A {Thank You} Card...

Hello!  I have another card for the 10 Minute Craft Dash Challenge.  This week the challenge was to use three colors plus neutrals.  The colors are light blue, a darker blue, and a green.  Here's the card I made and it took every second of ten minutes.

This card came together pretty quickly, the most time consuming were putting the gems on the butterflies and gluing them down.

Thanks so much for taking time out of your day to stop by!  I hope you have a great weekend!!!  Speaking of weekends, I'll have a really fun post for Clear & Simple Stamps tomorrow.  You won't want to miss it!

Have a great day!

{Thank You}

Stamps: Background Basics 1 (CSS), Communique Sentiments (PTI)

Card Stock: On the Catwalk Cream, Trendsetter Blue (CSS)

Patterned Paper: Basics Manila (Basic Grey)

Ink: Simply Blue-tiful (CSS)

Dies: Spiral Notebook (PTI) 

Accessories: Edge Distresser, Stamping Sponge, Floss, Foam Dots, Butterfly Punches (Martha Stewart)

Read more...

{Hello}...

Hello!  Happy Monday!  Well, I've had strep throat twice in the last two months.  It's been a real bummer.  Luckily I'm the only one that's been afflicted.  I might have to have my tonsils out, blah.

So, my goal for this morning was to make a card while a load of laundry dried and I did it.  This card came together pretty quickly except for the button embellishment.  I just couldn't figure out what I wanted to do with that space before I settled on the button, and then it took a while to tie a perfect bow, due to shaky hands from drinking too much coffee.  

This card was made for this week's PTI Make-It-Monday challenge to use three different pieces of patterned paper on a card.  I used one of my all-time favorite pattern pads that is pretty much all scraps now (Offbeat by Basic Grey).  I knew the the blue floss would work because that color was also included in the paper pack.


Have a great day!

{hello}

Stamps: Communique Sentiments (Papertrey Ink)

Card Stock: Kraft Like A Rockstar (CSS)

Patterned Paper: Offbeat (Basic Grey)

Ink: Perfect Little Black Dress (CSS)

Accessories: Foam Dots, Glue Dots, Floss, Corner Rounder Punch, Large Circle Punch, Button

Read more...

A {Happy Birthday} Card...

Good morning!  I think I designed and executed this card half asleep.  I've not slept well the last three nights and our new bed and mattress will be delivered here shortly.  Hopefully there will be a nice nap in my future on a foam mattress that feels like a cloud.

For my card I used a triangle banner image from the new CSS set "Triangle Trinkets".  I penciled a light line where I wanted the banner tops to line up, then I stamped the banner images and then paper pieced the banners.  Then I took a black fine tip marker and drew a short line connecting the banners, they look like they are linked. 

Hope all that made sense since I'm still half asleep (and I've had two cups of coffee).  Thanks for bearing with me.


I'm submitting this PTI's challenge this week to mix up many patterns of scrap paper.


Have a great day!

{Happy Birthday}

Stamps: Around & About Sentiments, Communique Sentiments (PTI), Triangle Trinkets (Clear & Simple Stamps)

Card Stock: A Blanc Check (CSS)

Patterned Paper: Silver Valley (SEI)

Ink: Brilliant Blue, Dare to Be a Diva Red, Perfect Little Black Dress (CSS)

Accessories: Black Fine Tip Pen, Red Floss, Corner Rounder Punch

Read more...

A {Get Well Soon} Card...

Another day, another PTI challenge.  I was so happy to see that today was a sketch challenge.  Today I used yellows and kraft, which I think is a widely underutilized color combo.  The light yellow is PTI's Lemon Tart and the darker yellow is CSS's Say Yellow to All Your Fans.  I love how they look together.

I decided to use an image stamp in the center of the card instead of just the sentiment like the sketch suggests.  I don't know about you, but it really doesn't bother me that the colors I use for the wreath/berries are those that wouldn't be found in nature.  Maybe a lemon tree?  Anyway, as long as it goes with the card, I'm cool with it.

