Saturday, February 28, 2009

Reach for the Stars (WSC70)

Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge was designed by Lori Craig. My base card is Bashful Blue, and all three panels are matted on Whisper White. The main image panel is white on white, but I sponged the top part with Bashful Blue before stamping the image. I made a slit at his mouth with a craft knife so I could add the tiny punched star. The image was colored with SU! Markers. The ribbon is from Ribbon Originals.

The layout of Lori's sketch is shown at the left. Like Beate said, it's a great layout for showing off your designer paper. My DSP is the Delicate Dots SAB paper. Instead of a scallop circle or flower embellishment, I used stars punched with the Large and Small Star Punches. That way, it coordinates with the image and sentiment. Thanks for stopping by!!
  • Stamps: Animal Crackers
  • Papers: Bashful Blue, Whisper White, So Saffron, Delicate Dots SAB DSP
  • Ink: Bashful Blue, Black Stazon, SU! Markers (Bashful Blue and So Saffron)
  • Accessories: Large and Small Star Punches, Sponge, Dimensionals, Ribbon Originals.

Be Inspired #20

So many challenges and so little time!!! I found out that there's a blog called "Cuttlebug Challenges". I think they have various challenges on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. This "Be Inspired" Challenge is from last Wednesday, February 25th.
In case you don't get a chance to go to the site and check out the challenge, the sketch is shown at the left. For my branch, I stamped one of the ones from "Kindred Spirits", cut out what I wanted, and mounted it with pieces of Dimensionals. Instead of the flower, I used the embossed and die cut dove. My horizontal strip is a bit wider because I used two Cuttlebug border folders and the Scallop Edge Border Punch. Thanks for visiting my blog today. I may be posting more later. Cya!
  • Stamps: Kindred Spirits, Short & Sweet
  • Papers: Baja Breeze Textured CS, Certainly Celery and Baja Breeze Std. CS, Whisper White, Green Tea DSP
  • Ink: Certainly Celery, Baja Breeze; Celery Marker
  • Accessories: Big Shot, CB Dove Emboss/Die Set, CB With Love and Frills Border Folders, Snips, Larger Corner Rounder, Small and Large Oval Punches, Dimensionals

Friday, February 27, 2009

Friday Inspiration

On Friday, over at Sketches by Tamara there is an Inspiration Challenge. This weeks challenge is based on last week's sketch and a certain recipe. The recipe was to use something you've been hoarding which is my pre-cut wavy card stock and large bling, to use a flower (call mine a mum or Christmas flower!), and to use bling, which I did on the little die cut stocking. My inspiration came from the scrap book page by Joanie. There were so many different elements on her page. I changed it from a Valentine or "Love" theme to Christmas but kept the basic layout. Thanks Joanie!! The papers are all DCWV (Textured Card Stock, Photo Stack, and Christmas Pack). The die cuts are from one Originalz Die, the snowflakes and branches are MS punches, the flower came from a gift set of scrap booking supplies I got a year and a half ago. I've had the wavy lines for at least 10 years! The bling came from WalMart I think. Thanks for visiting!!

5th Avenue DP (LSC209)

For the Limited Supplies Challenge, we were to make our own designer paper (DP). We could only use ONE set for the pattern AND the sentiment. We could only use ribbon and/or brads for an embellishment, and we could only use punches and/or dies to create the sentiment panel. I got my inspiration for this card from the example for this set in the catalog. I embossed all my flowers though. I inked the rose stamp with Versamark and then Riding Hood Red and embossed with Clear Embossing Powder. I used Silver and Black Embossing Powders for the other two flowers. The ribbon is Riding Hood Red Taffeta, and the sentiment panel was made with the Wide Oval Punch and a Lots of Tags Sizzlit. All products used to create this card are from Stampin' Up! Thanks for visiting today!!!
  • Stamps: Fifth Avenue Floral
  • Papers: Riding Hood Red, Whisper White
  • Ink: Versamark, Riding Hood Red
  • Accessories: Clear, Silver and Black EP's, Heat Tool, Riding Hood Red Taffeta Ribbon, Glue Dot, Wide Oval Punch, Lots of Tags Sizzlit, Dimensionals

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Tamara's Card Sketch #84

I almost forgot about the Card Sketches by Tamara until I saw a card done with this sketch today! This one is #84 and the last one I did was #74. Well, I've not been all that well during that time period, but I'm back on top now!!! I kept my card very close to the original sketch. My base card is Bashful Blue with the two strips of patterned paper matted on Barely Banana. At the cross is a layered flower with a brad in the middle. The sentiment is stamped on a die cut tag from Stampin' Up!'s "Lots of Tags" Sizzlit Set. Thanks for visiting today!!!
  • Stamps: A Good Egg
  • Papers: Bashful Blue, Barely Banana, unknown DP
  • Ink: Basic Black
  • Accessories: Big Shot, Lots of Tags #1 Sizzlit, Flowers, Soft Subtles Brad, MS Leaf Punch, Dimensionals

