Little Pieces of Quiet

 When I first saw this image, I knew I would get it to make a card for my sister. She has two little boys who are constantly around her demanding her attention. I colored this one to resemble her youngest who is 4.

One thing about close-ups, you can see the tiny spots I miss when coloring :) I stamped him (Penny Black image) with Memento ink and colored him with these markers:

I saw that the challenge this past Saturday on the Penny Black Challenge site was a sketch challenge so that is where my layout came from. It is a 6 by 6 square card (no worries as I will hand her the card Wednesday night) made with Bazzill cardstock. The patterned paper is new Basic Grey Oliver (brads too). I used my Nestie circle, scalloped circle and tiny tag sets to cut out my image. For the bottom piece I used my SU scalloped border punch.

The inside has the sentiment that reads “Just working on that piece of quiet you said you wanted.” I think she will like it. How can you stay upset with someone that cute?

Remaining “class” cards

 I spent the rest of the afternoon creating these three cards for my Mom and her friends. The first one actually has watercoloring on it. If you know me well, you know I don’t like this coloring medium. I am pleased with this image though. I used cold press paper which I think made a big difference.

The image and sentiment are by GinaK. I wanted it to have a summery feel. I layered the image with SU Pink Pirouhette and Regal Rose. Behind the patterned paper is Pesto coredinations.

The next card uses the shaving cream technique. I used Bashful Blue and Mellow Moss re-inkers for this. The sentiment is new from JustRite Designs. I used coordinating paper for the sentiment and popped each one up on foam strips.

The final card used the shaker kit from Impression Obsession.  

The wild flower image is from Penny Black, the sentiment is from IO and the butterfly inside the shaker is from Memory Box. If you click on the picture it will enlarge and you can see that I lightly colored the wings and added some microfine glitter. Inside the shaker is Sweet Pea Flower soft with a hint of lavender.

I think the ladies will enjoy working on these, don’t you? Now to just cut out the kits!

Celebrating You

 This card was made so I could use another new stamp in my collection. I picked up this Penny Black slapstick Irises last week. I love this style of flower stamp. I pulled out my watercolor crayons, spritzer and I must say, I am happy with my first try. I usually have to try 3-4 times before I am happy with the look.

I used my Swiss Dot CB folder on the pink and light blue panel. The sentiment is by Verve, the butterfly is a Martha Stewart punch (it is covering up a small tear when I adjusted the ribbon!), and the pearls are from Basic Grey Opalines. I am happy to say this card fulfills three challenges. The layout is from Mojo Monday 141, the color scheme is from Cuttlebug Challenge and on A Spoonfull of Sugar the theme is celebrating. This might become a card for my Mom (who’s surgery was delayed until next Monday) once she is fully into therapy. I don’t want you to get the wrong idea….she is having a full knee replacement. Didn’t want you to think she was going to detox (wink). The week is half over so we are counting down to the weekend and our trip to Panama City Beach. Hopefully the oil slick stays away at least another week for us!

Cards from the weekend

 

This weekend was a nice three day weekend. I had planned to participate in the Virtual Stamp gala over on Splitcoast, but alas….it wasn’t to be so. Friday night began with a party for our youngest. He turned 17 and invited 17 of his closest friends to celebrate. Saturday was cleaning and laundry, Sunday ran errands (and had dinner at Bahama Breeze) then today was yard work. I was determined to make my mom a get well card for her surgery tomorrow, so I looked at the various challenges and incorporated a couple for the card above. The first was Splish, Splash (use the colors blue, white and grey) and the second was Watermark (use versamark on your card). I was also able to throw in butterfly (ribbon from BSF thanks ;) and a heart so I can add Flutterby Wednesday and The Shabby Tea Room to the list.

My second card is the one I made our son for his birthday. I just bought this set from Stamp and Deliver and wanted to ink it up.

Yes we freely humiliate our children by making them wear birthday Mouse ears. The button was all him. He is listening to a fine rendition of Happy Birthday from his cousins in GA.

I hope you were able to enjoy the weekend. Did you know there is only 207 days til Christmas? Start your shopping early to avoid the rush!

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.

It’s gonna be a boy!!

 It seems our family keeps having boys! And yes there is another one on the way. No it isn’t mine…goodness at 46 I do not want to have to start over with night feedings and dirty diapers. And no I am not going to be a Grandmother. That leaves the extended family. My sister’s niece is expecting a boy soon and she is having a baby shower. Sadly my Mom and I are not able to travel up to Savannah for the shower, so we made some special cards to send up with a gift card. First up is my Mom’s:

The striped paper is embossed with the Harlequin CB folder. She used SU Bashful blue paper, ink and ribbon. The footprints are from All Night Media and the sentiment is from Studio G. The border punched (Martha Stewart) topper is popped up on foam dots to give it a shade effect. Nice touch :)

Next up is mine. I used Graphic 45 paper from the Bride to Baby collection. I purchased the cutest clear set from Penny Black called Bundle of Joy with the intent of using a cute hedgie on the card. But as it came together, the hedgehog didn’t look right. You’ll see what I mean:

The card was taking a pretty vintage look, and the cutsie hedgehog was not right. But I did use the sentiment and adorable booties! I stamped the booties on a piece of the paper and cut it out using my Labels 1 die cuts. I stamped the image in Memento Rich Cocoa which is also great for the vintage feel. I edged all the paper in the ink for a softer look. There is a bit of lace, some prima flowers, a Kaiser pearl and a touch of Patina Stickles on the booties.

