Monday, December 20, 2010

Please Check Back...

It's been a while since I've posted and soooo not my usual but I have some Christmas cards I'm going to post in the next week or so. I've made many cards since the last post, including Thanksgiving ones, and they are ready. As with everyone this time of the year, it's been a busy time. Thank you for being patient! It won't be long.

Monday, November 15, 2010

NOV10VSNI

This challenge is to pop up a sentiment. Well, that field is wide open and when I'm given that many choices I'm practically overwhelmed. I was this time...UNTIL I pulled out one of my new Pure Innocence stamps. Is she not the cutest little girl you've ever seen or what? I love the sentiment that came with it, too.

This was an easy card...believe it or not...at least, it came together easy. The card base is white with another white panel on top of it that has been embossed with the Dotted Swiss EF. My favorite thing to do with these little Pure Innocence stamps is to paper piece. She just looks like pink to me. I first stamped her on white. Then I stamped her clothes on two sister pieces of designer papers. I even paper pieced her little flower on her blouse in the same as the pants.
I cut that piece from a rectangle Nestie and embossed, sponging Summer Sun and Cameo Coral for the sky and Old Olive for the ground. I cut another larger piece from Pretty in Pink and embossed it, too.

After this, I colored her with Copics and glued the clothing pieces on. I used a Fuschia Glitter Marker and colored her barrettes, shoes and the center of her little flower. Because the marker is wide, I went outside the lines a little on her shoes. I couldn't have that, so I thought to cut a little piece of grass to cover them. You can still see the shoes but you don't see the boo-boos...whew!!

Then I stamped the sentiment in Pretty in Pink then again in Rose Red. It kinda gave it a shadow. With the die still in place, I sponged Pretty in Pink around the edges. I had this pretty little pink ribbon so I added it and of course, I had to add some of my favorite butterflies. The sentiment was raised with foam adhesive and placed over the image piece.

I hope you like this card as much as I did making it.


Stamps: Pure Innocence-Being Cute is What I Do (MFT)
Paper: White, Pretty in Pink, Wild Wasabi, misc pattern papers for outfit
Ink: PIP, Rose Red, Summer Sun, Cameo Coral
Misc: Dotted Swiss EF, Rectangle and Circle Nestabilities, Copics, Ribbon, MS Triple Butterfly Punch, Grass die (MFT), foam adhesive

NOV10VSNL

I did this in a hurry and the silver layer got bent. I hate it because it is generally a cute card. This challenge is to use blue and white with a bonus to use silver.

Base card is Bashful Blue. A panel of white embossed Dotted Swiss was placed on the base. A piece of satin white ribbon was wrapped around the card base and tied with a piece of silver cord. The center of a 4" silver doily was cut out and a white circle was placed behind it to give it some stability. The silver piece was a tiny bit larger and since it was so thin it bent a little...grrrr!! An ornament was stamped in Bashful Blue and punched with the accompanying punch. A tiny light blue Kaiser Rhinestone was place din the middle.


Stamps: Ornament set (SU)
Ink: Bashful Blue
Paper: Bashful Blue, white
Misc: 4" Silver Doily, White Satin Ribbon, Silver cord, Blue Kaiser Rhinestone

NOV10VSNH

Great challenge. You are to use the same image three times as a focal point. The first thing that came to my mind were these cute little stockings. This set has a double die for the two different size stockings. How cute is that?? First I die cut three little stockings. Then I took one of the stamps (since the image was to be the same) and stamped them on the die cut using Old Olive. Don't you just love clear stamps? It was so easy to do because you can see through the stamps to the die cut. Then I took a piece of Pure Poppy and Harvest Gold felt and die cut just the top part of the stocking to give me a cuff. I used my scissors to cut the length to fit. Then I added rhinestones, cotton balls and a tiny piece of Real Red ric-rac left over from a previous card and placed on the top of the middle one. Yellow Stickles were used on the ric-rac.

The card base is the next to largest Nestability circle. Be sure to cut it on the fold leaving a little bit of it out of the die to ensure you have a fold for the card. Cut and emboss the largest scalloped Nestability circle. Place this on top of the circular white base. Cut another piece of white and emboss it using the Dotted Swiss EF.

Take the little stockings and place them on the front with the center one raised on foam adhesive. I have the card propped against a styrofoam cup. You cannot see anything underneath the green scalloped piece. Hope you like it.


Stamps: Stocking Prints (PTI)
Ink: Old Olive
Paper: White, Wild Wasabi
Misc: Stocking Die (PTI), Circle and Scallop Circle Nestabilities, mini cotton balls, Rhinestones, Pure Poppy and Harvest Gold Felt (PTI), Dotted Swiss EF, Yellow Stickles

NOV10VSNG2

I don't think I've done a challenge to utilize "white space". I hope I left enough to be acceptably classified. I used another one of PTI's wonderful sets. I wish I owned all of them but as it is I hardly get time to use the ones I have (I have so many and keep an open Shopping Cart all the time...blush, blush).

Base card is white. A piece of Kraft Prints Pack was placed on the lower third of the card. Taupe Kraft Grosgrain ribbon was wrapped around the seam. I had a pack of vintage stickers and used a bow with pearls and a rhinestone. "Amazing Grace" was stamped in Close to Cocoa. A sentiment from the same set was stamped inside. It reads "The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart. Helen Keller" Let me know what you think.


Stamps: (PTI) Out on a Limb Sentiments
Ink: Close to Cocoa
Paper: White, Kraft Prints Pack (ret. SU)
Misc: Taupe Grosgrain Ribbon (Wal-Mart), Vintage Bow Sticker (Michael's)

NOV10VSNF

This challenge is to make a Thank You card. Base card is black followed by a red panel. A piece of pattern paper was used on the bottom and placed on a white piece of cardstock. I used my new PTI ric-rac die...I LOVE it!! It is so cute and it's long so you can make a long strip. This piece was placed over the seam. I used PTI's Thank You stamp from Big & Bold Wishes. You must get this set. It's great. The inside was lined with white and another strip of red ric-rac. Thanks for looking!