Praying For You

Well, one of the things I don't like to do is make sympathy cards. Today, I had to make one. A long time member of our community passed away this week, and his widow is a member of my church family as well as one of my newest club members. The graveside ceremony is in just a few minutes. I decided not to go to that. They are having a Celebration of Life in a couple of hours with a lunch to follow. I made a dish for that, and I'll go for the Celebration, but I think I'll just leave my dish and skip the luncheon. Anyway, this was made with all Stampin' Up! products. I'm sure glad I got this set; it came just in time. Thanks for stopping by.
  • Stamps: Thoughts and Prayers
  • Papers: Pink Pirouette, Pretty In Pink, Very Vanilla, Bella Rose DSP
  • Ink: Old Olive, Pretty In Pink
  • Accessories: Pretty In Pink Taffeta Ribbon, Sponge (I distressed with my finger nail)

Makin' Bacon (SASSC4, WT207)

Well, it's day 4 for the new releases AND sketch challenges over at Stamps and Smiles. I haven't missed any of their sketches this week! I combined this one with the Ways To Use It Challenge on SCS which was called "Frugal Finds". I thought I was frugal making this card. The image was sent to me by a friend from SCS, so that was free. The designer paper is 10 to 15 years old, and the price tag on the back shows the original price was $0.79 and I got it for $0.40 BACK THEN! I was going to use a heart shaped button from my stash as an embellishment but decided to just punch out a couple of small hearts with the Heart to Heart Punch. I even used Georgia Pacific card stock for all the white instead of some of my more expensive white papers. The pink card stock came from my scraps. I'd say this was a very frugal card!!! Thanks for visiting my blog today!!
  • Stamps: Whipper Snapper, Sprinkles (SU!)
  • Papers: GP White, Pretty In Pink
  • Ink: Black Stazon, Pixie Pink
  • Accessories: WCW Crayons, Aqua Painter, Heart to Heart Punch, Dimensionals

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Kind Words (SASSC3)

Day 3 for the new Sketch Challenge over at Stamps and Smiles. The new set they are releasing for today is "Egg-stra-special". It has the bunny, some paints, sentiments, and several different eggs. Instead of going with the eggs, I just had to use the flower embellishment my friend brought over yesterday. I think there's six or eight of them in the package and she got them from the Dollar Store! What a great find. This card is a little 4-1/4" square card. It still fits in a standard A2 size envelope (unless that flower's too big!). The sentiment is from "Echoes of Kindness", a Level 2 Hostess set. I stamped one of the flowers from the set on the envelope as well as inside the card. Thanks for visiting!!
  • Stamps: Echoes of Kindness
  • Papers: Pale Plum, White, Unknown DP
  • Ink: Black Stazon, Pale Plum
  • Accessories: $1 Store Flower Embellishment, 3/16" Yellow Satin Ribbon

Vertical Pocket Card (SC217)

Today's Sketch Challenge at SCS was perfect for using "inchies". I punch mine from some thin white cardboard that must have been some backing in some sort of package. I save those types of things! Now, what lead me to make mine into a pocket card you might ask? Well, I was trying to decide what colors to use and found one of those Wild Wasabi pre-cut, pre-folded pieces of card stock that were on special last year. I never did figure out how to make the matchbook card out of one, but I've made a lot of pocket cards with them. With that, I decided to use some Soft Sky and River Rock card stock from last year's In-Colors. I also found a piece of designer paper that was mostly Wasabi.

The sketch layout is shown at left. Now, I found a piece of River Rock card stock that was embossed with the Textiles embossing folder, so I used that for my horizontal strip which I adhered to the pocket flap. You actually don't even need the flap since it doesn't show. I matted my "inchies" on Soft Sky and added them to the River Rock Strip. You can barely see the embossing, but at least I used up one more scrap piece! I adhered the designer paper to a Soft Sky mat, then I got down to the details. I use the Flower Trio Punch so often, but those little flowers are just perfect for embossing! I stamped the leaf from "Easter Beauty" on Wasabi and cut those out and adhered them to the "inchies". Then, I adhered my embossed flowers and added white centers with a gel pen.

