White space challenge

Today on 365 Cards we were shown a white space challenge. These can be fun as you are very limited to what you can add to your card. I wanted to use my new Justrite Joyful Hearts oval set so I picked out the sentiment, cut out the nestabilities and was  

ready to begin stamping. I tried to get the stamps to fit on my wooden oval stamper but it just didn’t want to stay. After many frustrating minutes, I looked at the size of the stamps and at the size of the stamper and discovered they didn’t match. Woe is me. I have two ovals, one larger and one smaller but I don’t own the 1 3/4 x  2 5/16 . I really wanted to finish the card so I just inked it up by hand and carefully laid it on the oval.

For the other card details: SU kraft cardstock, swiss dot CB folder, prima roses and Martha Stewart punch.

So for you American Idol lovers, what did you think of group night? I thought they let more through than in other years. Some of my favorites are still going strong. And wasn’t Big Mike’s little baby girl adorable?

Quick Valentine Challenge Cards

 Here are a couple more quick valentine cards I put together for a couple more challenges at 365 Cards.

This first one is for Day 343 which required using two separate images and put them together. I used the super cute raccoon from Stampendous and scrumptious cupcake from Hero Arts. I colored the image with copic markers and added stickles to the heart for sparkle. The sentiment is also from Stampendous and the scattered hearts are from Great Impressions. The white card opens out and is on a card base from Bo Bunny.

The next card is for Day 340 for Shape Up! The challenge was to use a heart as the dominant shape on our card. Here is what I made:

I had the red card base already made in my stash. I pulled out my score pal and made a quick border on the front. Next grabbed a scrap of gold paper and used my deckle scissors to cut the edges. The epoxy heart sticker is from Christine Adolph collection. The same scattered hearts were added to the corner so I could say there was some stamping on it :) Finally, the sentiment is a rub-on from Stampin Up.

I wanted to get these uploaded before the Super Bowl started. We are making a bunch of yummy appetizers for dinner. So who are you rooting for? Me…I would like to see the Saints win, but I think the Colts will prevail.

Love is in the Air

Can you believe it? Two posts in one day!! Today’s challenge at 365 Cards is to use the word Love somewhere on our card. I accomplished that

not once but twice! When I saw the name of the challenge I remembered I had this adorable Fluffles stamp. He doesn’t see ink as often as he should. The card layout came from today’s challenge at A Spoonful of Sugar. I flipped the sketch as I already had the white curvy rectangle cut out. The rose striped paper is from Colorbox which is two sided. I used the flip side of the paper to make a curvy frame and embossed heart. That heart was made from a Cuttlebug set called Textile Hearts. The sentiment in the circle is from Justrite Romantic Sentiments. Here is a close up of the image

so you can see I added some Stickles on the fish and diamond glaze on the hearts. A little bling looks good on just about any card don’t cha think?!

Tomorrow is Wednesday, otherwise known as hump day. I hope the rest of your week goes smoothly.

Cute Little Tilda

Isn’t she cute? Ok so you can’t see all of her just yet.

Yesterday’s challenge at 365 Cards was a color challenge. You had to use red, white, pinks and purple. Since I am still in Valentine making mode, I made another one for the challenge. I used the sketch from this week’s Mojo Monday. 

I began with a layer of purple cardstock and a piece of pink dotted paper. I was able to use some new goodies: the Tilda image and the white prima roses. I used my curvy rectangle nestie to stamp the image on. I colored her in using the following markers:

  I finally got to use my fancy tag nestie set that I have had since before Christmas but sadly never opened until today. I tucked it behind the image so just a portion showed. As finishing touches, I wrapped a piece of ribbon around the card and put the prima flowers on top. There is a hint of Fruit Punch Stickles on Tilda’s bow in her hair. Don’t go scouring the Internet looking for the stamp that says Sweetie, you won’t find it. That is my handwriting which I usually don’t like, but practice will get you everywhere!

The next item I want to share with you is one of the projects I mentioned over the weekend. I finished the co-worker’s birthday gift. Let me say, it was very difficult to get the correct lighting to use on it.

In real life, the checkerboard border is a lovely shade of soft greens. It is a Daydreams kit by Debbie Mumm. The finished size is 8 by 8. I plan to make her a few note cards with my new Justrite garden stamps to go along with it. People who drink coffee should still appreciate a stitched teapot right? Gosh I hope so:)

Barrelful of love

 Today is Sunday so Pam at 365 cards has another sketch to follow. With February starting tomorrow I thought it would be a good time to start making a few Valentine’s cards.