Stamps: (PTI) Big & Bold Wishes
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Paper: Black, Real Red, White, Speciality Cardstock (Me & My Big Ideas-black and white stack)
Misc: (PTI) Ric-Rac die

NOV10VSNB

This challenge was to make a card using fabric, cotton, flocking and the sort. I chose this really cute little image. I love this set! I love stamps that make me smile; I enjoy every minute I'm using them just giggling and smiling like I was in grade school again. Okay, I've said it, it doesn't take much for me. If it's cute or whimsical I usually love it.

I believe the set is called "Nikki and Friends"...I'm sorry, I can't remember and it is not listed anywhere. The whole set of three are just adorable. After stamping and coloring with Copics, I added tiny little cotton balls for the snowballs and Stardust Stickles for the snow drifts and on the lake. Don't they look cute just waiting for a skater to come by and whopp 'em one??? Look at the mischieveousness on that face. The base card is Bashful Blue with a white panel embossed with Snow Dots EF. There's a piece of light blue Martha Stewart self adhesive felt borders on the bottom. The main image was cut out using an oval Nestability and embossed. Hope you like it. It was a very fun card to make.


Stamps: "Nikki & Friends"
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Paper: Bashful Blue, White
Misc: Mini cotton balls, StarDust Stickles, Copics, various SU inks for sponging sky, Snow Dots EF, Oval Nestability.

Lots of Challenges=Lots of Fun

I have finally completed and photographed all my challenges from VSN this weekend. So far, my Internet connection is holding on. It has been coming and going. I will post each challenge separately so I can link to it directly. Hold on, here goes...

The first one is NOV10VSNA to make a Christmas card without using red or green. I chose this wonderful old time Santa from Flourishes. I used Taken with Teal and Fruit Punch Stickles for my alternative to red and green. Fruit Punch is a pinkish orange, not red. He was stamped in Chocolate Chip and left as a silhouette with his eyes and the berries on his hat stickled. Being left as a subtle image, the sparkle really brings it to life. Base card is white followed by a piece of Kraft embossed with the Textile EF and distressed. Taken with Teal was distressed next and taped down. The main image has been described and was not distressed.


Stamps: Flourishes
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Paper: White, Kraft, Taken with Teal
Other: Textile EF, Teal (don't remember the name) and Fruit Punch Stickles

Thanks for looking.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

NOV10VSNJ-On Cloud 9

The theme for VSN today is "On Cloud 9". Hostesses are presenting some good challenges. I'm so excited to be asked to host one of them. My challenge to you is to make a card of something you see in the air. It can be anything from butterflies, birds, trees, skyline, clouds, rain, planes, etc. You can use punches, stamps, stickers, designer papers, rub-ons or chipboard. It's your call. Take it easy and let's see what you got to share.

My first one I used Sahara Sand as a base. I used PTI's Wise Owl set. I stamped the large outline owl on pattern paper and cut it out; as well as the belly of the owl. The belly was raised on the main image. Eyes and nose were stamped on white scrap and black stickles were used on the eyes. When the owl was cut out and put together, foam adhesive was used to make it pop off the card. I used Always Artichoke for SU's Little Leaves and MS's leaf punch. Always Artichoke was also used on top of the base card. The ivory on top of that was embossed with Cuttlebug EF Distressed Stripes. I've always thought it looked kind of like a woodgrain pattern. I put Green Organdy Ribbon (SU ret.) across the bottom with Ivory Grosgrain on top of it and attached it to the Artichoke piece. The leaves were tucked between the top ribbon.


Stamps: PTI Wise Owl
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Paper: Ivory, Sahara Sand, Always Artichoke, Scrap pattern paper
Misc: SU Little Leaves Sizzlits, MS Leaf Punch, Wide Green Organdy & Ivory Grosgrain Ribbons, Distressed Stripes EF, Foam Adhesive

My second one is similar as I used a different kind of bird. I just love this little bird and branch punch from SU. I used a different pattern paper for its body and touched the rim of the body and wing with Bravo Burgundy. The wing was raised with foam adhesive and placed on the body. A silver gem is the eye. I used my new Labels 10 Nestability on Rose Red, cut and embossed. Pearls were placed on either end in the scallops. A little swirly stamp was stamped in Always Artichoke on the bottom edge of an embossed oval with Happy Thanksgiving stamped above it. This was placed on a slightly larger oval. A MS leaf punch and flower punch was then placed at the bottom with a tiny pearl inside the flower. Two corners were pierced.


Stamps: PTI
Ink: Rose Red, Always Artichoke, Bravo Burgundy
Paper: Sahara Sand, Ivory, Always Artichoke, Rose Red, pattern paper pieces
Misc: Distressed Stripes EF, SU Bird and Branch punch, MS Leaf punch, pearls, silver gem, mat pack/piercing template, foam adhesive

I hope you liked my examples. Thank you for joining in and coming by to visit.

Monday, October 18, 2010

VSN Challenges

This is the first time I've participated in the VSN Challenges. The theme is "Cloud 9".

VSN Mini #1: Make a card inspired by one of the 3 papers given to go by; add something sparkly. I used the sample that had autumn colors. I distressed the edges of the patterned paper some but it's hard to see. The blue stripe is sparkly. I also raised the sentiment piece before placing it on the Chocolate Chip larger piece.


