4Bs Challenge Mid Way Reminder

We're halfway through the 4Bs challenge - bunnies, buttons, bows, and bling at The Latte Lounge. You only need three of the four to enter the challenge! It's hard not to have bows, buttons, and bling on a papercraft project.

I have two more cards today featuring The Stamping Boutique's Bunny Egg. I love this cutie and she works in so many colors. I went with a simple layout for both so I could focus on the image.

There are lots of great challenges going on at The Latte Lounge. We hope you'll join us! Melissa has a sketch challenge - you could use the sketch to make your 4Bs card and get a double entry :) Stacie is challenging us to reuse our old store-bought cards to create something new in Hallmark Holiday. Rhonda's flower challenge is a lot of fun!

Happy Crafting!

Jennifer

Is it Saturday already?

Holy smokes!!
Where has February gone?
Doesn't our new blog design look so fresh and happy?
Thanks, Sara! We were due for a facelift!

The weather his is starting to look a lot like SPRING!!

Time to get out and soak up some Vitamin D!

We don't spend much time indoors when it's this nice outside, because once summer hits,
it's just too darn H-O-T!!

So I'll make this quick today!

There are a BUNCH of challenges at the Latte Lounge and we haven't seen many entries!!

C'mon, let's get those projects posted!!

With the variety of challenges that are running, I'm sure you've made SOMETHING this week that will qualify for one, if not more, of them!!

Have you used Flowers on any creations?
Enter it HERE

Have you used Bunnies, Buttons, Bows or Bling (or any combination of 3 of those)>
Enter it HERE

Have you chopped up any old store-bought cards and recycled them?
Post them HERE

Do you like a nice sketch to get your mojo on the move?
There's a TERRIFIC one HERE

And EVERYONE has made something with no hearts!!
Enter them HERE!!
Only a few days til the end of our monthly challenge!!

PLUS... PLUS... ALSO... AND....

Get ready!
Mark your calendar!!
We are having a Digi Day here on Saturday, March 19th
We're doing an "Everything Spring" theme, which should be fun!
All the details are still on the drafting board, but we KNOW you love our LIVE CHATS,
so, go get your pencil...

write it down....

MARCH 19th
Latte Lounge Digi Day!!


Now that Sara has been updating our blog, you'll want to check back often, because there's always something new and exciting at "The Lounge"!

"WOW, It's Friday!"

Good Morning Everyone! I hope everyone is ready for the weekend! I sure am! LOL! Our challenges are in full swing! Here are some of the beautiful creations so far from our ladies!

Brook's Bookmark...

                                                     

Cheryl Gorka's PJL Card...

Claire Phillip's Card...

Debra Barrett's Card...

Lawren's Card...

Aren't they just beautiful? Remember... There still is time to get your cards entered into our challenges!

• Flower Challenge
• Hallmark Holiday
• 4 B's Challenge
• Sketch Challenge
• Monthly Challenge

Come on ladies! Get out those supplies this weekend and start creating! We hope you have a Wonderfully Creative Weekend!

Happy Creating!

Sara

Feb 23-Mar 9 Sketch Challenge

Time for another challenge here at The Latte Lounge!! This week I am so lucky to have been able to use a sketch designed by Amanda Newton of In A Scrap Creation. Her personal blog is Colouring our World!!

This challenge will run from today until March 9th. So be sure to join the fun!!
Here's the sketch

and here's what I designed


Also be sure to check out the other challenges at TLL
Feb 17- Mar 3 Flowers
Feb 19-Mar 5 - Hallmark Holiday - reuse pieces of a store bought card
Feb 21-Mar 6 - 4 B's Bunnies, Bows, Buttons and Bling

Thanks for coming by!!

Please Welcome Sara to our DT!!!

We have a VERY EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY!!!!! Our Featured Member is Sara Ament and she has also agreed to join our DT!! She is a wonderful addition to the team!!!!

Short biography—
Hello everyone, my name is Sara. I was born and raised in Northern Wisconsin, spent some time in Jackson Tennessee. That is where I met my fiancé, Michael. We moved back to Wisconsin two years ago. I don’t have any children, but once we are married I will have a stepdaughter, Rachael and a stepson, Christopher. Recently we had a new addition to the family, a beautiful grandson, Damien. We also have one water baby, Lucifer our Betta fish.

How long have you been paper crafting?
I have been rubber stamping and scrapbooking for about 12 years now. Since my new obsession Copic Sketch Markers, my scrapbooking has taken a backseat to my card creating though!

