Holy Cow!

I know it's been a long time since I've posted. I didn't realize just how long it has been, but now I see and all I can say is "Holy Cow!" I promise I'll be back soon. I have been creating when I can. There have been a few adventures in the mix. And it's that time again - it's moving time so while I'm getting things ready, I'm also getting ready to say good-bye to my stamping supplies...

A great big thank you!

No card today and probably not for a few more. I've got a few sick boys in the house and busy being the catcher of all things gross. I did want to take a minute to celebrate my place in the top three over at Winter Wonderland. It really made my day at the beginning of the round of sickness. And then today I found out I won at For Fun Challenges! I'm so excited. And once again it made my day, especially with the last of the boys coming down with whatever this crud is this morning.

Outlook

This week PTI's make it Monday challenge is to color on a non-neutral cardstock color. The idea was interesting to me because I always mean to try it, but never seem to have the time. And while I didn't really have the time here either, I squeezed it in (I should have been cleaning up the house, but oh well.).



I used copics on sweet blush cardstock.

I am also putting this in the For Fun Challenge this week - Flowers and sentitment as the focal point.

Thanks for looking.

Supplies: Stamps-Gina K. Designs(sentiment), unknown; Cardstock-PTI, Stampin Up, unknown(cardbase); Ink-Brilliance, Colorbox Chalk; Copics; Stardust Glitter Pen

Sending a rainbow

I love this card yet, it is a little bit sad. I was inspired by a few challenges. Card Patterns (sketch), Stamptacular Sundays (Are you talking to me?), and Paper Sundaes (Embossing). I was looking through my index when I came across this sentiment which I have never used and am not sure where it came from, although I *think* it might be from Serendipity from awhile ago. And then I remembered I bought this beautiful ribbon at the local store even though butterflys aren't my thing.

I thought the two came together well and made for a simple, no fuss card.

Thanks for looking!

Miss you

My Time Made Easy has just started up a new blog and with it a new challenge...Pretty Palette. It is a color challenge, which I am fairly new at. This week's colors are a little bit girly and whole lot of springy (it that a word?) red, light pink, ivory, and light green. The question was what to make. Then I came across the latest challenge over at Papertake - Mom thing or girly. The pieces came together to create this little card.

I know I've used this little lady from Stamping Bella recently, but she's just so cute I brought her out to play again. The background set is from My Time Made Easy and the sentiment is from PTI. And while this card isn't for my mom, it is for the "Mom I was supposed to have."
Thank you for looking (and letting me know what you think).

Supplies: Stamps-Stamping Bella, PTI, My Time Made Easy; Cardstock-unknown from the stash; Ink-Brilliance, Versafine; Punch-Creative Memories; Copics; Flowers-Prima; Brads-Making Memories

Shiny and Bright

I recently did the math on the coming year (ok, so it's not really coming, it's here, but you get the idea) and realized if I want to send handmade cards this holiday season they will HAVE to be done before July. Yes, you read that right. There are many things going on and I simply cannot be sure the time for card making will be there in the fall, so I am starting NOW. My plan is really to find three designs I like and repeat as many times as needed. Sometimes you just have to take the easy road. KWIM?

So to jump things off right I went looking at the Christmas challenge blogs for a little inspiration because really my soul is celebrating spring right now and no part of me is looking forward to winter.

And so here is my sparkly card.

I embossed the snowflakes in white and then essentially colored with glitter. I added a little sentiment and a few extra pieces of bling. Of course, the picture doesn't do this one justice...The card base is made from shimmery paper too. I think maybe a little bit of the cheery spring excitement made it's way through.

Challenges:
Winter Wonderland - Embossing Wet/Dry
One Stop Craft Challenge - Diamonds are...

Thanks for looking.

Supplies: Stamps-PTI, Cardstock-Unknown, Ink-Brilliance, Glitter-ART Institute, Sparkle and Sprinkle, Embossing powder-Ranger, Bling-PTI

Lucky Me!

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone! This card is for my son. He'll be getting it later this afternoon after school - and after we make the shamrock cookies to celebrate the day. This particular card was made for the latest challenge over at Happily Ever Crafter - a St. Patrick's Day card with the colors of the Irish flag and a shamrock.

Now, I admit, I deviated slightly from the colors, but as I said yesterday, I just think St. Patrick's Day needs at least a little bit of gold. I kept the card very simple and took the Irish flag pretty literally (can you see it?) so now we can talk about Ireland and find the flag and the country on the map and what not.

I'll also be putting this up on One Stop Craft Challenge - Clean and Simple.

Thanks for looking (and maybe letting me know your thoughts).