Stamps: PTI
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze, White, My Mind's Eye (Where the Heart is)
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Other: Labels 10 (Nestabilities), Orange sheer ribbon, Clear Rhinestones, foam tape

VSN Mini #2: Use grays with the spotlight technique. I used the Inspired By Nature stamp. I know this may sound "off" but I really like how some solid images come out a little blotchy. This is one of those stamps. It gives it a "thoughtful" look to me. The Basic Gray larger piece on the base black card is stamped with the Linen stamp in black Memento. After I submitted it I added a scrap piece of tiny black satin ribbon on the Hodgepodge Hardware.


Stamps: Inspired by Nature, Linen (SU)
Ink: Basic Gray
Paper: Basic Black, Basic Gray, White
Other: Circle Nesties, Martha Stewart Triple Butterly Punch, Pewter HPH, foam tape

VSN Mini #3: Use pastels or chalks; solft colors and for an additional challenge, use Flower Soft. This card turned out to be my favorite!! I love the Pure Innocence stamps (they are so easy to paper piece) and the Cloud Die from PTI. The image was stamped on PTI white with Memento Tuxedo Black. The sky was sponged with Stampin Pastels (Barely Banana and Pretty in Pink). It gave it a kind of warm glow. I paper pieced her little dress with PIP Prints Pack and colored her with Copics. I love how her little hair "kicks" out. This piece was cut with the Labels 3 Nesties. A piece of Rose Red was used to layer but the next size was too big. This was run through the Cuttlebug with the Swiss Dots EF (my fave). So I used the same Nestie die and traced around the outside onto the Rose Red piece and cut it out. It was perfectly sized! A piece of white felt was die cut with PTI's smallest cloud die and Stardust Stickles were traced around the outside for a little sparkle. A little Summer Mix Flower Soft was put on the tree leaves. The image piece was foam taped and put on top of the Rose Red layer then adhered with double sided tape.

The same PIP printed paper was used at the bottom of the card and sewn. Small PIP Grosgrain was placed over a larger piece of Rose Red Grosgrain and put at the top of the sewn piece. The accompanying sentiment was stamped in Memento Black at the bottom of the card.


Stamps: Pure Innocence (MFT)
Paper: White, Rose Red, Pretty in Pink Prints Pack
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Other: Copics, Stampin Pastels, white felt, Summer Mix Flower Soft, Dotted Swiss EF, Stardust Stickles, PIP and RR Grosgrain Ribbon, foam tape

VSN Mini #4: This challenge was to use this quote and put something sparkly on it. It says: "Ever felt an angel's breath in the gentle breeze? A teardrop in the falling rain? Hear a whisper amongst the rustle of leaves? Or been kissed by a lone snowflake? Nature is an angel's favorite hiding place." ~Carrie Latet

The last one I did (never got to the fifth one...so sorry!) I used inspiration of a lone snowflake with sparkle. The base is Bashful Blue. White cardstock was embossed with the Dotted Swiss EF. Using Martha Stewart's snowflake punch, I punched out 5 snowflakes. Four were randomly placed on the white piece. A strip of Martha Stewart light blue self-adhesive stitched ribbon was used as a divider in order to break the white. Then I stamped "Peace", thinking about angels and how quiet they were in Bashful Blue and placed on a scrap piece of BB. Then the main image was a snowflake that had been run through my Xyron 150 upside down and placed in SU Dazzling Diamonds Glitter. A square was cut and embossed and the sparkly snowflake was placed on it. Then a light blue Kaiser Rhinestone was put in the center. Thought this one looked "cool"...pardon the pun!


Stamps: Martha Stewart Small Christmas Phrases
Ink: Bashful Blue
Paper: White, Bashful Blue
Other: Martha Stewart Snowflake punch and blue felt ribbon, Kaiser Blue Rhinestone

Thank you for looking at my submissions!

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Something "Precious"

This one isn't for a challenge, but I just had fun making it. I had a sheet of Precious Moments glitter stickers and decided to make something "soft" with it. These stickers are also dimensional.

Believe it or not, this is an Ivory card base. The Linen stamp (SU) inked in Pretty in Pink was stamped on the base. A piece of Pretty in Pink was embossed with the Dotted Swiss EF and cut out with a scalloped, oval Nestabilities. A smaller ivory piece was cut and embossed with an oval Nestabilities. While the die was still on the piece, I softly sponged Pretty in Pink over it. The rest is super simple and fast. This sweet little girl with her jewelry and heart shaped purse was put in the middle of the oval piece along with one of the little butterflies. This piece was then adhered to the scalloped piece and with foam tape placed on the card base. Another little butterfly was added to the top. I had a piece of sheer light pink ribbon I wrapped around and adhered with another one of the little flower stickers. I hope you like it.


Stamps: Linen (SU)
Paper: White, Pretty in Pink
Ink: Pretty in Pink
Other: Precious Moments sticker sheet, pink ribbon, Dotted Swiss EF, Oval and Scalloped Oval Nestabilities, foam adhesive, sponge

SSNOTIME156, SSC168 &Shabby 27

My card today is for three challenges. For Sharon's Challenge, I made this cute owl card for my brother's birthday coming up soon. This one is to make a guy's card. It also fits a sketch challenge at Stamping 411. And The Shabby Tea Room #27 Challenge is to use green inspired by a lovely plant photo. I changed the layout to the side and placed the sentiment at the bottom. The inside was stamped with "have a HOOT on your birthday" and a row of leaves at the bottom. What do you think?


Stamps: PTI Mailbox Greetings
Ink: Always Artichoke
Paper: White, Gable Green (SU retired), Patterned Paper
Other: Grosgrain Ribbon gotten from a towel set bought at Walmart, MS leaf punch and Embossed Owl punch, Twine, Star Crystals

Monday, August 30, 2010

Moxie Fab Inspiration

Check out the inspiration we were to use here. Isn't this a fun, clean image to use for a challenge to make a card? I'd love to be sitting right there in that room for a loooong time. I love the bright, clean and soft, curvy lines in the room. It reminds me of warmth, wavy, and sparkly moments that a shoreline in the summer gives. When I saw the inspiration, I knew the paper I had to use on it. And, hey, no stamps were used on this card...can you imagine that?


