I’ve been looking for a new way to feel inspired with paper crafting and thought a new sketch challenge would help.  The ladies at Pals Paper Arts always seem to have great sketches and I thought it was about time to give one a try.

This week’s sketch:

This sketch was the perfect jump start I needed and the creative juices are once again flowing!  I just seemed to have gotten into a rut and had been using the same stamp sets and colours over and over again and needed to shake things up a little. And I think I did just that!

My card:

I had found some Rich Razzleberry ribbon in my stash that I had long forgotten and used that as the starting point for this card. This sketch was perfect for showcasing the new Summer Smooches DSP, which also happens to have Rich Razzleberry in it. Think I may have found my new favourite colour!

We have two family birthdays this week, so now all I have to decide is which one will be the lucky recipient of this card.

Thanks for taking a look.

Here’s what I used:

Card Stock: Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White, Lucky Limeade, Summer Smooches DSP

Ink: Rich Razzleberry

Stamp Sets: Happiest Birthday  Wishes

Tools and Embellishments: Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder, Blossom Punch, Rich Razzleberry Grosgrain Ribbon, Lucky Limeade Designer Printed Brads

The last two weeks have been so busy, that I just now feel like I am coming up for air. It’s been cake, cake and more cake around here and I have seriously been missing my paper crafting. I’ve also missed out on a few card challenges which I hope to rectify this weekend.

I haven’t shared this here yet, but back in January, I took the plunge and started my own cake and card business – Sugar and Paper Creations . I have been decorating cakes for family and friends for years, but decided it was time to unleash my creativity on the masses.  My company may only be in its infancy but the last few weeks have been steadily busy and for that I am grateful.

So I thought I would share with all of you, what I’ve been up to lately.

Lego Ninjago Cake

Ninjago Cupcakes

Thanks to this blog, I had the opportunity to do these Lego Ninjago cupcakes and cake again, for a Ninjago fan who was turning 6.

Mini Lemon Cupcakes with Lemon Cream Cheese Icing

Mini Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Icing

These lemon and red velvet mini cupcakes were designed to celebrate the 5 Year Anniversary of BobCat House Concerts.  If you love great music but not the bar scene, you really should check them out.

Mini Chocolate/Chocolate Cupcakes with Star Sprinkles

Chocolate / Chocolate cake

Next up were these mini chocolate cupcakes and matching 10″ cake for a little girl who was turning four. Her only request was for chocolate cake with chocolate icing and green decorations.

This cake was designed with a wonderful little boy in mind, who was turning three. He loves dinosaurs and trains, so what  could be better than Buddy from Dinosaur Train.

The Hulk from the Super Hero Squad

Super Hero Squad Cupcakes

And last, but certainly not least are the cake and cupcakes I designed for a brother and sister duo who are having a joint birthday party and who both love the Super Hero Squad. The big request was that the cake had to be the Hulk, with his Super Hero friends on the cupcakes. With these cakes, I tried a new technique I hadn’t used before, a buttercream transfer. It was surprisingly easy too, time consuming, but easy. You simply find an image for your cake or cupcake, trace the reverse image onto paper, lay wax paper over top and trace the image with icing. Pop in the freezer for 90 minutes, plop onto the cake and voila.   It’s like adding an edible sticker to your cake and best of all it’s all icing.

Next up will be a Harry Potter inspired cake for my own children’s birthday party. Finally a cake I will get to eat!

If you have a minute, I would love you to ‘Like’ my new Facebook page . Who knows there may be a future giveaway involved!

Yesterday, I had one of those typical Mondays where if something could go wrong, it did.  So at the end of the day, I was super happy to sit down and create a card, using this weeks Mojo Monday sketch.

Normally, when I sit down in my little craft corner, to create, my 5 year old daughter joins me with her own card making supplies – I am creating a little mini-me!  However, her birthday is coming up and I wanted to use this week’s sketch to create her birthday card, so I did this while she was in bed.

Her favourite colour is purple, so I knew I had to include that colour in her card.  She also has had her eye on the new Sweet Shop Jelly Bean Brads, so I wanted to incorporate those as well.  And ice cream and birthdays always go together, so the Sweet Shop DSP was perfect. I think it turned out pretty cute!

Here’s what I used (all Stampin’ UP Products):

Card Stock: Whisper White, Calypso Coral, Pool Party Textured, Sweet Shop DSP, Calypso Coral Patterns DSP

Ink: Soft Suede

Stamp Set: Happiest Birthday Wishes

Tools and Embellishments: 3/16 Corner Punch, 1 3/4 Scallop Circle Punch, Sweet Shop Jelly Bean Brad, Calypso Coral Ruffled Ribbon, Stampin’ Dimensionals

The one thing that doing all these challenges has taught me, is that I really need to expand my stamp and punch collections, so I’m not always using the same ones!!  Oh well, at least my photography skills seem to be improving each week.

Until next time, thanks for looking!