Supplies: Stamps-PTI, STampin UP; Cardstock-Unknown from the stash; Embossing powder-Ranger; Ink-Colorbox, Tsukineko

Good Luck

A friend of mine is headed on a trip this weekend and while it isn't technically a St. Patrick's Day trip is seemed like a good idea to send her off with a little something green and a little luck for a good trip, especially since she's leaving on St. Patrick's Day.

Over at Papercraft Star the challenge this week is a photo challenge with the theme of St. Patrick's Day. I love photo inspiration challenges. Love them. They are my favorite so I couldn't pass it up.

First up is the inspiration.



Look at all that green. But it isn't the typical, basic, grass green that one normally sees for St. Patrick's Day. And it's much more refined than my typical thoughts of beer and the green river up in Chicago.
When I looked at the picture I was drawn to the idea of "other" greens and the clean look of the picture. I also remembered the white plates and glass vases. So, after much thought, I came up with this.

I chose a lighter, more spring-like green and kept the whole thing pretty simple and clean. I also swiped the edges with gold because you can't have St. Patrick's Day without at least a touch of gold. Then added a tag that says "Good Luck" since there will be wine tasting (and hopefully buying) on this trip.
Of course, I couldn't forget the back.

The back came from the glass vases filled with green candies (I assume) and the decorations on the cake. I filled a piece of acetate with shamrocks and put it over white glossy paper, then added a smaller shamrock like the one on the front. I finished if off with a white, pearl liner around the edge.
Thanks for looking!
Supplies: Stamps-Stampin Up, Papertrey; Cardstock-Stampin Up, Unknown; Ink-Brilliance; Ribbon-Pink Hedgehog; Template-My Time Made Easy; Paint-Ranger

Papertrey Make It Monday

It's been awhile since I've posted, yet again. I'm in the process of taking inventory of the art room which is a pretty large task. And I have discovered, there is simply no way to work while in the middle of it. I've tried, but things get lost in the shuffle. So work can only be done at good "break points" to keep the mind clear.

Which brings me to today's Make It Monday post for Papertrey's Make It Monday Challenge. This is last week's challenge. Today's challenge will go up a bit later on Nicole's blog. This week was all about distressing.

I took the distressed look through the whole project. I started out by making the background with A Little Argyle using distressed inks. I love the worn feel of the pattern with the imperfect inking. I took the Library Card and stamped it with distressed ink and then roughed up the edge a bit. And to give it a little more I took the notebook page from School Times, stamped it with distressed ink and then roughed it up a bit and inked it up a bit more.
Thanks for looking!
Supplies: Stamps-PTI, Cardstock-PTI and unknown, Ink-Ranger, Distressing Tool

Papercraft Star challenge 34

I managed to squeeze in time to put something together for the latest challenge over at Papercraft star. This week was another sketch challenge.

The bird on the sketch made me a little nervous, but then I remembered I used an owl on little man's Valentine's Day tag and so it came together nicely in the form of a journaling box for his scrapbook. Of course, now I have to find time to actually put the page together, but at least the hardest part is done.

I used a precut felt owl from Fancy Pants and then added some hearts because it is for Valentine's Day. I chose my colors to work with the owl and then I added the glitter strip for Make it Mondays over at Papertrey. This is one of my favorite techniques for cards and now for scrapbooks too! Then I added the fabulous ribbon I found at a local German store

Thanks for looking!

Supplies: Felt-Fancy Pants, Cardstock-PTI, Scor tape, Glitter-ART, Ribbon-unknown, pen-Creative Memories

Papertrey February Blog Hop Challenge

As it's the 25th it's time once again for PTI's blog hop. This month the challenge is all about scallops. Scallops are not a go to thing for me, but I kept thinking I wanted to break out one of the Timeless Templates for this.

Here we are:

I used the pack a picnic template which I love with the scallop border. I was going to add ribbon too, but my son came and claimed it as his before I could.

Thanks for looking.

Supplies: Stamp-PTI, Cardstock-PTI, Brads-the endless stash, Template-PTI, Ink-Ranger

A Tribute to St. Valentine

Yes, this is late. Ted over at Happily Ever Crafter put out a really good challenge this month. Actual handwriting on the front and inside of a project. It was what I needed to get myself going on something for hubby. Of course, the going didn't get finished until the morning of Valentine's Day and then I gave it to him and then I had to wait to take pictures and well, here we are, on the last day with me finally getting back to it.

I had already made his card so this gift box was designed to go with it.


And here is the inside:

Ok, well someone ate most of the candy so I had to replenish a little...
And here is a better picture of the mini cards inside.