Stamps: None
Paper: Sweet Stack (DCWV), Apricot Appeal, Lavender Lace
Ink: None
Other: Ivory Grosgrain Ribbon, Orange Ribbon (salvaged from wrapping around a set of towels I purchased at W/M), Rhinestones, Jumbo Scalloped Border Petite (Spellbinders) die

Hope you like it and you feel like catching the last rays of warm summer days before embracing fall.

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Best Wishes

This card uses one of my all time favorite stamp sets when I want something elegant. Stampin Up's Elegant Greetings (retired set) which has a stamp for wedding, birthday, thank you and thinking of you AND the sentiments to put inside the card. It truly makes a very nice card.

I used a basic white card base. A Pretty in Pink embossed piece was punched using an MS border punch and placed on the base. A piece of white cardstock was cut out with square Nestabilities and embossed. Then the main image was silver embossed with the "Best Wishes" stamp and tiny silver rhinestone stickers were added in different places on the sentiment. A slightly larger Pretty in Pink square was die cut as well as an even larger scalloped square. The main image was adhered to the PIP piece then raised on foam adhesive and placed on the white scalloped piece. This piece was raised with foam adhesive and placed on the background panel. A piece of white satin ribbon was wrapped around the card and knotted in the front.

The inside accompanying sentiment was silver embossed...it reads "May happiness be yours today and always." A string of 5 silver rhinestones were placed underneath this.

I hope my new little bride will like it. She's so very sweet!!


Stamps: Elegant Greetins (SU retired)
Paper: White, Pretty in Pink
Ink: Metallic Silver Encore
Other: Silver Detail EP, White Satin Ribbon, MS border punch, Silver Rhinestone Stickers, Textile EF, Square and Scalloped Square Nestabilities.

Hope you like it!

Thursday, August 26, 2010

CTD107 & MFTWSC08252010

This was such a fun card to make! I think I am in love...again!! Those little Pure Innocence stamps are just adorable. So far, there are only a couple in my arsenal but I must add more. This card fits the Color Throwdown Challenge (CTD) to use Pretty in Pink, Rose Red, So Saffron and Pear Pizzazz and My Favorite Things to use a flower. The first two colors were easy (love these colors and have a lot of things in them) and you may not even see it, but the So Saffron was used in the center of the little flower. I do not own any of the new In Colors so I used a Copics marker, New Leaf, for the grass. Her little outfit was paper pieced with Pretty in Pink (Paper Pack). A second flower was cut out and placed over the first one with a turn to give it a fuller and more dimensional look. Her shoes and the flower was colored using a Pink Glitter pen. My all time favorite punch is MS's triple butterfly punch. They were graced with a couple of tiny pearls. She was colored using Copics Flesh marker and New Leaf on the flower and grass.

Stamps: Pure Innocence Flower Girl (MFT)
Paper: Pretty in Pink, Rose Red, White, Pretty in Pink DSP (SU ret.)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Other: Copics markers, Pink Glitter Pen, MS triple butterfly punch, Kaiser pearls

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

A Little Lace

This card is for Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge, FTTC81. I love the look of this one. Guess I'm still in the "Grandma" mood because it reminds me or those days. Using Chocolate Chip as the card base, a slightly smaller piece of Baja Breeze (one of my fave's) was cut to place on it but not adhered yet. Another slightly smaller piece of white cardstock was stamped using PTI's Damask Designs stamps in Baja Breeze ink. The damask was only stamped on the bottom half. This was adhered to the BB piece. A piece of cotton lace was wrapped around this and tied in a bow. Then this 2-layer piece was adhered to the card base. Small Kaiser pearls were placed underneath the sentiment. I should have used a white or light backdrop so you could see the richness the Chocolate Chip adds to the crispness of the design. Hope you like it.


Stamps: Damask Designs (PTI)
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze, White
Ink: Baja Breeze
Other: White Cotton Lace, Kaiser pearls

Monday, August 23, 2010

Memories

This second card today has a completely different feel to it as compared to the other. It has a worn and tattered look. With the Worn Lipstick ink smudges, it makes me think of the old tin lipstick round that my Grandmother had resting on her little bureau (an antique now). And the sentiment is something my other Grandmother basically said to me, never putting me down though my generation was drastically different from hers, and to be myself. And, my mother has "always" encouraged me to be who I am, do what I want, learn from my failures and don't look back. I love her so much, too, and am glad I can still tell her so!!

Now, back to the card...I sewed a zigzag stitch around the DSP to attach to the base card, then heavily smudged it with distress ink. A slit was made on the side of the card and the ribbon was laced through it and tied in a knot. Then it was inked and the ends were pulled to give it a tattered look. I didn't realize how much of this card reminds me of my Grandmothers and why I like this card so much: the sewing which both of them did, the soft inking, the floral pattern, the sentiment and the "worn" look of the ribbon. Neither had much and the inking/aging reminds me of the old furniture and old things that was all they had. I loved them both so much and miss them greatly!!


Stamps: Seeing Stars (Verve)
Paper: Baja Breeze, Kraft, Textured DSP (SU retired)
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Tuxedo Memento Black (for edging sentiment square), Worn Lipstick and Antique Linen Distress Ink
Other: Sewing machine, Striped Baja Breeze Ribbon (SU retired)

Have a wonderful day!