The insert, shown at the right, is just white on Soft Sky and stamped with the flowers from Easter Beauty. I water colored the flowers with ink in the top of my stamp pads. I used the Horizontal Slot Punch at the top of the insert and used Kraft Taffeta Ribbon for the pull string. That's it! Thanks for visiting here today! Maybe I'll be able to post one more card later.
  • Stamps: Easter Beauty
  • Papers: Wild Wasabi Textured Matchbox Folded CS, Soft Sky, River Rock, White, SU! DP
  • Ink: Black Stazon, Soft Sky, Wild Wasabi, Signo White Gel Pen
  • Accessories: Big Shot, CB Textiles EF, Flower Trio Punch, Mat Pack, Embossing Stylus, Snips, 1" Square Punch, 1-1/4" Square Punch, Horizontal Slot Punch, Kraft Taffeta Ribbon, Large Corner Rounder Punch

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Late Turtle (SASSC2) CC207)

This is the second day of the new sketch challenge over at Stamps and Smiles. Now, all of the examples have bunnies on them because the design team is using the second newly released set called, "Mama Bunny Loves Me." You know, I don't seem to have a bunny rabbit in all my stamp sets!!! I will soon though because there are a couple of Easter sets in the new Occasions Mini catalog for spring. I used the turtle from a Level 3 Hostess set from last spring. One of my ladies earned it and then gave it to me! I can't ever let this set go!! The sentiment for the inside says, "Did I at least get the month right?" I need to make belated birthday cards the way I've been forgetting things lately. It will be good to keep this on on hand just in case! LOL! I used today's Color Challenge combo of Summer Sun, Kiwi Kiss, and Pumpkin Pie. The base card is Kiwi Kiss with a layer of Pumpkin Pie Patterns Designer Paper. The main image was stamped with Mustard Stazon and colored with a Blender Pen, Kiwi Ink Pad, and Markers. The edge is sponged with Kiwi and then it's matted on Summer Sun. The strip at the bottom is Very Vanilla punched with the Eyelet Border Punch and layered with the Kiwi 5/8" grosgrain ribbon. I was going to put a knot or a bow on that ribbon but decided to leave it alone. All products used on this card are from Stampin' Up! Thanks for visiting my blog today!!!
  • Stamps: Older & Wiser (retired Level 3 Hostess Set)
  • Papers: Kiwi Kiss Textured CS, Summer Sun, Very Vanilla, Pumpkin Pie Patterns DSP
  • Ink: Mustard Stazon, Kiwi Kiss, Summer Sun and Pumpkin Pie Markers
  • Accessories: 1/2" Circle Punch, Earth Elements Brads, Eyelet Border Punch, Sponge, Blender Pen, Kiwi Kiss 5/8" GG Ribbon

Monday, February 23, 2009

New Challenge! (SASSC1)

There's a new challenge over at Stamps and Smiles. In fact, they are releasing a new line of stamps. I love to see new businesses pop up even in today's economy. All of the samples had cupcakes on them because the design team over there all have the newly released stamp set called "Cuppy Love". I decided to use the big cupcake from "Crazy for Cupcakes" from SU! on my card. In fact, the only non-SU! part of this card was the Nestabilities used to make the ovals. The base card is Tempting Turquoise with designer paper that is retired. I think it was from "Flowers for You", but I'm not sure. If you know, let me know so I can edit this post!! The cupcake is popped up, the frosting and candle are popped up, and then the candle alone is popped up. Lots of dimension there! The sprinkles are actually from the Silver Bead Duo. I used the seed beads from that to do the flower centers too. Thanks for stopping by!
  • Stamps: Crazy for Cupcakes
  • Papers: Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White, Flowers for You DSP
  • Ink: SU! Markers, Black Stazon
  • Accessories: Big Shot, Oval Nesties, Silver Bead Duo, Dimensionals, Flower Trio Punch, 2-Way Glue Pen, Old Olive GG Ribbon

Card on Card (Mojo75)

Back to cards now! I only have one more scrap book page to finish my album, and I won't even bother you all with posting it. I'll stick to cards for a bit. I used this same designer paper for my card yesterday except that I used different colors. I love the matching Embosslit!!! I just have to get ALL of those! This card is for the Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge #75. I eliminated the embellishments along the small strip and used a Cuttlebug borders embossing folder instead. I made this a "Card on Card" with the sentiment inside the little card on the front.

The photo at the left shows the little card open and the sentiment inside. This gives me all kinds of space inside the card to write my thank you note. I think I'm trying to push spring with my Soft Subtle colors of Almost Amethyst and Pretty In Pink. The yellow is So Saffron because that's what in the designer paper. I love this Tea Party DSP!! I need to get MORE! I promise to TRY to use something else on the next card that I make! LOL! Thanks for stopping by today, and have a glorious day!!!
  • Stamps: Elegant Thank You
  • Papers: Almost Amethyst, Pretty In Pink, Whisper White, So Saffron, Tea Party DSP
  • Ink: Almost Amethyst, Pretty In Pink Marker
  • Accessories: Big Shot, Sweetest Stem Embosslit, Flower Trio Punch, Mat Pack, Embossing Stylus, Eyelet Border Punch, Sponge Dauber, 2-Way Glue Pen, Cuttlebug Frills Border EF

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Kodak Moments (SBSC178)

I really need to finish scrap booking the rest of our summer vacation. After church today, I ate lunch, took meds, and got right to it. I finished two pages of our San Diego Zoo pics. I think I have two or three more pages to go. Then, I'll be finished with another album! As you can see, page one says, "Kodak" and page two says, "Moments". It all makes sense when you see the two pages side by side.
I had to do a little stamping somewhere on these pages, so I used the Sweet Stems in two corners on each page. The stickers on page one are about 15 years old! I'm surprised they still stick to anything! LOL! I also embossed the little Flower Trio punched flowers and added them to one corner on each page and to the last square on page one. The title was done with Sizzix Round-a-bout alphabet set.

