Paper Smooches Sparks

Hi there, so glad you stopped by! I know that I've been off the radar for quite some time (again) but I'm back and wanting to share something fun with you.

Okay so first let me explain one of the reasons I stopped blogging. It's certainly not the only reason but it surely didn't help. My laptop (at the time) gave out on me. All my USB drives stopped working. So you're probably thinking ... what does that have to do with anything ... well ALL of my stamping files (including all digital images), pictures and watermarks etc. were on an external portable drive and NOT on my laptop hard drive. I really felt lost not having access to anything. All in all I started loosing interest in stamping and in turn lost my mojo. In the end I couldn't take it any longer so I bought a new laptop. This laptop is SO much better that I can keep everything in one place and only use a small fraction of space!

So why did I tell you all this you ask? As I was going through all my old files and such trying to clean things up before transfering, I came across an online stamping store that I had saved to my favourites a while back. It's called Paper Smooches and is owned by the "oh so talented" Kim Hughes. Remember she used to illustrate for Cornish Heritage Farms before they closed their doors? Anyhoo, I just LOVE her fun, cute and punny stamps. So ... while visiting her store I noticed that she also has a new and very fun challenge blog called Paper Smooches SPARKS. I was so excited to have found it and quite honestly, I felt inspired right off the bat and got started immediately! Now, for all the details, you're best to head over there and have a good look for yourself, you'll love it trust me! Oh ya ... she also has the best prizes ... FREE Paper Smooches stamps, how does it get any better, really?

Now for the challenge. This is the photo to use as inspiration ...

Here is what I came up with ...

This owl is actually from a stamp set that was sold through Cornish Heritage Farms. It's a fabulous fun set that I hope she brings into her store.

I used kraft card stock as my base and also for the embossed panel over it. For the image, I stamped the owl once on pattern paper, the eye lids and claws on yellow card stock and the eyes on white. I cut each out and layered (paper pieced) them mounting the eyes with foam tape to give more dimension. The tree branch is also included in the same stamp set which I stamped onto kraft card stock, cut out and adhered. The sentiment "you are a hoot" is also in the same stamp set.

Here's a little close up ...

Well I have to say that this was fun and hope that you have a chance to join in on the fun by visiting the Paper Smooches SPARKS challenge!

Until next time,