The rhinestones were originally clear and I colored them with an orange-y yellow copic marker.  I love that trick!  


Well, it just started snowing here which is really exciting since we haven't really gotten any snow this year.  It's actually supposed to stick this time.  The kids usually have at least 5 snow days by now and we've only had one due to ice.  I'm making a big pot of chili tonight (bean chili that is) and I can't wait to have a cozy night at home.  At lease at home after my kids' Valentine's Day dance if it doesn't get cancelled due to bad weather.

My son's teacher asked me to organize this year's Valentine's Day party and I've been having so much fun finding activities.  I'm making a word search using all the names of the students in his class which my little guy is really excited about.  I also printed off some Valentine Bingo Cards and I'm going to punch a ton of hearts from card stock to use as covers.  It's going to be fun!

Have a great weekend!

{Get Well Soon}

Stamps: Wreath for all Seasons, Text Style, Communique Sentiments (Papertrey Ink)

Card Stock: Kraft Like a Rockstar, Say Yellow to All Your Fans (CSS), Lemon Tart (PTI)

Ink: Glamazon Green, Espresso Your Style (CSS)

Accessories: Clear Rhinestones, Buttons, Floss

Copic Marker: Y38 

Read more...

A {Thank You} Card...

Looks like it's going to be a week of PTI challenges for me!  I just can't NOT do it.  Anyway, the challenge today was a color combo challenge.  I chose Dawn's color combo which is: Ripe Avocado, Berry Sorbet, and Raspberry Fizz.  


I decided on CAS look.  I've rediscovered my ric-rac die and have been turning to it a lot lately.  I created stripes across the card and then carried them along the tag that's popped up on pop dots.

And here is an extreme close-up of the dimension and how the ric-rac lines up on both layers.

Such a fun and actually quick card to make.  Having the colors already put together for you takes out a big chunk of time.


Have a great day!

{Thank You}

Stamps: Communique Sentiments (Papertrey Ink)

Card Stock: White, Berry Sorbet, Ripe Avocado, Raspberry Fizz (PTI)

Ink: Perfect Little Black Dress (CSS)

Accessories: Ric-Rac Die (PTI), Tag Die (CSS), Button, Pop Dots

Read more...

A {Get Well Soon} Card...

Hey there!  I thought I would give this week's CPS Sketch a try although you know how much I despise diagonal lines.  Making the diagonal  panel in the background was pretty easy since I used a double sided piece of patterned paper.  I simply cut a 4" x 4" square, cut it in half diagonally and then flip one of the halves over.  I matted it on a piece of 4.25" square piece of card stock.

I created the flower by punching three scalloped circles out of patterned paper, stacking them on top of each other and then using scissors to cut a straight line toward the center to create petals.   I puffed up the flower a little to give it some dimension.

Tomorrow is going to be a busy day.  I'm packing up all my scrapping supplies to take to the Papertrey Ink Stamp-A-Faire.  I can't wait to spend the day with my sister-in-law, friend, Nichole Heady, and some of the PTI Design Team.  It's going to be a fun day.  I know I'll have loads to share with you next week.

Have a great day!

{Get Well Soon}

Stamps: Communique Sentiments (Papertrey Ink)

Card Stock: Kraft Like a Rockstar, Simply Blue-tiful, On the Catwalk Cream (CSS)

Patterned Paper: Hattie (My Mind's Eye)

Ink: Simply Blue-tiful (CSS)

Accessories: Stamping Sponge, Foam Dimensionals, Edge Distresser, Buttons, Glue Dots, Scalloped Circle Punch (SU)

Read more...

A Simple {Happy Birthday} Card...

Hey guys!  Just a simple card for you today.  Sometimes those are the best kind.  This card would be really easy to duplicate but it took me quite a while to put it together.   I was having one of those mojo-less days where nothing seemed to look right.  It all started to finally come together when I added a pop of yellow.  I even did the "triangle" thing where it's more pleasing to the eye to have your pop of color make a triangle (rhinestones, button, butterfly).  Hopefully you think this is pleasing to your eyes.