I just loved the sketch provided by Sally on SCS. The layout is shown at the right. The sketch works great for all the pics of animals we took. My son will enjoy looking back at this album and remembering all we saw on our trip to southern California. I'm glad I included all these photos in that album. Thanks for visiting my blog today!!!

Spring Song (FS107)

I got up early this morning and checked out the Featured Stamper Challenge. The featured stamper was SgtStamper who has such a wonderful gallery with so many beautiful cards!

I chose the card shown at the left for my inspiration. I like the spring time look of it with the bird surrounded by lots of flowers. Her card was a sketch challenge, so I had to change the layout some. I kept the floral with stripes and stamped on the designer paper, but changed colors, stamps, and embellishments. I'm just crazy about the "Tea Party" designer paper which coordinates with the "Sweet Stems" AND "Pretty Petals" stamp sets. It also coordinates with the new "Sweetest Stem" Embosslit. I just have to get ALL of those Embosslits because I'm so thrilled with how they work!! I added some embossed flowers to the Embosslit piece and used SU! markers to color the bird and flower centers. All products used on this card are from Stampin' Up!. Thanks for stopping by today! Have a great week!!!
  • Stamps: Spring Song, Sweet Stems (inside and on envelope), All Year Cheer II (retired)
  • Papers: Pretty In Pink, Pink Pirouette, So Saffron, Whisper White, Tea Party DSP
  • Ink: Black Stazon, Certainly Celery, SU! Markers
  • Accessories: Big Shot, Sweetest Stem Embosslit, Flower Trio Punch, Mat Pack, Embossing Stylus, Soft Subtles Brads, Scallop Edge Border Punch, Sponge, Dimensionals

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Birthday Wishes (WSC69)

I made this birthday card for my daughter who's birthday is in a few days. She just had a baby yesterday, too. I thought something very feminine would be nice, so I used the Cuttlebug Frills Border Folder to emboss the white strip and I used Sweet Always Designer Paper.

I used Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge #69 (layout is shown at right). I liked the idea of the vertical strip so I could use the border embossing folder. My base card is Pretty In Pink. The large sentiment panel is GP White matted on Pink Pirouette and punched with the Scallop Edge Border Punch. I used Pink Gingham Ribbon which I haven't seen in the new catalog. I hope they bring back more colors of the gingham. The little flowers were punched with the Flower Trio Punch and embossed using a mat and stylus. The centers were done with the Signo White Gel Pen. Thanks so much for visiting my blog today!!!
  • Stamps: Elegant Cheer
  • Papers: Pretty In Pink, GP White, Pink Pirouette, Sweet Always DSP
  • Ink: Pink Passion, White Gel Pen
  • Accessories: Big Shot, CB Frills Border EF, Pink Gingham Ribbon, Flower Trio Punch, Mat Pack, Embossing Stylus, 2-way Glue Pen, Scallop Edge Border Punch

Friday, February 20, 2009

Hugs & Kisses (LSC208)

Today's Limited Supplies Challenge was to feature any shade of green. We could get bonus points for using designer papers (which I did not do). We were also to limit our embellishments to two (I used ribbon and made the medallion). Our layers were limited to three. The base card here is Glorious Green with the inside lined with white. The white layer on the card front was embossed with the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder AND the Frills Border Folder. I stamped with Glorious Green, covered the original heart center with a 3/4" punched circle, and added three hearts punched with the Heart to Heart punch. I punched out the medallion with the Scallop Circle Punch and popped it up with one Dimensional. The ribbon is non-SU! emerald green satin. Thanks for stopping by!!
  • Stamps: Love You Much
  • Papers: Glorious Green, GP White
  • Ink: Glorious Green and Glorious Green Marker
  • Accessories: Big Shot, CB Swiss Dots EF, CB Frills Border EF, Green Satin Ribbon, Scallop Circle Punch, 3/4" Circle Punch, Heart to Heart Punch, Dimensional

If the Halo Fits... (WT206, MTSC31)

Yesterday was a busy day. I was designing cards for my upcoming Stamp Camp, and Sarah and I cut and scored. She's such a great help to me!! Thanks to a couple of challenges, I was able to put this card together. It will be Project #3 for the "No Blooms At All" Stamp Camp next week. (That title means we won't be using ANY flowers because the next couple of months will be spring cards with lots and lots of blooms!!)