Here is a close-up of the booties. If you click on the image, it will get even larger. The layer of Bazzill underneath the gorgeous paper is called Patina also. A match made in heaven :)

Here’s to Shannon and the joys of motherhood!

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.

Spring Hedgie meets 3R’s

 After getting my chores done for the day, I was finally able to sit down and work on a card. After looking over the different challenges offered today, this first card meets three of them. First up is 365 cards and the 3S’s. The requirements were to use stripes, make it a square and have spring represented. Got it.

The second challenge was Week 12 at Basic Grey that stated your card needed to have an animal on it and of course use a Basic Grey product. The third challenge was Week 86 at Penny Black Saturday Challenge that required a Penny Black image for someone special. So the details are: image by Penny Black that is cut out and layered on oval nesties. The background paper is BG Lemonade, flower by Prima, leaves from a Martha Stewart punch, SU Regal Rose and Kiwi Kiss cardstock.

For my second card, I followed the directions for Day 332 at 365 cards which were the 3R’s. The requirements were to use red, rick rack and a rhinestone.  Here is what I came up with:

 The card details are super easy: Paper by Bo Bunny, sentiment from Just Rite, rick rack from All My Memories and Rhinestones from Marcella. I used my circle and scalloped circle nestie for the sentiment.

Did ya notice I now have a watermark for my cards? Thanks to my son, he showed me how to use Picassa to add text to my photos. They are almost looking professional:)

You are my sunshine

 Well we haven’t been seeing or feeling the sunshine here in FL too much lately. Winter has set in and is in no hurry to leave. Our temperature has been a high of 43 if we are lucky. Our heater is working overtime to keep the house comfortable. Notice I didn’t say warm!

Today’s card is for week 83 sketch challenge over at Penny Black Challenge Blog. My son’s girlfriend loves hedgehogs (she got a live one for Christmas) so I enjoy making her cards when  I can. The image

is from the Wonderful clear set as is the sentiment on the inside. The sentiment on the outside is from Justrite. This is my first attempt at an easel card and it was really very easy. The patterned paper is from DCWV Sweet mat pack. The circles were cut using my nesties and Cuttlebug. The inside white strip that holds my card upright was cut from a border punch by SU. I spread my love of stamping around to many companies:)

I hope this is the start of a great week for you. It is a short work week for me as I have a conference to attend Wed. thru Friday. Unfortunately, the hotel is inside the Orlando Airport. What fun is that…

A green snowflake?

 What? You mean you have never seen a green snowflake before? Well this is all we really get in Florida! You can’t really blame me. I made this card to fit into 4 different challenges and the color scheme at Copic color challenge was YG03, BV02 and B93. I had to fudge a bit and used BV01.

The card also completes sketch challenge 82 at A Spoonful of Sugar, week 80 at Penny Black was to use a charm and finally Day 306 at 365 cards asked us to Dig Deep into our stash to use something we have hoarded. The sketch challenge is self explanatory. My “charm” is also my hoarded item. I must confess, it is really a brad with its points cut off. I looked through all my stash and couldn’t find any more charms in a Christmas theme, so I improvised. The image is by Penny Black from the Christmas Critters clear set. The green snowflake is a Spellbinders die from the Snowflake Wonder set. Here is a close-up of the adorable hedgie. I used Polar White flower soft on the stocking. The following copics were used to color: YG03, BV01, B93, E11, G28, R29, RV10, E00, W1, the blender and a clear spica pen.

It is 11:30pm as I am posting this so let me wish you all a very Happy New Year. I am going to head to the living room to watch the ball drop with the family.

Super Skating Hedgie Sketch

 It is Sunday so another fabulous sketch was given to us by Pam to follow at 365 Cards. Here is her sketch:

And here is what I was inspired to do:

When I first looked at the sketch and saw the line along the bottom edge, my first thought was to use my new Martha Stewart icicle punch. The card evolved around that. I took a piece of  SU Cool Caribbean and punched the strip of icicles out. I was able to use a piece of paper from my new BG Eskimos Kisses paper pad. The hedgie image is from the Penny Black Holly Day Critters clear set. That was stamped on an extra nestie labels 3 piece. The image was colored with Copics and spica pens. The pink Noel is actually a  snow flake die from Spellbinders Create a Flake 2 set. The ribbon is from my holiday stash and the snowflakes on the ribbon are from Hero Arts. As I laid the pieces in place on the paper it looked nice but sorta plain. I took out my Zig glue pen and outlined the icicles, the nestie label and the snowflake with glue and sprinkled micro-fine glitter over them. That looked much better.