The butterfly has an antennae, but you can only see one in the photo but that's just because of the angle.  Believe me, this is an anatomically correct butterfly, lol :)

Have a great day!

{Happy Birthday}

Stamps: Communique Sentiments (Papertrey Ink)

Card Stock: SS White (PTI)

Patterned Paper: Gertie (My Mind's Eye)

Ink: Dare to Be a Diva Red (CSS)

Accessories: Butterfly Punch (Martha Stewart), Red Floss (DMC), Button, Scallop Edge Punch (SU), Yellow Rhinestones, Stamping Sponge

Read more...

An Earthy {Hello} Card...

Happy Friday!  I made another card today without using any challenges or CASEing anyone's card.  I picked these papers simply because they were sitting out on my desk from yesterday.  Actually a lot of the items I used for this card just happened to be laying on my messy desk.


I was used a dry embossing technique on my card.  The background that looks like tree bark was achieved by rubbing my distressed stripes embossing folder with brown ink before putting the kraft card stock in and running in through my cuttlebug.

This card has an earthy feel to it, maybe that has something to do with the dreary weather we've been having lately.  We've gotten a lot of severe weather and rain lately, as you can see from the super green grass in the background of my photos.

Here's a different view of my card so you can see the layered dimension.  I use 1/8" dimensional tape so I can  have many layers without making the card cumbersome or awkward.

Have a great weekend!!!

{Hello}

Stamps: Communique Sentiments (Papertrey Ink)

Card Stock: Kraft Like a Rockstar, Trendsetter Blue (CSS)

Patterned Paper: Hattie (My Mind's Eye)

Ink: Dish All the Dirt Brown, Simply Blue-tiful (CSS)

Accessories: Oval Nesties (Spellbinders), Distressed Stripes Embossing Folder (Cuttlebug), Heart Punches (Paper Shapers), Rhinestone Brad, Foam Dimensionals, Sheer Brown Ribbon (Offray), Stamping Sponge

Read more...

Papertrey Ink: April 2011 Blog Hop

Hey guys!  Hope everyone had a great Easter weekend.  Ours was great.  I was even able to sneak a nap yesterday.   Anyway, let's get down to business, shall we?  Today is the 25th and that means it's time for a Papertrey Ink Blog Hop.  This month's challenge was to create a masculine card.  Normally that is a pretty tough challenge for me, but I had the perfect patterned paper to it wasn't hard at all.

My card is pretty simple.  I wanted to include more pti products, I had pulled out my text style set and created a strip of text to apply to the bottom, but in the end I liked the card without it better.  I love the brads that look like screws.  Without those this card is pretty neutral looking, but I think the screws add a manly touch.

Thanks so much for hopping by!

{Get Well Soon}

Stamps: Communique Sentiments (Papertrey Ink)

Card Stock: Kraft (Papertrey Ink)

Patterned Paper: Hattie (My Mind's Eye)

Ink: Your Style Blue Me Away (CSS)

Accessories: Screw Brads (Michaels), Stamping Sponge, 

Read more...

A {With Sympathy} Card...

Hello!  I peeked at today's sketch challenge at SCS right before I went down to my studio.  If you know me, I rarely use diagonal anything on my cards.  Elements can be a little off-kilter, but not diagonal.  However, this sketch was so simple and basic looking that I just had to give it a try.

Well, I think there's probably a pretty good reason I don't like diagonals.  I can't make a card I like with them.  I love the papers and elements of this card. In fact, I can think of three different layouts that would make this card so much better.  But, everything is glued down already, oh well.  It's still okay looking, just not great.

One thing I absolutely do love is that doily!  It was digitally cut using my Silhouette machine.  I've been seeing doilies everywhere lately and thought I would jump on the band wagon.  I love seeing the Silhouette in action. I actually tried to make a video for you all to see, but my phone completely shut down right in the middle. I guess that was not meant to be.  Soon though!  