First, I used Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge #31 and the layout is shown at the right. Instead of the tab on the right, I used ribbon tabs. Mercy didn't use a tab on her sample either, so I thought it was OK. Also, the embellishments at the upper left were left off. Instead, I embossed three little circles about the same size as a brad. I hope you can see them in my photo. If not, click on the photo for a closer view. I also added the sentiment at the bottom. Secondly, the Ways To Use It Challenge yesterday was to use stripes. I did that too! I used markers to color the angel's hair and dress decorations, Zig-Painty gold on the halo, and 2-Way Glue Pen with Dazzling Diamonds on the wings. I popped up the main image panel and sentiment panel on Dimensionals. Thanks for visiting today!!!
  • Stamps: If The Halo Fits
  • Papers: Almost Amethyst, Certainly Celery, Whisper White, Tea Party DSP
  • Ink: Black Stazon, Pretty In Pink, Zig-Painty Gold; Markers: Barely Banana, Almost Amethyst, Pretty In Pink, and Certainly Celery
  • Accessories: 2-Way Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds, Pretty In Pink GG Ribbon, Mat Pack, Embossing Stylus, Small and Large Oval Punches, Dimensionals

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Bloom (SC216, Color Inspiration #42)

Today's Sketch Challenge on SCS was interesting and fun to do. I combined mine with the Color Inspiration Challenge #42 at DWernerDesign.com. The colors were More Mustard, Really Rust, Kiwi Kiss, and White. The base card is Naturals White and is embossed with the new Backgrounds #1 Texturz from Stampin' Up! I found out how to use the plates with a shim to get deeper embossing. I embossed the Kiwi Kiss panel with the same plate and it matches the designer paper.

The sketch layout is shown at left. I used Nestabilities Large Circle and Scallop Circle dies and then cut the circles into quarters. I colored the flower with a Blender Pen and ink pads. I did the out-of-the-box technique and also sponged the panel before matting tightly on Really Rust and Basic Black. The embossed Kiwi Kiss panel is matted on Basic Black, too. Thanks for visiting my blog today!
  • Stamps: Bloom' Beautiful
  • Papers: Naturals White, More Mustard, Kiwi Kiss, Basic Black, Really Rust, Prints Pack DSP (2008 Fall/Winter Level 1 Hostess)
  • Ink: Really Rust, Kiwi Kiss, More Mustard, Black Stazon
  • Accessories: Big Shot, Circle and Scallop Circle Nesties, Backgrounds #1 Texturz Plate, Snips, Sponge, More Mustard GG Ribbon, Earth Elements Brads

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Now, I'm happy! (CC206, Mojo74)

Well, yesterday I did this week's Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge, but I really didn't like my card. I did it again using today's Color Challenge (More Mustard, Rose Red, Kiwi Kiss or Old Olive). Now, I'm happy with my card!!! LOL! The base card here is Confetti White so there are speckles on the inside. The Rose Red panel was embossed with the "Birds n' Swirls" embossing folder. The designer paper, matted on Whisper White, is Rose Red Prints DSP (retired), and I tried to catch bits of the birds and swirls in the paper. The main image was stamped on Whisper White by inking the stamp with Rose Red and Old Olive Markers. I used the Stamp-a-ma-jig to line up the outline and stamped with Black Stazon. Finally, I stamped the center of the flower with More Mustard. The panel is matted on Kiwi Kiss, then More Mustard, and then Whisper White. The medallion is stamped on Whisper White with Rose Red ink and matted on Kiwi Kiss. The ribbon is Kiwi Kiss Satin Ribbon which I really love! This card is much better than yesterday's card, don't you think? Thanks for visiting today!!!
  • Stamps: Heartfelt Thanks, Wow Flowers
  • Papers: Confetti White, Rose Red, Whisper White, More Mustard, Kiwi Kiss, Rose Red Prints DSP (retired)
  • Ink: Rose Red and Old Olive Markers, Black Stazon, More Mustard, Rose Red
  • Accessories: Big Shot, CB Birds n' Swirls EF, Stamp-a-ma-jig, 1-1/4" and 1-3/8" Circle Punches, Kiwi Kiss Satin Ribbon, Dimensionals

Monday, February 16, 2009

Seeing Spots (Mojo74)

Well, I said I'd be posting a card here today. I'm not sure I'm happy with the color combo, but I did follow the Mojo Monday Sketch for this week. I started out with scraps of patterned paper and went on from there. I think the paper came from a WalMart tablet. It has circles and spots and is light green, dark green, rose red, white, and orange. I made the base card Glorious Green and embossed the front with the "Spots & Dots" embossing folder. The main image and sentiment medallion were done with SU!'s "Seeing Spots" set. I haven't used that set in a long time. The two Rose Red flowers were cut out and adhered to the panel with the circles. The paper behind the main image is Rose Red Prints DSP (retired) and the matting is Whisper White. The ribbon is Rose Red 1/4" grosgrain ribbon. Thanks for stopping by! Now, I'm going to finish my Die Cuts Binder. I'm almost done!!! Yay!!
  • Stamps: Seeing Spots
  • Papers: Glorious Green, Whisper White, Rose Red Prints DSP (retired), Non-SU! DP
  • Ink: Rose Red, Glorious Green
  • Accessories: Big Shot, CB Spots & Dots EF, 1-1/4" and 1-3/8" Circle Punches, Snips, Dimensionals, Rose Red GG Ribbon

Sunday, February 15, 2009

I'm still here!!!