How did you get started in paper crafting?
Like most everyone else, I attended a Stampin’ Up Workshop and I was hooked! (Hook, Line, and Sinker) LOL!

What crafting item can you not live without?
Wow, I am only supposed to pick one… I can’t do that because it is a tossup between my Paper Cutter, my Big Shot, and Designer Paper (PAPER-AHOLIC)! Sorry that is the best I can narrow it down to!

What is your favorite paper crafting company?
I wouldn’t know which one to pick! I would have to say all of them! LOL! Although I do LOVE my half pearls and stickles! (So that would be Michael’s Stores Inc. and Ranger!)

What is your favorite coloring medium?
My current obsession is Copic Sketch Markers! The next medium that I am determined to learn is Prisma Colored Pencils.

Do you have any other hobbies?
I love to read romance / mystery novels. But lately I have been reading whatever I can get my hands on; like craft books and magazines. I love to go walking when the weather is nice. Can chatting be a hobby… if so that is one I enjoy year round! Can you tell? LOL!

Is there anything else you would like to share about yourself?
I started blogging a year ago. I am always on a journey to learn! I actually just starting using digital images about 3 months ago and have completely fallen in love with them! I am so excited to be joining the wonderful Design Team here at The Latte Lounge. Now I will be able to combine my latest obsessions with my most loved pass times (coloring and chatting)! I am looking forward to learning from and working with this very creative and talented group!

Now check out these wonderful creations --

I hope you'll also find time to stop by her blog - Creative Addictions by Sara.

As always, we appreciate you stopping by!!

4Bs Challenge

Our challenge today is 4Bs - bunnies, buttons, bows, and bling. You have to use at least 3 of the 4 - you can do it! The prize for this challenge is two images from The Stamping Boutique.

My first card uses Bunny Egg from The Stamping Boutique and papers from Hoppy Spring Digi Paper Pack from JLJ Designs. You can see the bunny, buttons, and bow; the bling is glitter on her bow, which doesn't show up as well.

My second card uses Sleeping Easter Bunny by JLJ Designs. I used sparkly flowers for my bling this time.

We have several other great challenges going on at The Latte Lounge. For Hallmark Holiday, Stacie is challenging us to recycle our store-bought cards into something new and exciting. Rhonda wants us to use flowers, flowers, and more flowers. You still have a couple days to enter Melissa's chipboard challenge.

Happy Crafting!

Jennifer

"Hallmark Holiday" Challenge: Rip up, Re-use and Re-cycle Store Bought Cards

Whew! Valetine's Day is finally behind us!! I swear, if I see one more pink heart this week I'm gonna.... oh, nevermind! It's just time to move on!!

First things first!

I don't know if ya'll were paying attention, but we had a new contributor to our blog yesterday!! We have a very small but intimate Design Team that help each other to keep things running here at the "Lounge" the way you like it. This week we invited one more member into our fold and Sara graciously accepted our offer!

WELCOME TO THE TEAM, SARA!!!

Secondly, this post is running a little late in the afternoon today!

The reason? I just finished hopping my way through the FABULOUS creations from the Stamping Boutique Design Team for the Spring Fever Blog Hop!

If you haven't been there, you'll want to run, not walk, over to Amanda's blog and get started!! Before you know it, you'll feel like you can smell the Spring Flowers!!

And now, back to our regularly scheduled programming:

As card-makers and scrapbookers and crafters in general, we are SO good at finding a useful purpose for just about everything we put our hands on. I've seen crafts made with cardboard boxes and duct tape and coat hangers and, well just about anything!

We are a CREATIVE bunch!!

And we're FRUGAL... we just HATE to see things get wasted!

Right?

So, what are you going to do with all those store-bought cards you got for Christmas from your distant relatives and insurance agents? How about last year's birthday cards that are still sitting in a box under your desk?

I say Reduce, Re-use and Recycle!

It's a HALLMARK HOLIDAY here at the Latte Lounge!!

Get out all those store bought cards and cut them up into little pieces and see what you can create!!

Here are some samples made by our newest Design Team Member, Sara:

This challenge will run from today (February 19th) for two weeks!

It will close on Saturday March 5th and the winner will get their choice of

TWO IMAGES FROM THE STAMPING BOUTIQUE!!