The patterned paper is from Little Yellow Bicycle and I have used both sides. Center image is from Great Impressions colored with my copics. The eyelet border was made with my SU punch and I again used the patterned paper for that. (I just couldn’t get the right match in my cardstock). The sentiment is a rub-on I have had for ages. Rain dot hearts and Kaiser pearls were added in the corners (grouped in 3’s Ms. Stamp Temptress) wink ;).

Make the most of your Sunday. It is a cold, windy grey day here in Florida, so I am staying inside and will cook up a couple of Shepherd pies for dinner tonight.

Cultivate Love with 3D’s

 I was able to work on one more card tonight before I do some cross-stitching. Have I mentioned that I am working on two projects? I am. One is for a co-worker’s birthday (due the end of February) and the other is a baby blanket for a different co-worker (due in June). I make myself work on one of the projects each night for one hour.

Day 335 at 365 Cards invited us to use 3D’s: dark brown, a diamond and distressing. I began with Dark Chocolate cs by PTI, used a piece of fabulous paper by DCWV Mariposa that my best stamping buddy Char gave me, and finished it with a small square embossed with the CB Diamonds in the rough folder. The paper was so pretty and glittery I didn’t want to cover anymore up than I needed to. After checking at Flutterby Wednesday to see what type of challenge Danni had going I was happy to see it was an open one. This card will work!

I am off to my next craft, but first I need some kleenex – I am watching Sleepless in Seattle…

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:)

Violets in Pink

 

I liked my card so much from yesterday, that I made another one in pink today. The cardstock colors are PTI Sweet Blush, SU Regal Rose and Barely Banana. The patterned paper is from the Basic Grey Sweet Pea collection. Everything else about the card is the same. I am not sure which one is my favorite. Which one is yours?

Buttons, Brads and Monograms..Oh My!

 Today’s cards are not for any challenge but instead for the local monthly swap and the make and take at Stamp and Deliver. I knew I wanted to use the easel layout for my card design and what better way to show off my new Justrite garden stamps! The new arrivals had just come into the store last week when I stopped in to get my materials for my demo card. The theme of the swap is to use buttons and/or brads. 

I began with a lovely shade of purple bazzill paper for the base. The patterned paper is from Basic Grey Two Scoops (pistachio almond). I stamped the flower on a scrap of white, colored it with my copics and cut it out. Here is a close up of the center.

If you click on the picture, it will enlarge to see the detail. I did use some spica pens on the flowers, but sadly that didn’t show up in the picture angle. I sponged Lavender Brilliance ink on the smaller background circle. It didn’t look that attractive when it was white. A deeper shade of Bazzill Bling or shimmer was used for the scalloped circle. I tried to pick up the darkest shade used on the flower. After taking a look at the purple brads I have it seemed that I would not have enough to complete the four cards I need for the swap with the square brads. What to do? Stick a butterfly on one corner! You know I love butterflies :) For the inside of the card, I chose the lighter shade of green from the paper and luckily I had 4 pieces in my green scrap ziplock baggie. YES, something was going right. The two buttons were added in the middle to help hold the easel upright when it is opened. 

This is going to be the card that I will demo at the Make and Takes. The theme is black and white next month. I think that makes an elegant monogram card. I am actually using creme and black which is totally elegant. The stamped bottom border is by Great Impressions. The center is from Justrite designer frames. The alphabet inside is Special Occasions font. I cut out a Labels 5 out of black for the bottom layer. This is popped up on foam squares. The ribbon is a double satin for the length and sheer black for the bow. I used my Bow Easy so it would look fabulous. I suck at tying bows without that thing now.

Here is my alternate card that I will display. The monogram was made with the Monogram stamper. I used a Cuttlebug border from the Organic Flourish set for the top. I added black rhinestones to highlight the swirls. For the bottom piece, I cut a piece of black cardstock with my SU eyelet border punch. Really a simple quick card to put together.

I hope you have a fabulous week coming up! Stop by again and hopefully I will have another card to show you.

Layers of Chocolate

Hello! Betcha didn’t think you would read another post for awhile:)  After working on transcribing some minutes for work, I thought I would reward myself and take the time to make a card. I must say my attention was divided between the card and watching American Idol and White Collar on tv.  

Tonight’s card from two challenges I saw today. The first is over at 365 Cards which was to use chocolate as your inspiration. The second is at A spoonful of sugar and you had to use lots of layers. I began with Chocolate Flopsey from MFT for my image. I then pulled out my pack of Chocolate Kiss paper (also from MFT). I totally struggled piecing the chair. That pattern was way too dark for me to stamp on, so I attempted to cut it out on my own. I colored him with my copics and colorless blender. I used my labels One and Three nesties (look closely in the corners of the middle pink layer…it really isn’t just a circle). For the bottom brown strip I tried my Fleur de lis die…still not sure I like that but it is glued on so it’s staying.