Well, I haven't done much card making or even scrap booking since Thursday. I hated my card I made for the Ways To Use It Challenge, but one of my friends was over on Friday to help me cut up card stock for workshops, and she liked it enough to take it. She said she'd send it to family in Canada. Instead of working on workshop stuff, we wound up making toppers for little bags of Valentine candy for the church Valentine dinner. This same lady who helps me all the time is having a workshop on Tuesday to add the sales to the Club night on Friday which she is hostessing so she can earn more free goodies. I needed to think of something for a hostess gift for her Tuesday Workshop.
I decided to make her some "Card Candy". These are little handmade embellishments that you give to card makers so they can make quickie cards. They can add the embellishment to their card AS an embellishment, or they can build their card around them, using them as the focal points. I used a Glue Dot Runner to adhere them to half sheets of label paper after the labels have been removed. They will come off easily when she wants to use them. On the back, I added two ATC's. One is for Halloween with a Sizzix Sizzlit Die Cut called "Girl in Costume". She's a little witch and looks so cute on the background that was embossed with the Cuttlebug Pumpkins embossing folder. The other ATC is for Christmas with a reindeer made from a pine cone leaf and antlers made with the Martha Stewart Branches Punch. Sorry I didn't photograph those!

A good part of yesterday and today after I got back from church was putting together a Die Cuts Binder. I'm die cutting with all my Sizzix and SU! Sizzix dies. I'm finished with the Bigz dies, the Originals Dies, and all the Sizzlits and Embosslits. Now, I'm working on pages with examples of my alphabet sets. I'm die cutting the title of the set in upper and lower case and adding some numbers and whatever extra characters there are. I've only got two sets done so far. I don't think I'll get to card making again until tomorrow. I'll probably do the Mojo Monday Sketch. Thanks for stopping by! I should have a card to post some time tomorrow.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Hmmm (WT205)

Today's Ways to Use It Challenge was to use fabric on a card. I called this, "Hmmm" because I'm not sure whether to actually send it to someone or just throw it away. Sometimes you make a card and it just says, "Bummer!" That's this one for me! I did the challenge though! LOL! The fabric is from a circle of flannel that was on top of a jar full of a mixture of specialty coffee. I even used the ribbon it was tied onto the jar with. I don't drink coffee, but it was a pretty gift. I cut the fabric into a rectangle with pinking shears and sewed it onto the card. Even the photos I took of this card came out badly, so I took one more right at my desk! Thanks for stopping by!!
  • Stamps: One of a Kind
  • Papers: Handsome Hunter, Very Vanilla
  • Ink: Handsome Hunter
  • Accessories: Sewing Machine, Pinking Shears, Ribbon, Fabric, Vanilla HPH, Sponge

Fabulous Fishy (SC215)

Would you believe it, I came here yesterday to post the Sketch Challenge card and realized I forgot to post Tuesday's Color Challenge card. I posted the Color Challenge card and forgot to post this Sketch Challenge card!! Yikes!

The layout of this Sketch Challenge is shown at left. This is the type of sketch the I really like. You can use a combination of patterned paper, embossed card stock, or just plain card stock. You might think my colors are a bit odd, but I wanted my card to look "cool" as in water AND I wanted to use only scraps, which I did. The designer paper is from DCWV Photo Pack and looks like water. The other papers are Almost Amethyst, Glorious Green, Bashful Blue, and Summer Sun (all from the scrap basket). Thanks for visiting today!
  • Stamps: Ocean Commotion
  • Papers: Basic Black, Glorious Green, Almost Amethyst, Bashful Blue, Summer Sun, DCWV Photo Pack DP
  • Ink: Basic Black
  • Accessories: Big Shot, CB Tiny Bubbles EF, Word Window Punch, Snips, Dimensionals, 2-Way Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Dream (CC205)

