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:)

Rejoice Challenge Combo

 I have been really trying to complete all the challenges for the month of September at 365 Cards. I needed to complete yesterday’s challenge Day 208 which was a challenge combo. We needed to take one challenge each from June, July and August to use on your card. I choose the following:

Day 119 See a Silhouette

Day 139 Paper Piercing

Day 162 Super sketchy Sunday

For a closer view, you can click on the image to enlarge it.

I have to admit, my first thought was to grab my Spooky Silhouettes stamp set by GinaK but then I stopped myself and said “No more Halloween cards”. It is my quest to make more Christmas cards now so I am not scrambling on Dec 20th to finish them. I didn’t want to look through the June challenges again to pick another one so I kept the silhouette and used this angel stamp by Inkadinkado. I stamped her in Brilliance Pearlescent Ivy on a piece of white cardstock. Next I used a corner template by Ornare to create the piercing. I trimmed the corners with a corner rounder and ran my gold leaf pen along the edge. This was adhered to a dark green card for the base. I stamped the sentiment on a scrap of gold cardstock and glued buttons on the edges to keep with the sketch. A third larger button and a piece of lace finished the card. 

In my earlier post tonight , I mentioned the show Monk. Did you watch it? Did you think Natalie would really get decapitated? I knew Mr. Monk would not let that happen. I am off to bed now. Tomorrow we are heading to a gun show.

Rhinestone Wish

 I went back to work today and wore a sweater to keep warm. I still am not sure what is up, but I wasn’t feeling as  chilled as the past few days. I had to attend a lunch meeting that was about 20 minutes away from the office. I drove with a co-worker who knew I hadn’t been feeling well. That sweet man drove in 92 degree Florida heat, with the windows down! What a great co-worker :) On to today’s card. The challenge over at 365 Cards was called White Space. We had to leave space on the card and could only use the areas where I have my white strips. I choose to use SU Taken With Teal as my card base and add white strips. The top strip was cut with a MS border punch and the bottom was paper pierced with an Ornare template. I added a small word from the SU Small Script set and then teal rhinestones by Kaiser.

The space shuttle is set to launch tonight and the launch pad is only 40 miles south of us. We are going to try and stay awake and drive over to the beachside and watch it take off. Night launches are spectacular to see and feel. We actually feel the ground shake. Enjoy your weekend!

A Basket of Violets

Good Evening. I bet you thought there wouldn't be a new post today. I am going to do my best to post something daily...until my stress level increases. I have had this small stamp by Karen Lockhart sitting on my table for a couple of weeks now and was determined to use it. I colored the images with copics and added a hint of stickles to the inside of the flowers. I was also determined to use my new Ornare piercing template. Let me backtrack a second. I was looking at blogs one evening a few weeks ago and saw a lovely card that had used the piercing template. Sorry I don't remember who I can give the enabling credit to. She mentioned that she had got hers from Ellen Hutson's store. Like a good little girl, I promptly went to the website and ordered two ( my buddy Char got the other one). Well, Ellen's store is so friendly that it kept telling me that shoppers were also purchasing the violet stamp. So naturally, I had to add it to my cart also. Now back to the card above. The punched strip is the Martha Stewart eyelet border punch. The flowers were originally white. None of the purple flowers I have went with the CS I had used, so I just used my copics to color them so they matched my image. Robin's Nest dew drops complete them. My original thought was to have the flowers on the bottom purple strip, but after painstakingly piercing it, I couldn't cover it up! I think they look just fine in the corner. Thanks for stopping by :)