They all say something different.

Thanks for looking.

Kisses for the teachers

As Valentine's Day is Monday, it was time to finish up the teachers' Valentines. My son wanted to give them candy. He seems to think if he gives candy then the recipient will share with him or at the very least there will be some left over that he'll be able to eat. And so candy it is. I've been sitting on this idea since school started so when it came time to put it together it was pretty quick, once we found the candy.

We agreed on the colors once we had the candy and he is excited by anything that includes hearts. The hearts are actually a sheer material wrapped around white cardstock.

Challenges

Stamptacular Sunday Challenges - Hearts Gone Wild

Fussy and Fancy Friday Challenge - Sweet Treats!

One Stop Craft Challenges - Love is in the Air

Stampin' for the Weekend - St Valentine's Day

Papertake Weekly Challenges - Have a Heart

Cupcake Craft Challenges - Seeing Red

Thanks for looking.

Supplies: Stamps-Darcies; Cardstock-PTI, Bazzil, Unknown; Ink-Brilliance; Ribbon-PTI; Box-PTI; Material-unknow; Copics

CHEERS!

It's time again for the Papercraft Star challenge. This week was another sketch challenge.

I hope I did it justice.

I used wire, which hasn't seen the light of day for years. A nice little twist with the buttons and it certainly helps the use it up and move it on cause.

Thanks for looking.

Supplies: Stamps-Uptown Rubber Stamps, Art Gone Wild; Cardstock-PTI; Button-Stash; Wire-Stash; Ribbon-Pink Hedgehog; Ink-Brilliance; Dew Drops; Copics

Tag a little love...

Today Papertrey is at it again. This time one must make a tag with a tag. And while PTI has several, and I mean SEVERAL, beautiful tag shapes in the form of stamps and dies to choose from, I am sorry to say I own very few. I don't have a manual die cut machine and cannot get one until I make space for it, which will not happen until we move. But I digress into my sadness. However, little man needed a tag for his as yet to be determined gift so away I went with the adorable TT:Valentine set. I am only slightly kicking myself for waiting an entire year to purchase said set.

I wanted to keep it simple since I'm certain it will end up in his mouth at some point.
On the back I used another stamps from TT and Simple Alphabet.

Thanks for looking.

Supplies: Stamps-PTI, Hero Arts, Cardstock-PTI, Ink-Brilliance, Ribbon-PTI, Tag

Thoughts of you

This color combo comes from Maile Belles (Kraft, Fine Linen, Harvest Gold, Lavender Moon) and is a very sweet combo. I once again broke out All About You and it's companion set.

This project made me realize I need more stuff. More buttons and ribbons and felt and other stuff. Oh well.

Thanks for looking.

Supplies: Stamps-PTI, Cardstock-PTI, Ink-Brilliance, Ribbon-PTI, Buttons-PTI, Copics

Winter wishes

While we seem to be seeing an early spring I know much of the US is still experiencing harsh winter conditions. So I used Dawn McVey's color combo (Hawaiian Shores, Pure Poppy, Kraft, Dark Chocolate, and Raspberry Fizz) to whip up a card (ok, not really because I don't normall use that many colors on a card, but still) for a friend in the colder, snowier parts back there.

I just got the TT: Christmas set a few weeks ago (planning for next year) and thought these little images would be adorable with these colors and I think I made it work.

Thanks for looking.

Supplies: Stamps-PTI, Cardstock-PTI, unknown source for blue Hawaiian shores look alike, Ribbon-PTI, Ink-Brilliance

All about YOU

Today I bring yet another few things to offer up for the Papertrey Anniversary. This round each designer brought together their favorite color combinations for the fans to use. The prize is pretty colorful and would be great. But you know, it's all about the fun.
This post is using the color combo by Lisa Johnson - Spring rain, Kraft, Vintage Cream, and Pure Poppy. I'm not sure I have ever put these colors together myself, but I do see why they are a favorite!

I used most of the sentiments from the All About You set and it's companion. And inside...

And that pretty much sums it up.

Having looked at it I might also enter it in the Make It Monday challenge that is still going on as it is all about the sentiments...

Thanks for looking.

Supplies: All PTI except ink, Ink-Brilliance

Go to Sentiments...

Once again I have an offering for a Papertrey Anniversary contest. This one is in honor of their very first Make in Mondays. This will be a weekly contest over on the Papertrey blog and on their Facebook page that will feature (as I understand it) a technique or type of card to play along with each week. This week is the Go to Sentiments card which fit in perfectly with a birthday card for a one-year-old whose party is in a couple of weeks. I paired the idea with the sketch from the JUGS challenge.