Sunday, August 22, 2010

F4A26 & Happiness

I love the bright and cheery feel to this card. And, I love the sentiment because that's the way I felt when I was making it...HAPPY. It is for Challenge F4A26 on SCS to mix it up by using more than one stamp company. I used SU's retired In Full Bloom (love this flower image and the scattered dots around them) and PTI's Big & Bold Wishes. Copics were used to color the image and Stickles were used to give a little sparkle in the middle part of the flowers. There are, also, clear micro glass beads in the centers of the flowers. It seems a little hard to see, but they are there. It ties in with the glittery designer paper.


Stamps: In Full Bloom (SU retired), Big & Bold Wishes (PTI)
Paper: White, Glitter Sweet Stack (Die Cuts With a View), Barely Banana
Ink: Tuxedo Black Memento, Rose Red
Other: Copics markers, MS edger punch, Cotton Candy and Yellow Stickles, Micro Glass Beads and Glue

Have a "happy" day!

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Fab 'n' Funky #35/Fashionista Friday #43

The Fab 'n' Funky #35 Challenge is to use your favorite colors. When I saw this challenge (though it's almost too late) I just had to submit this card. My favorite colors when it comes to making a card are blue with brown along with some texture of some kind. The Fasionista Friday #43 Challenge is to use diecuts. As you will see, this fits perfectly into that challenge.


Stamps: Seeing Stars (Verve)
Paper: Textured Brown (unk), White, Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel, Baja Breeze, DSP (SU ret.)
Ink: Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip
Other: Diamond Plate EF, Stars and Circles Nestabilities, Twine, Foam Adhesive

I made this for my grandson's birthday. I tend to grab those stars to do things for the men in my family for ANY reason. They are great for male cards. Hope you like it.

Cuttlebug Spot & CAS80 Challenges

I chose to include this card in 2 challenges. The first one is for CAS (Clean and Simple) #80 to use a sketch and ribbon or buttons.

The second one is to make a sympathy card which are hard to make for most everyone. I think because you usually want to taylor them to the person you're making them far. But a lot of times it makes it harder to do it that way because you don't have time to "think it through" like you want to. Here is my card for the Cuttlebug Spot Challenge to make a sympathy card. I need to keep some of these on hand. Thanks for the challenge!


Stamps: Mailbox Greetings (PTI)
Paper: White
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Basic Gray (lightly sponged over card)
Other: Textile EF, Black Satin Ribbon, Gray Taffeta Ribbon, Silver cord, Silver HH, SU Label Punch, Silver self-adhesive Stones

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Several Challenges in One

This card is being submitted to several challenges: WT283, Shabby Tea Room #22, Craft Your Days Away #1 and Party Time Tuesdays #11 (PTT). I used several embellisments and all seem to come together quite nicely. One is to use buttons, another to "reflect" (I thought of reflecting as in a slower time), another to use your favorite things and another a birthday card (thought of "Enjoy the ride" here). This card was fun to make and I didn't realize just how many different things I had used on it until trying to describe it here. The clouds were die cut from white felt and have Star Dust Stickles outlining the edges. The smaller cloud was raised on foam adhesive. A cute tiny pink sheer ribbon grace the handlebars. Glossy soft pink "Tiles" were used as the tires with black buttons and light pink floss. The little butterflies (with tiny self adhesive pearls) are grabbed all the time as this is my favorite thing to use and were randomly placed. A double scallop border of Pretty in Pink (with white Gel pen dots) and layered on the black scallop piece and was placed on the bottom. A small strip of black and white checkered ribbon graced the top edge of the border piece. I love this sentiment for a birthday card and the little bike reminds me of slow, easy days gone by. The little black/white ribbon is a tiny bit "bumpy" due to the mini glue dots but is not as wrinkly or tacky looking as it appears here. Hope you like it.


Stamps: PTI Everyday Button Bits
Paper: White, Pretty in Pink, Black
Ink: Rose Red, Tuxedo Black Memento
Other: MS Butterly punch, SU Scallop punch, PTI Cloud die, Star Dust Stickles, light pink Tiles, black buttons, light pink floss, Kaiser pearls, pink sheer and black/white checkered ribbons, White Gel Pen and foam adhesive.

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Thank You Set

I made these for a friend that needed 3 simple Thank You cards. They are all alike except for the EF. I love this PTI set and thought it should be the main focus. Simple, yet elegant. Hope you like these.




Now all 3 together:


Stamps: PTI Big & Bold Wishes
Paper: Rose Red, White, Black
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Other: Rose Red Grosgrain Ribbon, EF: Moroccan, Dotted Swiss, Textile
Thank you for looking!

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Sunny Mini

This little 3x3 card was made using cheerful colors. I wanted to use my new PTI (Papertrey Ink) cloud die and I now have a new love! They are just adorable. These were cut out of white felt. Inside reads: Hey there, Chickadee


Stamps: All PTI - Everyday Button Bits, Mailbox Greetings (for the grass)
Paper: PTI
Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive
Other: PTI Cloud Die, Yellow Button, White Crochet Thread, White Felt,, Misc. Ribbon, Foam Adhesive (to raise the clouds)

With the exception of pressing just a tiny bit too hard on the beak end of the little birdie, I am well pleased with the way it turned out. I hope you are, too. Your comments are always appreciated!

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Crop Connection #2

We took our camper to Timberlake Campground at the Ross Barnett Reservoir so I could participate in Crop Connection's Summer Crop at Pearl Lower Elementary School. The first night we saw a most wonderful sunset. The sun was large and each moment it took setting was breath-taking. This was taken at our campsite with the reservoir waters between us and the sun.


Now on to the crop.


Amanda and Tiffany come all the way from the Mobile area. Tiffany has been so ill lately and I was glad to see she felt well enough to come. I hope you are completely well soon! Thanks, Amanda, for convincing her to come with you. It's always good to see you. Love you, girls!


