Flora and Fauna with a Maggie

 

I was able to work on a card tonight after dinner. Naturally, the first place I went to was 365 Cards to see their challenge for today. Pam wanted us to use both flora and fauna and they had to come from different sources. I have not been able to play with my Maggies for a while so I pulled those images out first. Next I went to my patterned paper and looked for one that had wildlife on it. The image was colored with copic markers and I used a bit of diamond Stickles on her wings.

To finish off the card I used a rose by Prima, the pearl flourish is from ZVA and the sentiment is by Inkadinkado. I wish it was a bit more fitting for my son’s birthday. He turns 17 on Friday. Do you think he would care? Just kidding, maybe tomorrow’s challenge will be more appropriate!

Asian Influence

 

Today’s card was created for two challenges. The first one is on Flutterby Wednesday. Danni asked us to include a butterfly and flowers on our card this week. Easy enough, I love both of these elements. The second challenge is found on 365 Cards. We had to convey the theme of friendship without using a sentiment on the front. I went with a different take on the theme and began by stamping a faux postage layout image. I sponged Versa Magic Pixie Dust and Memento New Sprout ink inside the areas. Using a variety (ok 3) Asian images, I stamped them inside. I also used my Cuttlebug Autumn Type embossing folder and cut out the word friend. I used a Punch Bunch to cut out the butterfly. Kaiser rhinestones and pearls were added to the panel. To finish the card, I used my Fiskars scissors to cut out the white panel and layered this on a piece of SU Certainly Celery and a card base of Pretty in Pink.

I just finished watching American Idol and I am thrilled with the final two; Crystal and Lee. I will not be upset with either one of them winning next week. I am off to bed now so I can read James Patterson’s 9th Judgement. I started it during lunch today and it is hard to put down!

 

Day 79 color theme for Dad

 

I struggled with the title of today’s post. My first thought was Nauti Bird. Then a Pelican for Pops. You can see I just went with the challenge theme.  Today’s card is based on the color theme for Day 79 at 365 Cards. When I looked at the colors this morning on my break, I immediately thought nautical. Most others doing the challenge went patriotic. I guess is was the different shades of blue that my brain focused on. I choose the set Guiding Light by Gina K Designs. I am very proud to say that all the cardstock (except the base) was pulled from my scrap bags. I stamped the image in black and colored it with copics. I used my Labels 4 to cut out the center panels. I sponged Memento Summer Sky and Versa Magic Wheat for the background. The netting is also from Gina K. The birds flying near the sentiment were stamped in Memento London Fog. I added a bit of Flower Soft in Sand for texture at the base of the image.

I am doing quite well keeping up with the challenges this week at 365 Cards. I just might make the weekly all-stars!

Shoe Shopping!

 

What do you do when you have some extra funds at the end of the month? Go shopping. Today’s card combines Day 78 at 365 Cards with the sketch from Mojo Monday. The challenge we were given was to imagine Money. I took the theme and choose something we do when we have some extra cash. I began with the MFT set called Window Shopping. I colored the image in with copics and paper pieced the dress. All the patterned paper came from the SEI pack Claire. The brad is also from SEI and I used a bit of scrappers floss to hang the sign. What makes me laugh about this card is that I really don’t like to shop for shoes! I know most females love this, but if I could get by with the same pair each day I would!

Out of the box, err I mean Oval

 

That title caught your attention I bet. It has been a week since I have really been able to work on a card/challenge. Being out of town at a conference was part of my obstacle, but I have also strained a muscle in my lower back. Staying in one position for any length of time is painful. Today’s card is made for two purposes. It follows the sketch at 365 Cards and it will be my swap card for the animal theme on Thursday night at Stamp & Deliver. Let me show you the entire card:

 To explain the title of this post, take a look at my stamped image. I used my Large Scalloped Oval nesties, but didn’t want the bird’s wings cut off. I used the Out of the Box technique. Start by stamping your image. Lay the nestie on top and see what part of your image lays outside the edge. Trace the inside of the nestie close to the image. Using scissors, cut the image out that lays outside the nestie. When you place your die-cut back down on the image, flip the cut image on top of the metal die so it is not cut out. If this sounds confusing, please go to SCS, there is a tutorial on there. After cutting out the nestie, I colored the mouse with a base color and then mixed Toffee and Sand Flower soft to obtain the color I wanted. I also glued plain Sand down around his feet. I finished coloring the image with copic markers. I added some dashed lines around the oval to help it stand out. The card base is SU Almost Amethyst and the pp is SU Tea Party. I popped the oval up on foam tape and glued a few Robin’s Nest dew drops in the corners. Now to just make 3 more!