A little tip, I cut out a bunch of doilies using white paper.  Now I can just sponge them any color I want when I'm ready to use them.  That's what I did with the doily on my card today.  It used white card stock and I sponged it with blue ink.


Thanks so much for stopping by today! 

{With Sympathy}

Stamps: Communique Sentiments (Papertrey Ink) 

Card Stock: Kraft Like a Rockstar, On the Catwalk Cream (CSS), Enchanted Evening (Papertrey Ink)

Patterned Paper: Hattie (My Mind's Eye)

Ink: Prussian Blue (Colorbox), Trendsetter Blue (CSS)

Accessories: Doily Digitatally Cut Image (Silhouette), Pearls (KaiserCraft), Edge Distresser

Read more...

A {Happy Birthday} Card...

Hello!  Once again I have another card using two challenges.  The first challenge was another one from Papertrey Ink wanting you to use buttons in a new way on your card.  Instead of using my buttons as an accent, I used them as my focal point.  The next one was the Ways to Use It challenge at SCS that were challenging you to make a birthday card, easy peasy.


The colors for this card came about when I saw the cover of the March 2011 issue of ALL YOU.  I love the white, green and yellow combo.   I could have thrown in some magenta but it might have taken away of the CAS-ness of this card.

I used a really neglected stamp set for this card, Around & About Sentiments.   It was one of those must-have sets that I don't really use as much as I should.  I'm gonna keep this one at the top of my pile in hopes I'll use it more.

Here's another view so you can see some of the dimension.  The green panel is distressed and popped up on dimensionals.  The white squares are popped up as well.

Hope you all are having a great day!

{Happy Birthday}

Stamps: Around & About Sentiments, Communique Sentiments (Papertrey Ink)

Card Stock: SS White, New Leaf, Summer Sunrise (Papertrey Ink)

Ink: Garden Green (SU), Yellow Citrus (ColorBox)

Accessories: Ripe Avocado Vintage Buttons (Papertrey Ink), Yellow Floss (DMC), Corner Rounder Punch, Edge Distresser, Foam Dimensionals

Read more...

OCC Challenge - Sketch Challenge

Happy Saturday!  It's time for another challenge from Our Creative Corner!  This time we have a super simple sketch that we want you to dress up in your own style, mine being clean and simple.  My oval is a window where the negative image is popped up on foam dimensionals.  All the papers I chose are from Offbeat by Basic Grey.

Make sure you check out the other design team samples at Our Creative Corner.  Linda has been working really hard to jazz up the challenge blog and it looks really great.

Have a great weekend 

{Get Well Soon}

Stamps: Communique Sentiments (Papertrey Ink)

Card Stock: Kraft Like a Rockstar (CSS), Dark Chocolate (Papertrey Ink)

Patterned Paper: Offbeat (Basic Grey)

Ink: Espresso Your Style (CSS), Vintage Cream (Papertrey Ink)

Accessories: Heart Punch (Paper Shapers), Stamping Sponge, Green Satin Ribbon (Offray), Foam Dimensionals, Digital Cutter (Silhouette)

Read more...

Our Creative Corner - Inspiration Challenge

Hello!  I'm here bright and early with an inspiration challenge from Our Creative Corner.  I said I'd have something to share using stamping today, and I didn't disappoint.  I used a whopping three stamps sets on my card!  


The picture we are drawing inspiration from is on the left.  I took inspiration from the color scheme, the cranberries, and the bird.  I used some gray, warm red, kraft, and black.  I thought that my card was sort of soothing, so I decided to make it a sympathy card.  


I feel a little weird about making my bird black.  It looks like a crow and I have a feeling that that is somehow bad luck.  Hmm.  Not sure.  

I cut the wreath out free hand.  It was originally a circle and when I went to stamp the wreath, it was off-center.  Bummer, but I think it turned out okay in the end. 