I can't believe I forgot to upload my Color Challenge card yesterday. I guess I was just busy getting ready for last night's club. The colors were Perfect Plum, Pink Pirouette, and Kiwi Kiss. I love that Kiwi Kiss Satin Ribbon! The hummingbird is stamped with Perfect Plum, cut out, and popped up. The flower was colored with Pink Pirouette and Kiwi Kiss using a Blender Pen and the ink pads. Thanks for stopping by!
  • Stamps: Dream A Little
  • Papers: Kiwi Kiss, Perfect Plum, White, Pink Pirouette Patterns DSP
  • Ink: Perfect Plum, Pink Pirouette, Kiwi Kiss
  • Accessories: Big Shot, Oval Nesties, Sponge, Snips, Dimensionals, Kiwi Kiss Satin Ribbon

Monday, February 9, 2009

Sweet Thanks (Mojo73)

I love these Mojo Monday Sketches! My color combo is Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Bashful Blue and Very Vanilla. The Chocolate Chip is the base card, mats, and ink. Close to Cocoa is the Candy Lane Designer Paper panel and ink for sponging. Bashful Blue is the Patterns Designer Paper, textured card stock for the Embosslit, 1" Double Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, and marker for coloring the flowers. Vanilla is the main image panel and sentiment panel as well has the Hodgepodge Hardware big brad. I added mini pearls to the flowers (only non-SU! item).

At left is this week's sketch layout. I think I followed this one pretty well, don't you? I like the ribbon treatment going right through the main image panel. My ribbon was so wide that I had to use a craft knife and mat to make a slit. Thanks so much for visiting my blog today!
  • Stamps: Sweet Stems
  • Papers: Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Bashful Blue Textured CS, Bashful Blue Patterns DSP, Candy Lane DSP
  • Ink: Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Bashful Blue Marker
  • Accessories: Big Shot, Sweetest Stem Embosslit, Bashful Blue 1" DS GG Ribbon, Vanilla HPH Brad, Sponge, Pearls (non-SU!)

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Onesie (FS105)

The Featured Stamper for this week is Karen Dunbrook {K Dunbrook}. I've never seen her gallery before. She has lots of talent. Now, one of my ladies has asked me to help her come up with some ideas for a birth announcement since her baby is due next month. She's going to have a boy.

The photo at left shows the card that inspired my design. Of course, I had to change it from a girl to a boy onesie. I eliminated the bib and bow and used the sail boat from the "Life's a Breeze" set instead. I also made the sleeves straight since I think it would be easier when mass producing these. I also changed from eyelets to brads at the bottom because I thought those would be easier too. I used circle punches to create the trim at the neck and leg holes and I added straight pieces on the sleeves with faux stitching. This is one idea for my friend to look at. Thanks for stopping by today!!!
  • Stamps: Life's a Breeze
  • Papers: Bashful Blue, Night of Navy, White
  • Ink: Real Red and Night of Navy Markers, White Gel Pen
  • Accessories: 1-1/4" and 1-3/8" Circle Punches, Snips, White Brads

Saturday, February 7, 2009

Sarah's Workshop Projects

Sarah's having a workshop on the 17th of February, so I designed our projects for the workshop today. Project #1 is this Birthday (feminine) Gift Card Holder.
  • Stamps: Crazy for Cupcakes
  • Papers: Pretty In Pink, Naturals White
  • Ink: Black Stazon
  • Accessories: Big Shot, Backgrounds #1 Texturez Plate (Large Polka Dots), Word Window Punch, WCW Crayons, Aqua Painter, Dimensionals

As an afterthought, I decided to take a picture of the inside of the gift card holder. This is my favorite style. There will be two different papers, but they will have this same basic polka dot design, just different colors. They both have pink in them though.

Project #2 will be this whimsical frog card. It was fun to make! I made a couple of mistakes, but this is just the sample, and I might even make a new sample. I pressed too hard when I stamped the fly's trail and got extra ink on the card. Then, I used white gel pen to try to cover up my mistake, but it looks a little shiny. The other mistake was to use Georgia Peach paper when it's not available from the current catalog. Washington apple is, but not Georgia Peach. I'm ordering Tuesday night, so I might order some other paper to use for this. The card stock looks like Yoyo Yellow in the photo, but it's actually So Saffron. I don't know what happened there!
  • Stamps: Hoppy for You
  • Papers: So Saffron, Old Olive, Naturals White, Georgia Peach DSP
  • Ink: Close to Cocoa, Old Olive, Basic Black
  • Accessories: So Saffron Striped GG Ribbon, Dimensionals

Thanks Friend (IC166)

I haven't done an Inspiration Challenge in a while. We were supposed to go to hunkydoryhome to find some item of inspiration. They had wall hangings, fridge magnets, plates, pillows, etc. They also had cards, so I couldn't resist looking at those. I think there were only two though.