Lately I have seen bloggers showing pictures of their work space to see if they are “clean” crafters or “messy” crafters. You decide!

For you eye spy fans, can you find two entirely different types of candy? Leave me a comment with the correct candy names and I will send out some blog candy. I will take comments all week and announce the winner this weekend:)

Sunday sketch and MITI

 Happy Mother’s Day to all the Mom’s reading this! Today’s cards are for the Super Sketch at 365 Cards and from yesterday’s Make and Take at Stamp & Deliver. As always, Pam gave us a wonderful sketch to follow. I began by taking my new Basic Grey Max & Whiskers paper pad and choosing the papers. After looking at the colors of the paper, I thought the image stamp would look good in brown ink. The stamp is from Limited Editions and the sentiment is SU.

The following cards are those from the store. The theme this month was masculine cards and these really fit the bill.

 

They were all fun to create and it is always fun to get with the ladies at the store. The top card with the vintage car was super easy (no stamping). Just cut out the car and add some patterned paper. The next card (lighthouse) was stamped and then colored with pencils. The background paper really makes the card pop. The fishing martini was stamped twice and the top of the glass colored and cut out. We popped it up on foam. I added some diamond glaze to the glass when I got home. The final card (3 bird profiles) is very elegant. We stamped it in brown ink and used chalks to color. The background panel was run through a crimper and then the mulberry paper added on top. It is hard to see, but we used a gelly pen to outline the flowers and the squares. Now to decide which one my hubby gets for Father’s Day!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend. We are heading to my son’s for a cookout. He has teriyaki glazed steaks, shrimp kabobs and twice baked potatoes! This from someone who doesn’t cook! Thank god for the butcher shop on the corner :)

Day 66 the 3 W’s

 Today on 365 cards Pam gave us another trio challenge. Actually, she is going to do this all week! Today was W’s : white, white space and wings.

In case you haven’t noticed, I love butterflies, so the wings aspect was right up my alley. I have had this stamp and I don’t think I had inked it up yet. I hate to say, but I do tend to purchase stamps and don’t get a chance to ink them up before they are put away. I had the oval already cut out, so green was my hint of color. I used my scor-pal to make a few definition lines. I had some green pearls, but they were not the correct shade so I whipped out my G24 copic and colored a few white ones. These looked passable. I used a gelly pen to go over the trails, but it was very hard to pick that up in the photo. It didn’t help that it was a white card in a white photo cube. Even the piece of green cardstock in the back didn’t help too much. Trust me on this element.

There is still a few hours left of Cinco de Mayo so party like you are a Mexican!

Day 65 with 3 A’s

I popped on the computer this morning to see what the challenge would be on 365 cards and lo and behold….3 A’s: alpha stickers, arc and anniversary! 

I knew I had a few alpha stickers to choose from so that was ok, and the anniversary theme didn’t scare me, but creating an arc did. I came home to some new Basic Grey Cappella in the mailbox so that was my background. I used La Creme and SU cardstock for layers. The image of the hands is from GinaK and the sentiment is from JustRite. Roses and pearls are added for a bit of elegance. If you click on the card to enlarge it, you will see that she has a small pearl for a ring also! As you can see, I used the alpha stickers to create an arc. Now if any of you are engineers, please don’t measure my angles on the letters:)

Once Upon a Time….

 The challenge today at 365 cards was to use 3 F’s. They were fringe, fairy tale and favorite color.  I began with the fringe and worked from there. They came from a fiber pack of Sugared Basic Grey.

Naturally, I pulled out my BG Sugared paper pack. Now on to the image….I am sure there are many fairy tales that involve mice in them so Penny Black to the rescue. I colored them with copics and cut out the image with my Labels 2 nestie. The sentiment is from My Favorite Things and it is how all happy fairy tales end. The hearts are Rain Dots to finish off the card. The final F is my favorite color of the moment…..Pink (she is a pretty colorful recording artist too). Thanks for stopping by today.