Here's a look around a quarter of the room.

A lady (or two) showed up at the Crop with a great scrapbooking organizer, per se. And if you know anything about croppers, you'll know that all of us own many organizing things to "help" us put things in their proper place (oh yeah, that's where they stay). Once word got around, everyone wanted to get one of those chests. Yes, I said chest because that's what it is...a man's tool chest! It is a heavy duty tool chest on heavy duty wheels that lean back and rolls as a dolly. It stands hip high and when it opens up it slides back and reveals different levels of storage compartments. It's a dream! AND gotten at Lowe's. So two ladies across the table from us, Tammy and Boo (from Saucier), left and went to get them one. When they got back, more of us saw it. Shortly, two ladies behind me disappeared and went to get them one...the last Lowe's had! Many ladies were just beaming and so excited for the "deal" they got. After all, had it been classified as a scrapbooking item, it would have been double or triple in cost. Guess they knew a man wouldn't pay that kind of money.


Now on to the picture above...Valerie wanted one real bad, too. As a matter of fact, we talked about it off and on throughout the day and all of us were getting convinced that we couldn't live without one of these. So the next day came and when she showed up, she had one of them trailing behind her! She went to a different Lowe's and got her one. She was just tickled to death. See her showing it off to another lady just like it was a newborn baby. Just wait, Valerie, there may be more of your table mates with one when you see us next. *Ü* The good thing about it is that she began packing her toy...in essence cleaning out her stuff. All of us received such fun things so she could make room in her new scrapbooking, I mean, chest. Oh, yeah, we still love ya!


Back row: Valerie, Elwyn, me and Dawn. Front row: Nadine, Andrea and Deanna


Back row: Susan, Vana, Pat and Tammy. Front row: Barbara and Debbie (I hope I got your names straight, ladies.)


Finally, a picture of Dawn. She's already been shopping once with her $100 win. She's just beside herself. I'm so happy for you...AND jealous!!

Sunday, July 18, 2010

So Much Fun!!

Well, Crop Connection is over...sniff, sniff. I really think the ladies need to think about adding one more day OR extending Thursday to a full day. They do an outstanding job putting this together. Everyone is satisfied and to get more than 3 women to be satisfied is a job in itself. Kudos, Ladies! And here they are:


This crop was the first summer one they've done, kind of an experiment...and what a success it was. They chose to make the winter and summer crops different. Personally, I like them being different. I believe they will have their own personality in the long run. Not being as many in attendance this time made it more personable. I really liked that, too. I guess one of the main characteristics of this crop as opposed to any others is that each person has 6' of cropping/working space! It is wonderful and you feel so uncrowded.

Thankfully, I've had real good table mates every time I've gone and this time was no exception; I was blessed with new, lifelong friends...may I lovingly refer to them as "the pro", "the giddy" and "the wayward"...love you, girls! We were fantastic table mates and we laughed so much and so hard sometimes tears and red faces appeared. I already miss them...and a morning chuckle to get my day started. Thanks Valerie, Dawn and Elwyn for wonderful memories!!! I look forward to more in the future.


Here's me, the giddy, the pro, and the wayward...let me explain the titles. It was the first time the Giddy came to a crop. She won the $100 giveaway and was "giddy" until the thing was over. She loved the crop and is a wonderful person. The Pro is literally a "pro". She has been published MANY times in scrapbook magazines but even that doesn't tarnish her true beauty...HER. And then there was the "wayward". Every time we turned around to ask her something or go eat or anything, she had just disappeared from the table, the room, the bathroom, outside, everywhere! Like a wayward child not telling anyone a thing, she just came and went like a ghost. There wasn't a thing she didn't have on hand but she was always shopping and "collecting" more things. She's lost tons of weight and has a great personality. I love you all. You let me be myself and I can't wait til we meet again. ;)

This crop was my most productive one yet. Ideas flowed and many challenges to create outside the box jumped off pages of samples I'd brought to inspire me. I used several new stamps and products. I just love playing with paper and friends!!

There's so much to share that I will post them as I get the articles written. So, stay tuned...there's more to come.

Sunday, July 4, 2010

Speedy Challenge #10

This card base is Sahara Sand (I think). I used a piece of DSP on the left side with a strip of Old Olive punched with an SU Scallop Punch. I stamped the grass from Inspired By Nature on a piece of white and cut and embossed it using the Nestabilities Labels 1 die cut. Using a piece of scrap piece of Dotted Swiss embossed Real Red, it was then punched with the MS Trio Butterfly MS Punch. These were randomly placed and wings lifted a little to give dimension. A PTI sentiment was stamped in Real Red at the bottom. Very easy!


Stamps: Inspired by Nature (SU), Mailbox Greetings (PTI)
Paper: Sahara Sand, White, Early Bird (Cosmo Cricket), Real Red, Old Olive
Ink: Old Olive, Real Red
Other: Nestabilities Labels 1, SU Punch, MS Trio Butterfly Punch, Dotted Swiss EF

This card will be entered in the Speedy's Challenge #10. Thank you for looking!

Saturday, June 19, 2010

CPS69 & IO Challenges

Thanks to my friend, Cat, she's pushed me out of a corner and encouraged me to make a card today. NOW, I'm in the mood. Thank you soooo much!! So this is my second post. And even more exciting is that both posts were for two challenges.

The first challenge is for Card Patterns Sketch 69 and can be found here. And the second one is for Impression Obsession to use at least one of their stamps and the color red.

The card is 6 x 6. I used some real pretty mottled light beige Basic Grey paper as the first layer on top of my ivory base and wished I hadn't since it is not seen and I could have used an ivory and distressed it and you'd never know the difference. Lesson learned! I love distressing and aging.