I think the two work well together. The recipient is the youngest of three girly girls. If it's girly they have it. So of course, the card needed to be pink!
I used happy from a number of sentiments from a few sets. And wanted to counter the heavy upper left with the sentiment.
Inside

is very simple.

Thanks for looking.

Supplies: Stamps-PTI, Rubberstampede, Cardstock-PTI, Flowers-Heide Swapp, Stampin Up, Brad-Doodlebug, Number-Making Memories, Paint-Adirondack, Ink-Tsukineko, Ribbon-PTI

Papertrey Anniversary Tags #9

And last but not least...Tiffany Pastor's tag. When I saw this I saw waves. So that's where I went.


I tried to take the feel of the waves through the whole card including some foam provided by some tulle.

Wow! That was a lot to get done in a day. Luckily the boys were mostly content to have some Daddy time.

Supplies: Stamp-PTI, Cardstock-PTI, Buttons-PTI, Copics, Tulle

Papertrey Anniversary Tags #8

The next tag is from Heather Nichols.


Once again I feel like this is not my normal style, but sometimes things just make life easier. Sometimes ideas pop in one's head that work out the way you like. This did that. Though I really wish I had Turning a New Leaf! Instead I had to dig through my other stamps and find something that would work for what I wanted.

Supplies: Stamps-PTI,Stampin Up, Cardstock-PTI, Ink-Versamark,Button-PTI, Embroidery Thread

Papertrey Anniversary Tags #7

Next is Beth Silaika's tag. I love this quote, but often have a hard time using it.

I used Shimmerz Pain to make the whole tag sparkly as all fairytale things should be.

Supplies: Stamps-PTI, Cardstock-PTI, Ink-Brilliance, PTI, Ribbon-PTI, Fiskars Edge Punch

Papertrey Anniversary Tags #6

Lisa Johnson is next. This was another tag I had a little trouble with. I kept feeling like I was taking away from the sweetness of the tag. But in the end I think it all worked out ok.


This one makes me think of my boys...And I love the sentiment...

Supplies: Stamps-PTI, Cardstock-PTI, Ink-Kalaidacolor, Rhinestones-PTI, Copics.

Papertrey Anniversary Tags #5

Next is the tag from Dawn McVey.

I love how this one came together with the tag acting as the center of the flower for the bee to fly off of.

Supplies: Stamps-PTI, Cardstock-PTI, unknown, Ribbon-PTI, Ink-Brilliance

Papertrey Anniversary Tags #4

Next up is the tag from Melissa Bickford. I am usually drawn to her work anyway, but this tag is special. It is perfect for teacher's notes for my son's teachers since he is in the rainbow group. And with the dotted lines in the rainbow it looks like a road (at least to him) which increases it's perfection in our house.



This card is very simple. Once I colored the rainbow (colored with Star Dust pens though you can't see the sparkly in the picture) I just didn't have the heart to taint it. I pulled out the mulberry paper and added some silver ribbon. A very easy way to make someone's day.

Supplies: Stamp-PTI, Cardstock-PTI, Mulberrry Paper, Star Dust pens, Ribbon-PTI

Papertrey Anniversary Tags #3

Here I am again. Can you tell I waited until I had all the cards done before posting any? NOT a good idea. Anyway, up next we have Maile Belles' tag.



I love this tag so much at first it was hard to work with because I felt like everything I was trying to do was overshadowing the tag. Until I remembered I finally purchased BB:Retro. Then the light bulb came on. This card is much simpler than I normally do, but then that's exactly what she inspires you to do.

Supplies: Stamps-PTI, Cardstock-PTI,unknown source of cardbase, Ink-Brilliance, Copics, Rhinestones-PTI

Papertrey Anniversary Tags #2

The next designer's tag in the Anniversary tag series (look here if you are lost) is from Nicole Heady herself.




I used a substitute cardstock to match up with the tag as I do not have Hawaiian Shores yet. I used the Borders and Corners {circle} set to add a few extra borders and then used score tape with glitter to make a little more sparkly.

Supplies: Stamps-PTI, Cardstock-PTI and unknown, Glitter-Stampin Up, Scoretape, Ink-Brilliance

Papertrey here we come...

As I said in my last post Papertrey is celebrating their fourth anniversary this month. While the first prize was amazing, the second is even better - the opportunity to help design a stamp set. AMAZING! Each of the nine stamp designers designed a tag and all are available in a free download. To enter all one has to do is make a project using one of the tags. You can enter one project for EACH of the NINE designs. So let's begin.

First up is Alli Miles tag:

I printed it off three times, colored it all about the same with copics and then added the sentiment from Mega Mixed Messages.