Sketchy Sunday with Melissa Frances

 Today’s post is a card I made for 365 cards. Every Sunday Pam posts a sketch to follow. Here is what I created:

I began with one of my new Vintage Ephemera Stickers that I just picked up. After selecting the image I played with my nesties to see what shape would work well for the background layer. I settled on Labels 11. I cut it out from a piece of Applesauce Bazzill paper. I love this color! While the die cut was still around the paper, I sponged Antique Linen ink inside. My Fiskars Treading Water border punch was used on another piece of Bazzill to follow the sketch. I did end up flipping the sketch on it’s side. The beautiful pink paper is MF called Henrietta. I distressed this layer with my Tim Holtz distress tool. I sponged Antique Linen ink on the remaining layers including the card base. Sorry I don’t know the name of that piece, but it is Bazzill. I used my Spellbinder Floral Accents die to cut the pink flourishes. Here is a close up for you…

They were cut from some pink scraps that I had. I used some of my new roses from Wild Orchid Crafts and a few pearls from Kaiser. After putting the entire card together, I spritzed it with Tsukineko Sheer Shimmer mist in Frost. You can see a bit in the photo above but here is another view:

Click on the photo for a closer view and you will see it shine. It looks so pretty in real life! I might just make this into a Mother’s Day card.

Thanks for stopping by today and enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Mojo Monday meets 365 Cards

 I took the day off today to just relax and regroup. Part of regrouping was to spend an hour at my favorite LSS Stamp and Deliver. Here’s a shout out to Claire (the Store Owner). She had just received a shipment of Melissa Frances paper and other goodies. I purchased a few sheets of each design

plus a bunch of Bazzill paper. My card tonight is showing off the Rosaleen paper and I am not sure what color Bazzill as I didn’t write them down. I am going to submit this card to Mojo Monday 136 and also 365 cards circles 3 ways. The layout follows the mojo sketch and my three circles are: circle nestie, button and robins nest dew drops. The sentiment is from the new Justrite Hope set (did I mention I bought that today too?).

So tomorrow is National Scrapbooking Day….I am not a scrapper. Will it be horrible if I just try to work on some more cards?!

Super Sketchy Sunday at 365 Cards

 Surprise! I am back. It has been awhile since I have been able to sit down and create at my craft table. Work and family duty called. I decided to try something easy to get my mojo going. This past Sunday was sketch day at 365 Cards. To see the original sketch and the other creative interpretations, click on the link I provided.

This is a close up of the sentiment I used from Verve. I was noticing it quite a bit on Splitcoast and finally broke down and ordered it. Do you see the rose? Is it Prima or not? Not. I ordered a few different styles from Wild Orchid Crafts and they arrived today. I will say these come from the UK but other than the short delay due to the Iceland volcano, they flew over fast. You get so many more for the money! I can’t wait to use more.  Now for the whole card:

 I used paper from the Memory Box gossamer collection. The ribbon is from Papertrey Ink and the strip below the ribbon was made using a Martha Stewart border punch. There really isn’t more to explain. Now to just figure out who to give this to. Tomorrow is Wednesday already, the work week will be half way over :)

Enjoy today with a maggie

 Which little cutie is this? Can you tell from just this snippet of the image? Today my BSB (best stamping buddy) came over and we stamped images of each other’s magnolias. After looking at a few challenges today, I decided to use  - Tilda with birdcage!

The challenges that I am entering are:

365 cards color scheme for day 34  Here is a look at the colors we had to use

Week 49 at Just M agnolia is requiring 2 folds on your card

Basic Grey has a sketch to follow  Here is the sketch that Martine created

Now you know the requirements I had to comply with, here is my card creation:

I began with finding the paper for the color challenge. I pulled out my Basic Grey Green at Heart paper pack. Once the papers were chosen I colored in my darling Tilda with copic markers. I added scattered straw and frosted lace stickles to her dress, bow and the bird so they would shimmer. I cut the image and sentiment out with my Labels 4 from Spellbinders. I sponged the shapes with Versamagic Spanish Olive ink. Along with the BG paper, I used Marigold Morning from SU. To complete the sketch, I added buttons from BG and the middle one is from Tres Jolie. Isn’t the two toned button a perfect match? The flowers are by Prima with a couple Martha Stewart punched branches. To comply with the Just Magnolia challenge, the card is a gate-fold.

