To Spook SetInk: Memento Tuxedo Black (sentiment only)Paper: Bazzill Shimmer Orange Cardstock and Eerie Collection from Basic GreyAccessories: Ribbon from MFT, Jody's Foam Boosters, Copic & Spica Markers, Pebbles Chalks, Felt Spider Sticker, Eyes