"The Latest BUZZ"

Good Afternoon To All! I have some exciting news to share with all of you today! There is a wonderful "Spring Fever" Blog Hop happening this weekend over at The Stamping Boutique's Challenge Blog. I will give some of the details here and then you can hop on over using the link that I have provided up above to find out the rest of the BUZZ!

Tracey at The Stamping Boutique has been working hard to bring us all some sunshine; since winter doesn't seem to be over yet! The NEW Spring Images are a breath of fresh air, which the talented Design Team will be using in the "Spring Fever" Blog Hop! The hop will run from Saturday, February 19th at 12AM EST until Sunday, February 20th at 6PM EST. You will NOT want to miss out on this event! There will be lots of stops with beautiful creations! Be sure to grab your favorite beverage and come hop along with us!

Thanks for taking the time to stop by! We hope that everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Happy Creating!

Sara

Flowers

Good morning!! It's time to start a new challenge at The Latte Lounge. I'm starting to really look forward to spring and some warm weather. So, to help it along, I am asking you to use flowers on your creations. I want to see lots of them. The challenge will run for 2 weeks, so you have until March 3 to enter. The winner will get 2 image of choice from The Stamping Boutique.


Here is a card I made to inspiration.

The sentiment is from TLC Creations.  The prima flowers are from Michael's and the DP is from my stash.

I hope you'll play along.  Be sure to check out the other challenges going on while you're there.

~Rhonda

Featured Member - Stef Hughes

This week we are so excited to have the one and only

Glitterbabe, Stef Hughes as our featured member.

How long have you been paper crafting? 10 years

How did you get started in paper crafting? Was invited to a home stamping party and I went – very reluctantly – but it lit the flame and I’ve been hooked ever since.

What crafting item can you not live without? My big shot. I emboss everything.

What is your favorite paper crafting company? I really don’t have a favorite. Whatever catches my eye I usually go for it.

What is your favorite coloring medium? Copics. I LOVE my copics tho lately I’ve been having a lot of fun in photoshop.

Do you have any other hobbies? Drawing. I love my drawing time. I was always the music one in the family and could not draw a straight line even with a ruler. When digital stamps became popular my husband suggested I give it a try. I did. Then I found The Stamping Boutique and Tracey Malnofski and was just in awe of her fabulous drawings. I owe A LOT of my talent to tracey.

And blogging! I love my blogging. All the people I have met from all over the world is truly amazing and the best people ever.

Is there anything else you would like to share about yourself? I’m a retired legal assistant. I was in law for 45 years and NEVER had the desire to become a lawyer. Didn’t want to work that hard – lol. I met my hubby on a blind date and it was ALMOST love at first sight. More like love at second sight. I have a fabulous 5-1/2 year old granddaughter who is the light of my life and heading towards being a bigger glitterbabe than me – go figure!

I’ve never been a featured anything before and I am truly delighted to be the featured member here.

Now check out these wonderful creations:

Be sure to check out Stef's blog and her wonderful store filled with incredible digi images!!!

You'll find all our current challenges here.

You Inspire Me Challenge - Mid Way Reminder

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

You still have a week to join the You Inspire Me Challenge. You make a project and make someone else feel good by leaving them love about how they inspired you. I was inspired byJacabean's tutorial to make these gift card holders - and they were so easy! I used some felt sheets and leftover cardmaking embellishments.

Rhonda's challenge for Valentines with glitter and bling is open until Wednesday. We'recheerfully choosing challenges with Stacie - I think the current record is 56! Melissa has us reaching into our stashes to try using chipboard.

We're looking forward to seeing you around The Latte Lounge.

Happy Crafting!

Jennifer

Friday Fun

Happy Friday everyone!!! I am here to let you know of all the fun happening at TLL right now!!!

First our challenges are all in midstream so be sure to jump in and join the fun!!
The prize for each of our current challenges is 2 TSB images of your choice!!

Feb 3rd - 17th Valentines Day Glitter and BlingFeb 5th - 19th - Cheerfully Choosing Challenge (enter one project in as many challenges as possible.
Feb 7th - 20th You Inspire Me - create a project inspired by someone else
Feb 9th - 23rd - Use Chipboard on your project

February Monthly Challenge - any project, creation without hearts!! :-) This one is open until midnight Febraury 28th. The prize will be a bag of crafty goodies including at least one acrylic or foam mounted rubber stamps!!

We'd also love it if you have a blog and would share your entries and our challenges on it.