I have included the copics that I used in coloring my image

Thanks for taking the time to stop by.

Secret to a rich life..

 

I finally was able to sit down today and work on a card or two. This coming Wednesday night is the card swap at my lss (Stamp and Deliver). The theme this month is odd shaped cards or folds. I went with the folds and created a wiper card. This card also will be submitted for the ad inspired challenge at 365 cards and for flutterby challenge to use green . I began with grey cardstock cut into 4 1/4 by 8 1/2 pieces. You will need 2 of these. Score at 1.5 and 3 inches on both sheets. Fold on the scores. Create your main panel as desired and add patterned paper on the two side panels. Cut a piece of cardstock 1.5 by 3 inches long. Score on the diagonal at 1.5 inches. This will be the part that pops up. Embellish as desired. Once the card front is complete, add a strip of sticky tape on each side and adhere your second piece of 4 1/4 by 8 1/2 cardstock. Along with the grey cs, I also used Aqua Mist by Paper trey ink, the patterned paper is from My Minds Eye Home collection. The butterflies are from a Martha Stewart punch, buttons by Basic Grey, ribbon from Michaels. I sponged the front sentiment panel with SU Baja Breeze, Ranger Distress inks in bundled sage wild honey and dried marigold. A few black rhinestones finished the card. I needed to make 4 cards total and I didn’t have enough of the patterned paper so I also made this version:

Both sentiments are from the clear set by Cloud 9 birthday sentiments. This really is an easy card to put together and when folded, it will fit into a regular envelope for mailing. Thanks for stopping by today.

Wacky colors and early birthday gifts

 

Do the colors of the above card look wacky to you? I must state, the shade of purple is not really coming through on this picture. Today is wacky color Wednesday at 365 Cards. We needed to use Orange, Purple and Blue. I began with looking for some patterned paper and found some scraps from Basic Grey Sugar Rush. The image is a RAK that I received from a stamping friend in the UK (thanks Joan) and I believe it is a Sugar Nellie image. I colored her with these copics:

I added some ultrafine Flower Soft in Citrus Crush to the flowers. A strip of ribbon and pearls were added along with a butterfly punch. The sentiment is by A Muse and stamped on a Labels 4. I am also going to submit this card to Challenge 94 Recycle at A Spoonful of Sugar and Challenge 100 at Flutterby Wednesday. All three of these challenge blogs have some wonderful creations for you to look over.

I would also like to show you some early birthday gifts from my stamping buddy Char:

Isn’t that card wonderful? She knows my love of butterflies (especially blue ones). I can’t wait to try that pop-up butterfly punch!!! The big day is actually this Sunday, sigh.

Song inspired Mojo 129

 Today’s card fulfills two challenges. The first is the Mojo Monday sketch challenge and the second is from 365 Cards who gave us a song to be inspired by. The song is What a Wonderful World. I went with the first part of the song when Mr. Armstrong sings of the trees and roses. If you would like to hear the song, click on the blue words above that say 365 Cards and it will start playing for you.

The card itself is not very complicated. I was a bit pre-occupied when I made it last night. I had come home from a city council meeting and was playing catch up on some shows I missed last week. I began with just a plain white card base and put a layer of Sweet Blush from Papertrey Ink on top. The patterned papers are from Basic Grey. I stamped the roses (Hero Arts) and colored them with my copics. The sentiment is by Justrite. The ribbon is silk and the buttons are also from BG so the color matches perfectly! I tried layering the stamped panel on a few different shades of cardstock but none of them gave me the wow factor, so in the end I just used my Tim Holtz distresser and left it at that.

I hope you enjoy your Wednesday otherwise known as Hump Day! The week is all downhill from here:)

Imagine this…

 Today’s challenge at 365 cards was to imagine outer space. I knew I did not have any cute alien creatures or space ships so I went a different route. There are times we should march to the beat of our own drum, so I am marching here. I have loved this saying ever since I was given a card with it after my Dad passed away. I would like to think that he is up there in the heavens watching down on my family. When I think of outer space, yes the first thought is planets and rockets, but also Heaven.