I like the card, but I think it is missing something and I can’t figure out what. I tried ribbon from the MFT Chocolate Kiss set and that didn’t work. My buttons didn’t fare any better. If anyone has a thought, please share in the comments. I don’t want the card to be partially naked :)

To Tame a Wild Chick

Here is my second post today. If this is the first one you are reading, there is another one below this. Last week I picked up this set from The Cat’s Pajamas at my LSS. Even though it is a bit early for Easter cards, I still went ahead and used it. 

I choose the layout from Mojo Monday week 122 as my starting point. The image was stamped in black ink and colored with my copic markers. In looking through my papers, I came across the MFT Spring pack and I had the matching ribbon pack also. I layered the papers with SU Rose Red paper (I have used that color alot lately). The bow was made using my Bow Easy so it would look attractive.

Here is a close up of the image. If you click on the picture, it will enlarge. Then you will see that I did not use the proper paper for copics and it bled a bit:( I layered a few primas to create the flower and punched a few MS fern branches to go behind it. Instead of just adding white dots on the scalloped oval, I saw Suzanne Dean’s blog earlier today and she made the dashes and I liked them. So I used her idea! 

If I don’t get to chat with ya anymore this week, I hope you have a great one!

Stockin’ up on cards

Every now and then I need to make some cards to have on hand. Birthday cards are always on that list, but sadly lately I also have needed many sympathy cards. The card below is the last one of my stash and I really liked how it turned out. In order to make more, I took a picture of it.

I can tell it has been in my card pile for awhile, as I didn’t use any nesties to cut out my layers. That will change with the next round of cards made. I do like the colors though, PTI Summer Sunrise cardstock and ribbon. The other layers were just Basic Grey papers. The stamp and sentiment is from GinaK Comfort and Peace set. Putting it together is easy enough…just a lot of layers.

The next card I am showing you today is one I started before the holidays and just wasn’t happy with. I wanted to try making a ribbon blossom. I studied the tutorial over at SCS and watched the short YouTube video but I just wasn’t happy with my blossom. Until today…

After many tries of tying the ribbon I think I have been successful in making a blossom. I began with SU cardstock in Kiwi Kiss and Rose Red. The patterned paper is also SU Raspberry Tart. For the embossed panel I used SU Pretty in Pink and the CB Happy Birthday folder. The image is by IO, called birthday martini and I used my copics to color it in. For the blossom I used 4 different ribbons, 6 pieces of each. I will have to admit, if I go to mail this card, it is going to be bulky so extra padding and postage will be required.

I have a few more ideas I would like to complete today, so I am off for now. Hopefully there will be another post later today.

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…

Happy New Year!

 Happy New Year friends! We rang in the new year quietly at home last night after having dinner with our middle son. Our poor little dog Zoey unfortunately didn’t appreciate the fireworks going off. She went crazy in the house shredding anything she could find :(

Since I am home today for the holiday I was able to check out the first challenge for 2010 on 365 cards.

The challenge was a 5 for Friday. What ever element you used on your card had to be in groups of 5. I opted for the clean and simple approach. (If you click on the picture, it will enlarge for you). I used my set from PaperTrey Ink called Remember. After stamping the blossoms in Versamagic Purple Hydrangea and the stems and leaves in Memento Cottage Ivy. I attached a small green pearl to the stem. The sentiment is from the same set and was just stamped in black ink. I tried piercing 5 holes around the sentiment, under the sentiment but was not happy on my sample so that element didn’t make the final card.

I am going to eat a bit of lunch and then start on a project I have been wanting to tackle since getting my new Expedit cube system. Taking more of my wooden stamps of their blocks. Wooden blocks add a lot of weight, and some of my fabric cubes are HEAVY. I have my cd cases ready, paper is cut into squares to make an index in each case, I just need my ambition to kick in. Here’s hoping the tuna sandwich provides it.

Enjoy the rest of your day:)

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.

Divide and Conquer

 

Surprise…two posts tonight! I popped on and looked at 365 Cards. I have been checking the challenges regularly, just haven’t been able to complete any :( Today’s challenge was to divide and conquer. Mark your card into 4 equal quadrants and put a stamped image on one, rhinestones on another, a flower on the third and a punched image on the fourth. I pulled out my Basic Grey Sugared paper pack and choose coordinating papers. I cut them out with my Labels 4 die (i love this shape). The stamped image is by Justrite Just a Note set. Once I thought of how to make the quadrants, the card went together rather quickly.

I am off to bed to read Julie & Julia. I am waiting patiently for my name to come up on the library hold list. Last I checked, I was still number 130.  Have a fun New Year’s Eve!