You just have to sign up for the new The Stamping Boutique Journal which will keep you up to date on the latest TLL/TSB news. April has been working really hard to bring it together and I just know you won't want to miss it!!!! It will also have some wonderful freebies in it!!

We are grateful for each and every one of you!!
melissac

You Inspire Me Challenge

My new challenge at The Latte Lounge is "You Inspire Me." We all follow blogs, see pictures in galleries, and DT submissions for challenges. Sometimes one of these cards or projects strikes a cord with you; sometimes everything you see from a designer inspires you to create. Your challenge is to make a card or project inspired by someone else. I encourage you to go back and leave some love for the person who has inspired you - believe me, it matters!

My card is inspired by Stacie, a.k.a. Hestia's Helper. Everytime I see one of her cards I wonder, how did she do that? Can I do it too? I was particularly inspired by this card to try such a fancy fold. This card is my attempt. I used I love you this much Cynthia from The Stamping Boutique. I used papers from my minikit (available for free this month on my blog). The sentiment is from Raindrop Echo.

I made a second project to say thank you to the ladies of the

Healthy Lifestyle group on The Latte Lounge. They've inspired me to recommit to my healthy lifestyle this year. Thank you!

There are several other challenges going on at The Latte Lounge. Stacie is encouraging us to choose our challenges cheerfully to get several entries for one card. Melissa has a teal, pink, and black color challenge. Rhonda wants us to make Valentines with glitter and bling. I think you could make a card for all four challenges - give it a try.

Happy Crafting!

Jennifer

Cheerfully Choosing Challenges at the Latte Lounge!

First things first!

We extended the Sporty Saturday Challenge 

for an extra week

since we had our Digi Day event

last weekend!

There were 6 entries in the Sporty Saturday Challenge

and Mr. Random has chosen!

The winner of TWO images from

The Stamping Boutique is

Jeannie Walsh!

Congratulations!!

Now, it's my turn to host a new challenge at the Latte Lounge!

I had a super idea about incorporating sports and the Super Bowl and colors and teams and embellishments and, and well, it just didn't happen! I didn't make the sample I planned and made this one instead!

Don't you just LOVE that adorable teddy bear?

He's availabe at The Karber Shop!

And the Baby Blanket pattern of his fur?

And the polka dotted balloon?

And the polka dots background?

Do you want them?

Sure you do!!

And you can WIN them, FREE, from JLJ Designs!!

Just enter the BABY LOVE Challenge at the Latte Lounge and the entire pack of digi papers is YOURS!! PLUS TWO images from The Stamping Boutique!!

And the colors!!
Tell me you don't think the Pink, Teal and Black look TOTALLY awesome together!! You KNOW they do!!

And you KNOW you want to make a card or project using those colors!!

And you KNOW you want to enter it in the COLOR CHALLENGE at the Latte Lounge!

So THAT my friends is my challenge to you this week!

CHEERFULLY CHOOSING CHALLENGES!!

USE ONE PROJECT AND ENTER AS MANY CHALLENGES WITH IT AS YOU CAN!!

THIS ONE CARD FITS 3 CHALLENGES AT THE LATTE LOUNGE AND ONE FOR KARBER DIGITAL... and if I search around, I'll bet I can find a few more!!

Who can link the MOST challenges back to the Latte Lounge???

If you need help finding extra challenges to enter, we DO have a group here at the Latte Lounge, called Any Type of Challenge and Rhonda is VERY VERY good at keeping it updated!!

This will run for 2 weeks, ending Saturday, February 19th!!
The winner will receive TWO images from The Stamping Boutique!!

Valentines with Glitter and Bling

Hi! Welcome to another challenge here at The Latte Lounge. I'm so excited for this challenge. This time around I would like you to make Valentine's creations using Glitter and Bling, it can be one or the other or both. You can use any images, sentiments, etc... from any company. You have 2 weeks to get your entry in, so we will run until Feb. 17. The winner will recieve 2 images from TSB.

Here are a couple of items for some inspiration...

For this card I used both glitter and bling.  The image is from Michelle Perkett.  I colored the image with BIC Markits.  I used red Stickles on the hearts.  The DP is Making Memories.  The ribbon is Really Reasonable Ribbon and the gems are from Michaels.

This one just has some bling on it.  (I admit, this is one of my creations from last year, but I got a little behind on my creations.  Lol.)  The image is from The Stamping Boutique.  The DP is Martha Stewart.  The Sentiment is Michelle Perkett.  The Bling was from my stash and I colored the image with Marvy Markers.