One of my favorite colors is SU's Ruby Red and it is a sad time when that and Cameo Coral as well as some of my other fave's EVAH are retiring. What were they thinking? Okay, back to the card. The designer paper is Basic Grey from the Porcelain Pad collection. This was cut in 2.5 inch approximately squares and layered on Ruby Red. I added some soft yellow ric rac ribbon down the front. The main image was stamped in Ruby Red on top of second and third generation of one of the tree branches in Creamy Caramel (another FAVE that's going away!!!)

All edges were distressed using my scissors except for the base and the main image piece. Worn Lipstick and Antique Linen Distress Inks were used to age different panels.

This was cut and embossed using the Labels 3 Nestabilities die with a second one the next size up cut from Kraft. Worn Lipstick Distress Ink was sponged on the edges of the Kraft and DSP. Tiny white flowers from Making Memories were sponged with Creamy Caramel and tiny Opaline pearls were placed in the centers. The one in the corner is raised on foam adhesive to lift it a little above the other two little cuties.

Martha Stewart's triple butterfly punch (a regular of mine) were cut from Ruby Red scrap. A larger Opaline pearl was placed in the center of the larger butterfly and raised with foam adhesive and put in the corner. The inside was stamped first and second generation using one of the other branches and the other two little butterflies were randomly placed. I left these flat so it would be easier to mail.



It looks like I've stamped the whole thing but it's only the bottom part of the card.

Stamps: Branches of a Tree (Impression Obssession)
Ink: Ruby Red, Creamy Caramel, Worn Lipstick and Antique Linen Distress Inks
Paper: Ivory, Basic Grey Porcelain Pad, Kraft, Ruby Red
Other: Labels 3 Nestabilities, MS Triple Butterfly Punch, Making Memories White Flowers, Basic Grey Opaline self-adhesive Pearls, Ric Rac Ribbon (by Confetti)

Let me know what you think? Thanks!

Crazy for Challenges & Speedy

This card is for C4C42 at Crazy for Challenges and SCF8, Speedy the Cat's Friends #8. This is an 11 x 4.25 and opens from left to right. Instead of cutting the cardstock width wise it was cut length wise. The challenge at Crazy for Challenges is to use paper flowers, any way or any kind, and the challenge at Mark's Finest Papers is to use embossing on your card. My flowers is an SU die, Floral Fusion, layered over one another. I LOVE this little die. I really like how it accompanies Martha Stewart's leaf punch so well. Of course, that little leaf just goes with everything. It is my go-to leaf punch. All cardstock is Stampin Up. Before layering the larger flower together, I pressed each little bud with an eraser top into the palm of my hand to give it some shape. A hole was punched in the center of the larger flower and a small Pink Ice Crystal Brad (SU) held it together. The small bud was shaped the same but used only two little flowers and a silver self adhesive half pearl. A couple of Old Olive leaves were placed behind the flower and attached with a glue dot. There's no reason to use dimensionals as the flowers themselves raise up nicely.

The greeting is from one of my favorite SU sets, Happy Harmony, and was stamped in Rose Red on white. This was then cut out using a rectangle Nestabilitie and embossed. The tiny flowers were stamped at the bottom and is from a retired SU set of cute little backgrounds. I think it makes the sweetest accent to a card...sorry, I don't recall the name of that set. The edges were sponged lightly with Old Olive. The flower was attached and this piece was raised with foam adhesive and placed on Rose Red cardstock. The larger floral piece was not sponged with Old Olive. This white embossed square Nestabilitie was placed on top of a Rose Red piece then adhered on the ribbon (no foam adhesive was used).

The base card is Regal Rose. A piece of white was die cut and embossed using the Jumbo Scallop Border Petite Spellbinder die. The little floral background was stamped in Rose Red. Another (same size) silver self adhesive half pearl was placed in the curve of the cut. A piece of Regal Rose ribbon was wrapped around the card and additional silver half pearls were added in the top right corner.


Stamps: Happy Harmony and Floral Petite Background (SU)
Paper: Regal Rose, Rose Red, white
Ink: Rose Red, Old Olive
Other: Floral Fusion (SU die), Leaf punch (MS), Regal Rose Ribbon, Basic Grey Opaline Silver Half Pearls, Light Pink Circle Ice Rhinestons (SU), Square and Rectangle (Nestabilities), Jumbo Scallop Border Petite (Spellbinders), foam adhesive

Let me know if you like this one and what you think. Thanks!

Friday, June 18, 2010

A Couple of Challenges


As I was looking for a challenge to do, I ran up on two that this card would fit. Though it is not my favorite card, it still fits a couple of challenges. The first one is for CAS71 to make a card for things that fly. Balloons fly...kinda! She didn't say it had to breathe, ha! The second one is for WT275 to use ribbon. This is probably my favorite way to use ribbon: neatly knotted. It just looks so tailored, clean and crisp.

Stamps: Everyday Button Bits (PTI)
Paper: All SU
Ink: Memento Black
Other: Dotted Ribbon (Michael's), various buttons, various sizes of circle punches, twine

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Stampin B's #62

Today's card is for Stampin B's Challenge #62 to make a card connected to a seashore. The stamp set I used is one of my favorites and I pull it out a lot when it comes to making my hubby a card. This image is so romanticly serene and reminds me of our times at the beach just sitting together looking at the ocean. I didn't want to add water as such because I wanted to leave the view to the imagination.


Stamps: Summer by the Sea (ret. SU)
Paper: DCWV Sweet Stack, white, Old Olive
Ink: Memento Black
Misc: Copics, Nestabilities Oval and Scallop Oval, foam adhesive

Thanks for looking!