The card itself is very simple. I began with my stars cuttlebug folder and used some Coredinations cardstock from the Vintage Flower Power pack. I sanded the cardstock so you could see the stars shining through. I stamped the sentiment (from Inky Antics) on a piece of scrapbook paper from the Complete Boy pack by My Minds Eye. A layer of dark red is behind it and I punched a corner punch by EK Success so you could see through the cardstock. A simple piece of twine holds the charm Hope.

I hope that I am able to hold onto this card for awhile and that I am not having to send it to a friend too soon.

A few days for 365 Cards

I have tried to play catch up today. With our son getting into his new home, we have spent each evening with him doing small tasks. I have three cards tonight to show for some of this week’s challenges. First up is today’s Sunday Sketch by Pam. I began by using my new paper pack from  

SEI called Claire. All three patterned papers on the cover are from the pack. I used my new Labels 12 from Spellbinders to cut out the shapes. In keeping with the curve of the label, I used an SU label and a corner rounder that attempted to mimic the curve. A strip of silk ribbon and a few button from Dress It Up finish the bottom. I didn’t want to drag out my huge sewing machine for the stitches, so I used my paper piercer and created some faux stitches.

Next up is a card for Day 6 stampin saturday. We were required to put ink on our stamps not color in a stamped image. Yikes! I rarely make a card without using my Copics anymore, this seemed so strange. I found this piece of background paper that was made with the shaving cream technique some time ago.

I looked at the colors I had used to create the background (Raisin, Butterscotch and Ginger) and dragged out my watercolor pencils. I used a stamp from Penny Black ( I just adore their floral stamps) and put the crayon color directly on the stamp then misted it with water. The sentiment is from SU and the flowers were punched from a SU floral punch. I added half pearls to their middles. Ladies, please close your dropped jaws, there are no nesties used on this card either. I went the old school way and just used my paper cutter to cut simple edged shapes.

For my last challenge, Day 5 Fancy Folds, I got out one of my wild card templates that I have had for years. Let me show you the card, then I will explain.

I began by using some material that was left over from the Wild Card class I had attended many moons ago. I glued the fabric onto some light cardstock and cut out the two templates that you see in the first and third picture of this section. Eyelets and copper leaves were attached to the third template. Inside is a small note card. The middle template is from a sheet of paper that I stamped a variety of leaves in Ranger Raisin ink. The top template has crushed velvet leaves on the four petals that open the envelope. Hopefully, the recipient doesn’t get tired of opening all the cards up to get to the sentiment inside!

It is time for a hot chocolate and a cinnamon raisin bagel while I catch up with some recorded shows from this week. I hope you all have a fun week coming up. If our schedule stays on track, we are driving up to Atlanta on Saturday to move our oldest. I will get to spend an evening with my sister and bring her Cuttlebug to her. She has been hearing about this machine for quite a while and I was able to get one for her quite cheaply.

My Lavender space challenge

 Today at 365 Cards Pam challenged us to a white space challenge. Since I used a lavender cardbase, mine is called the Lavender space challenge. I made this quick and easy because I spent my evening helping our middle son get organized in his new house.

The card details are: cardstock – Papertrey Ink Lavender Moon, ink – Versamagic Purple Hydrangea, stamp – Studio G, ribbon – May Arts, bling – Basic Grey, Nestie – New Label 10 :)

Here is what the challenge looked like and you can see what some of the others did with it. That’s it for tonight….I am off to bed.

Tuesday Trio….Follow Your Heart

 When you look at this picture can you figure out what the trio of elements we needed to use were? It is Day 2 at 365 Cards and Pam had a fun trio for us today.

So, did you guess circles, silver and pearls? Then you are a winner! Here is the entire card for your viewing pleasure:

I began by using my Blooming Dots CB folder on a piece of Coredinations Flower Power paper. I sanded the panel so the dots would pop out and be seen. I used my SU scallop border punch on the right side and used a strip of silver ribbon to attach the heart charm. The sentiment is from Justrite Joyful Hearts set. After cutting out some ovals for the sentiment I used Silver Liquid Pearls on the scalloped layer. I know it is a simple card, but I rather like it. 

American Idol comes on with the 10 remaining girls tonight. I don’t have a favorite just yet, but hopefully they won’t be as nervous as last week:)