The card I chose for my inspiration is shown at left. They used the red and white, but their birdies were partly brown (Close to Cocoa?). They also had the flowers in the middle. This still reminded me of the birdies in the "Love You Much" set. I stamped them in Encore Gold and embossed with Clear Embossing Powder. The sentiment is Real Red. I added the punched border at the bottom and the gingham ribbon with the charm at the top. Everything used on this card was from Stampin' Up! except for the charm. Thanks for visiting today!!
  • Stamps: Love You Much
  • Papers: Real Red, Whisper White
  • Ink: Encore Gold, Real Red
  • Accessories: Clear EP, Heat Tool, Red Gingham Ribbon (not available at this time), Eyelet Border Punch, "Thank You" Charm

Friday, February 6, 2009

Triple Challenge Card (Mojo72, WT204, LSC206)

I covered three challenges with this card. First, I used the Mojo Monday Sketch #72. Next, for the Ways To Use It Challenge which was to "pile up" your embellishments, I used the giant brad in the middle of a 1-1/4" punched circle matted on a 1-3/8 punched circle and then on the punched scalloped circle. Finally, the Limited Supplies Challenge was to use only one stamp and it had to be a sentiment; I did that. The base card is Basic Black with a layer of Rose Red that has been embossed with the new SU!/Sizzix Texturez Backgrounds #1 (Harlequin). Next is the Rose Red Prints DSP (retired) harlequin design matted on black. At the bottom of that is a strip of Whisper White punched with the new Eyelet Border Punch. Across the middle of that DSP is non-SU! black satin ribbon. The opposite side of the harlequin design is pin stripes which is the next layer and it's also matted on black, but the bottom of the black is punched with the Scallop Edge Border Punch. The sentiment is stamped with Rose Red on Whisper White. Thanks for visiting today!
  • Stamps: One of a Kind
  • Papers: Basic Black, Rose Red, Whisper White, Rose Red Prints DSP (retired)
  • Ink: Rose Red
  • Accessories: 1-1/4", 1-3/8", and Scallop Circle Punches, Eyelet Border Punch, Scallop Edge Border Punch, Giant Brad, Black Satin Ribbon, Dimensionals

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Blue Thank You (MTSC29)

This is for Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge. I used all Stampin' Up! products on this. I got some new goodies today! I love the new Embosslits! This one is called "Sweetest Stem." The base card here is Whisper White with a layer of Bashful Blue that was embossed with the new SU!/Sizzix Texturez Backgrounds #1. The designer paper is Bashful Blue Patterns DSP. The ribbon is Bashful Blue 1" Double Stitched Grosgrain. I used the Signo White Gel Pen on the stems. The sentiment is from Wow Flowers and is stamped with Bashful Blue ink; then, it's punched with the 1-1/4" Circle Punch and matted on Bashful Blue that was punched with the 1-3/8" Circle Punch. The half pearl is from the Pretties Kit. Thanks for stopping by!
  • Stamps: Wow Flowers
  • Papers: Whisper White, Bashful Blue, Bashful Blue Patterns DSP
  • Ink: Bashful Blue, White Gel Pen
  • Accessories: Big Shot, Sweetest Stem Embosslit, Textures Backgrounds #1, Bashful Blue 1" DS GG Ribbon, 1-1/4" Circle Punch, 1-3/8" Circle Punch, Pretties Kit Half Pearl, 2-Way Glue Pen, Dimensionals

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

grrreat! (SC214)

I'm in a hurry today. I got this card done just in time to upload and then run off to Bible Study. If you would like more information on this Sketch Challenge including the layout of the sketch, you can find that information here. The base card is Riding Hood Red with a layer of Very Vanilla that was embossed with Sizzix Texturez Plate, Shining Stars. The next layer is Riding Hood Red Textured CS matted on black. The next layer is Bella Rose DP matted on black. (I thought it looked kind of like a picnic table cloth!) The main image layer is Very Vanilla matted on black. The vanilla layers were sponged with Close to Cocoa. Finally, the main image was stamped with Basic Black on Close to Cocoa, cut out and popped up. The stars and sentiment were also popped up. Thanks for stopping by!! I'm on the run now!!!
  • Stamps: Under the Stars
  • Papers: Riding Hood Red, Very Vanilla, Riding Hood Red Textured CS, Bella Rose DSP
  • Ink: Basic Black, Close to Cocoa, White Gel Pen, Close to Cocoa Marker
  • Accessories: Big Shot, Sizzix Texturez Plate - Shining Stars, Sponge, Snips, Small and Large Oval Punches, Dimensionals

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Just a Note (CC204)

The Color Challenge was to use Tempting Turquoise, Lovely Lilac, Pink Passion, and Gable Green. I decided to make a one layer card and use the inks rather that different layers of card stock. I had to do a little masking, but it still didn't take long to put this card together. The pearls are from the Stampin' Up! Pretties Kit. Thanks for stopping by!
  • Stamps: Petal Pizazz
  • Papers: Naturals White
  • Ink: Tempting Turquoise, Lovely Lilac, Gable Green, Pink Passion
  • Accessories: Tempting Turquoise GG Ribbon, Pretties Kit (pearls)