This one uses just glitter.  (Another creation from last year.)  The Image is Michelle Perkett.  The sentiment is The Wild Flower Patch.  The Glitter is Stampendous.  I colored the image with Marvy Markers.

I hope you'll all hop over to The Latte Lounge and play along.

A few more happenings at the Lounge.

Jen is hosting a digi paper Baby Love challenge until Sunday the 6th

Melissa has a color challenge going until Tuesday the 8th

~Rhonda

Latest News---

Hello!!! There is lots happening at The Latte Lounge these days!!

Today is the mid-way point of our color challenge!! You have until 11:59pm next Tuesday (2/8) to create a project using the colors black, teal, and pink!! Here are some samples of the projects already compled.

Amanda

MizDenise


Heather S



Remember you have a great chance of winning since the winner is decided by a random draw!!! (I could never begin to judge the beautiful creations entered.)

The other Challenges are due as follows -
020311 Make your own embellishment

020511 Sporty Saturday

020711 Digi Paper - Baby

020811 Color - Teal, black and pink

Also please be sure to sign up for The Stamping Boutique Journal which will keep you up to date on the latest TLL/TSB news. It will also have some wonderful freebies in it!! Speaking of Freebies -- you get this one for just signing up

We also hope you will come and play at

What: The Stamping Boutique Digital Image Day Saturday 2/5/11 2-4PM EST
Where : TSB group at PaperCraft Planet
Theme: Falling in Love with digis
What's going to be offered: Challenges, freebie TSB images, fellow crafters, and prizes!

Whew- that's a lot. I think that's everything for now!! Hope you have a blessed day!!

Featured Member - Michelle Single!!!

I'm super excited to introduce this week's Featured Member. Michelle has jumped right in to all the activities. Let me tell you her fun comments and attitude has been such a wonderful addition. Now I'd like to let you meet her-


Short Bio
My husband and I are MEGA Starbucks addicts - our Pug is named Latte, and we even went there following our wedding ceremony on the way to the reception. Talk about some crazy looks! A German Shepherd Dog named Gandolf (Gandy for short) rounds out our household. Last month, I was medically discharged from the Army Reserves for other injuries I had sustained, and now I have time to pursue some FUN things. I work full time, and stamping still helps me stay sane (well, as sane as I can get). Like all Soldiers, I'm not that great at talking about myself.
How long have you been paper crafting?

How did you get started in paper crafting?At the suggestion of a fellow Soldier, I began stamping in 2005 as a way to reduce stress and combat the PTSD that was plaguing my very being following a two-year deployment to the Middle East with the US Army (it works!!!). Like everyone, I started with Stampin' Up! and have been a hobby demo for them on and off since 2005. Last year, I felt like I was in a rut with Stampin' Up! and began branching out to other stamp companies, and at CHA in 2010, I began dabbling with Copic markers (oh man!). I heard the woes of what printer ink could do to the Copics, so I was very timid to use digital stamps. I accidentally bought two of one Copic color, so I thought I would have a go at it. And low and behold, my printer ink works just fine.

What crafting item can you not live without?My big shot, crop-dile, and Copics/Spicas (assuming I get paper, adhesive, ink, stamps, and a printer for my digi stamps)

What is your favorite paper crafting company? That changes frequently. I used to be a Stampin' Up! Demo, so I am just now branching out to others. I still love SU's colors and coordination, but right now, I'm stuck on Taylored Expressions and My Favorite Things. I love Jessica Sprague, as well, for her wonderful, easy to use, Photoshop classes.

What is your favorite coloring medium?
I love to color with Copics thanks to Nancy McKinny, who opened my eyes and emptied by wallet. I also like to color in Photoshop. With all the digital stamps and paper, you make some really cool things without even touching adhesive.

Do you have any other hobbies?I dabble in photography, and love love love taking pictures. I also volunteer with the Northern Illinois Pug Rescue. I'm an IT geek by profession, which always translates into a hobby. I love gadgets and toys. I'm an iPad addict! This is being typed on my iPad, actually. :)

Is there anything else you would like to share about yourself? I am a proud mom of 2 furry kids - Gandolf "Gandy" the German Shepherd, and Latte "Stinky Doggie" the Pug.

Here are some of Michelle's fabulous creations --






I hope you'll stop by Michelle's fabulous blog Caffeine and Stamps to leave her some love.

Quick Reminder -- current challenges can be found here.

Thanks for coming by!!