2009 is dwindling down...

I see it has been a couple of weeks since I have posted. We were really trying to not have a hectic holiday but life had other plans. There was a sudden death in the family which had me hurriedly getting my Mom to the airport on Christmas Eve. Luckily I was able to get a flight out of our city and she only lives 10 minutes from the airport. It seems that I am not a good clothes packer as I gave her tons of pants to wear, but only a small amount of tops.

So as we only have one day left of 2009, I resolve to do better on my postings. I also plan to eat a bit healthier and to work out on our Wii Fit. I bought the Fit Plus game and it has loads of challenges to do. I also want to plan on being a better blogger friend and to visit and make comments on blogs that I follow.

The new year is bringing a new Magnolia blog to follow. You will find it here called Magnolia Stamp Lovers. It officially starts Monday January 3rd. To help kick off the new blog, one of the DT Viviane is giving away some blog candy. She is offering 100 images! I have these both marked as favorites now and can't wait until next week!
See ya soon:)

Is it too late to be good?

 My son came home from work today and asked me to make a card for his boss who is also my coworker. He has a good sense of humor so I pulled out this unmounted snowman stamp that I hadn’t used yet.

I began by cutting out a shape with my Spellbinders Label 8 die and stamped the image with Memento black ink. I colored it with my copics and then went about looking for a piece of paper that would match the scarf. I know, usually smart people pick the paper out first (head is shaking here). I found this piece of Basic Grey from an old collection called Mistletoe and Pear. The sentiment is by The Cat’s Pajamas and I thought it was very fitting for the naughty little dog. The snowflakes are also Spellbinder dies, a mix of Create a flake 1 and 2. I added just a bit of sparkle using Mermaid stickles on the scarf and hat band and glittering snow on the snow of course.  Now I just hope the guys remembered to purchase the gift card to go inside.

Ciao (I have been watching Under the Tuscan Sun while I typed this!)

 

Butterfly and Angels

 I know it has been awhile since I posted. Sorry, but other things have gotten in the way of my crafting. Today was make it/take it day at Stamp and Deliver. I was demoing the butterfly stamp from a recent post. This card below was my alternate way to use the stamp.

I stamped the image in Versamark ink and embossed with gold powder. After cutting it out, I used a copic marker to color it in. The sentiment is a new one by Just Rite from the Just a Note set. The paper is all from the Basic Grey Lemonade paper pack. As an added touch, I made the flight trail out of alternating pink pearls and green rhinestones.

One of the projects that has kept me busy is a small order of Christmas cards for a lady at work. They are for her relatives and she likes a card that reflects the true meaning of the holiday. I purchased the Rejoice set by Flourishes knowing I would use the angel stamp in the set. As you will see I made the same card in three different color schemes. The first is Burgundy; the patterned paper is from Bo Bunny and I used Memento ink in Rhubarb Stalk.

Next is brown; paper by K and Company ink is Versafine Vintage Sepia.

 

And finally the blue version; paper by Bo Bunny and ink is SU Not Quite Navy.

The sentiment is from the same Flourishes Rejoice set. I used my Nestabilities to cut out the circles. I also went over the angel wings and stars with my Atyou spica pen in clear. If you click on any picture to enlarge it, you will see the sparkle.

Hopefully tomorrow I will be able to finish my own Christmas cards.

Embossing and a holiday treat holder

 I hope all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving last week. Ours went well even though the turkey was a bit underdone. The microwave helped to cure that problem. I basically relaxed over the weekend and caught up on my reading. If you are a James Patterson fan, I recommend his latest – I Alex Cross. We also decorated the house inside and out for Christmas.

On to the card below. Tomorrow is our monthly card swap at Stamp and Deliver. The theme was to use any type of embossing on our cards.

I went the easy way out and did dry embossing. I used the flourish frame Cuttlebug folder on a white panel. Layered this onto a green panel then a red panel. The finished card is 5 by 6.5 inches. The sentiment on the card is from Bo Bunny. It is actually a rub-on. A few red and green Kaiser pearls were a finishing touch. I have really decided that all my holiday cards are going to be clean and simple. I am not going to stress over them this year.

The next quick little holiday treat is for our co-workers. It is a simple matchbook fold treat holder and inside is a Ghirardelli chocolate square.

The paper is from Basic Grey – one of their older Christmas packs. I used a Martha Stewart border punch on one end. The sentiment is Just Rite from the Merry Little Christmas set. I stamped it in Memento Rich Cocoa ink. The layered circles are cut from my Nestabilities. If I work assembly line style I should be able to finish them in a few nights. I have about 4 dozen to make and I just might have my DH help this year. Surely he can use a paper cutter….