Only three days left to go and I will have completed every challenge for the month of September at 365 Cards! Enjoy the rest of your Sunday :)

Tuesday Triplets

The challenge today on 365 Cards was to use three items on your card. If you used a flower, you had to use three and so on. I decided I wanted to start making some Christmas cards so I pulled out last year’s paper pack Christmas Magic Collection by Little Yellow Bicycle. The snowflake punch outs were on the first page. It was a sign! 

I punched out three of them and set about getting the right background paper. If you click on the image to enlarge it, you will see that some of the circles are blue, so the blue snowflake really isn’t out of place on this card :) I added a sentiment by Penny Black and even though our sentiment didn’t have to be done three times, it was appropriate to stamp Let it Snow….Let it Snow….Let it Snow. I added three new teardrops from Robin’s Nest and my bow is a triple one made with my Bow Easy. I hand trimmed the front flap of my card to give it that wavy look. No fancy scissors will achieve that wave.

I have got to run back to work for a meeting tonight. Hopefully it won’t last too long as I still have to work on yesterday’s color combo card.

Christmas in July Challenge card

This little number took care of seven (yes seven) challenges for the Dare to Get Dirty challenges on Splitcoast. They are in no particular order: craftycaro Anything but Average (this is a card made from a paper bag); lodichick It’s in the bag (use creative packaging…again this is a paperbag); debdeb Moved by the music (this is based on the song the Twelve Days of Christmas); becca stamps Cut it out (use punches or die cuts ); Lauraly Tie One on (to use ribbon or fiber); scrapnextras Learn your ABC’s (to use alphabet stamps or stickers) and genie 1314 Tag Art (use a tag on your card).

I started with a white paper bag, folded it in half with the opening on the right side and found this pack of Christmas paper that I never used last year from Memory Box called Gingercake. I cut that to just fit inside the bag’s perimeter. I then made a tag using my Nestabilities and stamped the Penny Black 3 French Hens. I colored him with copics and added fibers from Basic Grey Boxer collection.  To incorporate more punches I used a snowflake, circles, a music note, SU tab and the fern thingy. I dug out my Hero Arts pop up circle alphabet stamps. I stamped them in SU old olive and layered them on Riding Hood Red cardstock. The musical notes are punched from SU old olive cardstock and glued to a tab punch on the pull out card.  Whew…is my brain tired. I completed 16 of the 23 challenges so far and only made 3 cards.

I am off to bed now and will continue tomorrow. In case any of you are wondering…the trip home with the kayaks was uneventful. Remember DO NOT use bungee cords to hold a kayak on top of your vehicle.

Feeling Blue?

I waited until the last minute to make my swap cards for this month at Stamp and Deliver. The theme is monochromatic cards. All day at work I went over different colors in my head and what image I would use. My first thought was purple but when I got home and started pulling out paper, it was blue that won out. The layout fell together pretty easily. After looking at it, I realize that it will work fine for the daily challenge at 365 cards. It was to create a sympathy card without any writing on the front. I think this will work nicely.

I began with stamping the faux postage on a scrap of SU Cool Caribbean. After laying the template over the image, I inked the flower (from my new clear Allegro set from Penny Black) with SU Night of Navy. I cut out the faux postage with my postage scissors. I put a layer of SU Night of Navy cardstock behind it. Next I ran a piece of CC through my Cuttlebug using my new Victoria folder. You can’t tell by the photo but that piece is what opens up for the inside of the card. The base cardstock is just a single layer of Night of Navy. The flower is popped up on foam. Finally, the part I am most proud of, the bow. I totally suck at tying bows which is why I bought a Bow Easy from Sharon Johnson's Stamp Simply Ribbon Store. She has a great tutorial on her blog as the directions look a bit daunting. I made a cute double looped bow for the edge of the card!

I wonder what will be the predominate color for the swap tomorrow night. Any guesses? I will report back with the answer.

Viva Las Vegas slots of fun sketch challenge

Last weekend, while I was packing for the trip to Chicago, I attempted to participate in SCS Virtual Stamp weekend with the theme of Las Vegas. This was the Satuday 3:00 pm challenge which gave us the sketch to follow that resembled a slot machine. I immediately thought of this Penny Black stamp that had the three images in progression. I colored the image in using copic markers and then added flower soft to the flowers and grass areas. The patterned paper is by Basic Grey. It is a retiring line called Blush. A few dew drops and a corner punch finished the card. This lovely creation is now on its way to my Aunt Sue for her birthday on Thursday.