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Speedy's Challenge #5

I had to make a couple of sympathy cards - I really need to keep some of these on hand as they are hard to do just off the cuff and are usually needed quickly. What better way to make a nice card than to emboss it and/or use silhouette images. This worked great with Mark's Finest Papers Challenge this week. I don't know if you can tell or not but Stickles were used in the center of the little flowers.


Stamps: Thoughts & Prayers (SU)
Paper: White, Black
Ink: Basic Gray
Other: Fleur de Lis Pendant and Octagon dies-Spellbinder, Triple Butterfly Punch-MS, Textile EF, Star Dust Stickles, Black Satin Ribbon, foam adhesive

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

JUGS #35

This week's challenge at Just Us Girls is to use dry embossing on your card. This is my first love. I've always thought it looked so elegant and classy. I love all the birds in this Martha Stewart stamp set. Though they look similar, they are all different. So here's my card:


Stamps: Martha Stewart
Ink: Silver Encore
Paper: Ivory, Apricot Appeal
Misc: Green Satin Ribbon, Textile EF, Lime Green Kaiser Rhinestones, Silver EP, Various Copics, foam adhesive

This is simply done with emphasis done on the shading of the bird and the addition of the flowers and leaves for dimension. The main panel was raised on foam adhesive as were two flowers and leaves.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Circles and Dots

This card is for The Shabby Tea Room #11 Challenge to use tea/tea pots or dots. Well, I'm a dot kinda gal! I love all things dotted: blouses, decor, ribbon, cards, you name it. With that said, one of my favorite embossing folders is the Dotted Swiss! I thought a couple of things came together for the "dotted" theme: circles, lollipops, jewels and brad.

This white card base has a Yoyo Yellow layer followed by a piece of real sweet sparkly paper. Over that I took a piece of Real Red and embossed it then cut the bottom with the Spellbinders Scallop Border die. Another piece of the sparkly paper was cut with a Circle Nestability with a Yoyo Yellow piece cut with a larger Circle Nestability. The smaller circle was matched to the bottom piece, raised on foam adhesive and placed on the yellow circle. This was then raised with more foam adhesive and placed "in line" with the design. A couple of small clear rhinestones were put in the middle of the lollipops and a couple were put in the border cut. After all of this was adhered, a very pretty sheer yellow ribbon was wrapped around the top portion of the card. The "wings" of a red fire circle rhinestone brad were cut off and adhered to the center of the bow.

I love the bright, happy, sugary sweet little card. This designer paper is filled with glitter and sparkle. The picture does NOT do it justice. The lemony yellow almost makes your mouth water!


Stamps: None
Paper: White, Yoyo Yellow, Real Red, The Glitter Sweet Stack (DCWV)
Misc: Spellbinders Jumbo Scalloped Border Petites, Circle Nestabilities, Clear Yellow Ribbon, Clear Rhinestones, Fire Circle Rhinestone Red Brad (SU), foam adhesive

Monday, May 24, 2010

A "Speedy" Challenge

For you stampers out there, you probably get the title. Yeah, I'm referring to Speedy the Cat! This is my first challenge with Mark's Finest Papers. Don't know why this has escaped my attention before but this is only their 4th challenge. This one is to create a card or project with an animal on it.

The one I want to share is a teeny, tiny card with a little bird on it. I hope birds can be classified as an animal...hmmm. The card is actually the More Mustard piece. It lifts up for a tiny message. I cut a piece of Old Olive from the Fleur de Lis Pendant Spellbinders die as a base. The "card" is a 2x4 piece of More Mustard folded in half. A scrap piece of Naturals Ivory was Cuttlebugged with the Textile EF and cut a little smaller to fit on top. I used two graduating Nestabilities Squares for the main image with the Old Olive piece raised with foam adhesive. I thought the Naturals Ivory was a better choice since it was a little bird...it had a more "natural" feel to it. The tiny bird from PTI's Everyday Button Bits was stamped in More Mustard with an Apricot Appeal button placed in the center and the tiny wing stamped in More Mustard and cut out and placed on the button. On the inside is the sentiment, "hey there, chickadee". It's the sweetest, teeniest card. Hope you like it.

Sunday, May 23, 2010

A Simple Case of Casing

I wish I could take credit for this card but I can't. The changes I made were: the upper portion in a different stamp, the sentiment, the main image stamp and color of button. Okay, it may seem I've changed a lot, but it looks a lot like the original.

Using a Kraft card base, I stamped the larger Damask design in Rose Red. In the spaces between the large image, I used a smaller Damask stamp and stamped it in Versamark. A piece of Baja Breeze was stamped lightly with the Linen stamp in Blue Bayou. To the side, the sentiment from the Damask Designs stamp set in Blue Bayou. Adhere this on the card base.

Small twine was wrapped around th card and threaded through a Rose Red button and tied in a sweet little bow.


Stamps: Damask Designs (PTI), Linen (SU)
Paper: Kraft, Baja Breeze
Ink: Rose Red, Blue Bayou, Versamark
Misc: Twine (SU), Rose Red Button (SU)

Friday, May 21, 2010

Stampin B's #59 Challenge

This card reflects my love for the beach...rather, just hints at it. It is a standard but landscape card using 3 circles (the challenge). I had these inchies that I'd been wanting to use and thought it just perfect for this challenge. The focal image was more emphasized with the addition of the texture of the Bahama Beach Mudd Puddles. This is the coolest stuff!!!

I used stamps from Michael's dollar bin by Studio G. from three different sets. Images were colored with Copics and Clear Stickles were added to the waves. Each image was raised on one foam adhesive before placing on the orange circle. The main image (center) was raised with foam adhesive x 3. Hope you enjoy this...because I'm headed to the beach!



Stamps: Studio G (3 different sets)
Ink: Black Memento Ink
Paper: White, Only Orange
Misc: Copics, Bahama Beach (Mudd Puddles), Clear Stickles, foam adhesive