Make sure you check out the talented group of ladies at Our Creative Corner.  They have some great samples to show you using the inspiration piece.  It's so interesting to how different each card is, even though we used the same inspiration.  


Have a wonderful weekend!!!

{With Sympathy}

Stamps: Wreath for all Seasons, Communique Sentiments (Papertrey Ink), Enjoy (American Crafts)

Card Stock: Kraft Like a Rockstar, You're Such a Gray-cious Host, On the Catwalk Cream, Perfect Little Black Dress (Clear & Simple Stamps) 

Ink: Creamy Brown, Warm Red (Colorbox)

Accessories: Distressed Stripes Embossing Folder (Cuttlebug), Foam Dimensionals, White Gel Pen (Sakura), Black Floss (DMC), Edge Distresser

 

Read more...

OCC Challenge - Embossed with Color

Hello!  I have a fun challenge from Our Creative Corner to share with you today.  The challenge is to make a card adding color and depth to your dry embossing.  You can do this any number of ways, but the way I chose was to add ink to my embossing folder.  

I chose to use a light green card stock and a darker green ink.  This was not the result I was expecting, but I really love it!  I simply rubbed my ink pad over the non-raised side of my embossing folder before I embossed it.  What you are left with is ink everywhere on the card stock except the raised areas.  I thought that the dark green ink would show up a lot darker but it really just settled into the impression lines.  It really adds a lot more depth than just regular embossing.  Those birds and swirls are just jumping off the page!

This challenge really reminds me of the reason behind doing challenges.  It's to try new things and stretch your creativity.   I would love to see what you create with this challenge.  I know it's a super busy time of year, but take a little time for yourself.  You won't regret it.  Make sure you check out all the creations at Our Creative Corner.

Best wishes to everyone trying to get it all done this weekend, like me!  I have the majority of my shopping completed, but there are so many little things that need to be finished.  Hang in there!

{Congrats}

Stamps: Communique Sentiments (Papertrey Ink)

Card Stock: Spring Moss, Raspberry Fizz, Vintage Cream (Papertrey Ink)

Ink: Old Olive (SU)

Accessories: Latte Pearl (Kaiser Craft), Butterfly Punch (Martha Stewart), Foam Dimensionals, Birds & Swirls Embossing Folder (Cuttlebug), Edge Distresser

 

Read more...

A {Happy Birthday} Card...

Hey guys!  My studio is still in pieces.  The rest of the shelves were supposed to go up last night, but when we started working on it late last night, we realized we didn't have the right screws.  And by "we" I mean my husband!   I could put everything back on my desk, but I know it would just get covered in drywall dust.  Yuck!  So, I wanted to make a card today, but I needed to keep it ultra simple and use as few supplies as possible.  

It's funny how this card came about.  I was wanting to make an elegant card.  I planned on putting a silver mini brad at each place the lines intersected, but I made the lines too close together and brads would have been overkill.  Once the lines were finished, they didn't pop off the card like I thought, so I inked up a sponge and lightly swiped it over the entire card so that the raised lines would pick up the most color.  So that turned out well, but I noticed that my card looked like a waffle cone.  There goes elegant!  But, I remembered I had an ice cream cone sticker in one of my SRM Sticker packs.  I wanted to have a white border around the ice cream cone, so I cut it out right off the sticker sheet.  It's applied to the sentiment panel with foam dimensionals.

So, there you have it!  Hope you've enjoyed today's card.  It's making me hungry!!!

{Happy Birthday}

Stamps: Communiqué Sentiments (Papertrey Ink)

Card Stock: Kraft, Dark Chocolate (Papertrey Ink)

Ink: Vintage Cream (Papertrey Ink), Chocolate Chip (SU)

Accessories: Scoring Board (Martha Stewart), Stampin' Sponge, Foam Dimensionals, Circle Punch, Ice Cream Sticker (SRM Press)

 

Read more...