Supplies: Stamps and cardstock-PTI, Ink-Brilliance

Sweet Treats

Today's "scheduled" post is the treats for the kids at school. I found this kit in my stash that made 15 of these little favors and thought it was time to use them up and move them on. My son liked the idea so win-win. I made the first one with a lot of guidance from him and then walked him through the rest step-by-step.







We've recently ventured into Shrinky Dinks so it was fitting to include a Shrinky Dink "charm." This little love bug from Pink Cat Studio was perfect. I sized and printed the bug on plain typing paper and then traced it onto the Shrinky Dink Paper and we colored them. Very exciting stuff since he got to use Mommy's colored pencils to do it. I opted (and he agreed) to put each child's name on theirs using PTI's Simple Alphabet. I think it makes it a little more exciting for the kindergarten age group. The heart sticker was a last minute addition by him.


We couldn't forget the back. So we took the heart from TT:Valentine and "signed" it with the Simple Alphabet.




I love how they turned out, but more than that I love that he wanted to be so involved in the process.


Challenges:

Stamptacular Sunday Challenges - Whateva!

Paper Sundaes - Valentines

Thanks for looking!

Supplies: Stamps-Papertrey, Hero, Pink Cat Studio, Kit-MorningStar, Ink-Brilliance, Ribbon-Pink Hedgehog, Twine-The Twinery, Fiskars Paper Edgers, Shrinky Dinks, Random Heart Sticker from the kids stash

My Favorite Papertrey

Papertrey is having an amazing give away today as part of their fourth anniversary celebration. The prize is the "Ultimate Card Kit" and it is appropriately named. You have to see it to believe it. What they have asked of "us" is to post our favorite PTI project from 2010. Mine is the invitation to little man's first birthday.

The zig zag across the bottom and the "confetti" on the top are from Papertrey's BB:Christmas which I bought for the peppermint candy and the mouse, but am now in love with the zig zag. It is incredibly easy to line up.

Thanks for looking.

Supplies: Stamps-Papertrey(BB:Christmas, Round and Round), Stampin Up, and Basic Grey, Cardstock-Papertrey and unknown from the stash, Ink-Brilliance, Kaleidacolor, Foam mounting tape

A little love for the kiddo

Yesterday I showed you the card for the hubby, today I have the one for my son. This was is a bit more on the cute side as is should be when your age is still in the single digits. Here I took the sketch from Card Patterns and tied it with my little Snail Huggabugg. For his gift he's getting three bookmarks all with Huggabuggs and a little chocolate, 'cause really who doesn't want chocolate on Valentine's Day?



Other Challenges:
Paper Sundaes - Valentine's
PaperPlay Challenges - Stamp it Out


Thanks for Looking!


Supplies: Stamps-Stamping Bella and Uptown Rubber Stamps, Cardstock-PTI(white), Stampin Up(red), and from the stash of "unknown but use it up," Twine-The Twinery, Button-PTI, Ink-Brilliance, Copics, and Stickles

Celebrating love

Yes, I'm back again. I was out of town so often in December I simply couldn't get to the computer with the travel and the holiday and then January had it's own issues. During that time, however, I had time to think about a few things. I have decided to narrow down the challenges I participate in and stick with ones that really inspire me. So, I think I'm back.



Today I am sharing the Valentine card I have made for my husband. I am so happy to have it done, now if I can figure out a gift I'll be good to go. But I digress. This card was inspired by the sketch challenge going on over at Papercraft Star and the Just Us Girls challenge to make your own flower. It took both ideas to get me going on this one.







I liked the idea of simply using the word "love" as the focal point with a little extra. The flowers are the most basic kind of handmade flower - a cut swirl rolled up and glued. I added a little glitter paint to the flowers for depth and shine.

Other challenges:
Cards for Men - Valentine/Love
Papertake Weekly - Anything goes (plus optional flowers)

Thanks for looking!

Supplies: Stamp- ,Cardstock-Stampin Up and Core'dinations, Glitter-Shimmerz, Ink-Brilliance, Embossing Powder-Stampendous, Twine-The Twinery

Papertrey January Blog Hop Challenge

Yes, I've been away for awhile, but I'll explain that another day. Today I have managed, after months of intentions, to get a project done for the Papertrey Blog Hop. This month the challenge was to dust off one of your old sets and give it some love. Easy peasy, right? Sure. I turned to one of my favorite sets for this challenge - Sign Language - which despite my love hasn't been touched since July. At times I think I might be the only who loves this set, but so be it. I also broke out the Border and Corners {squares} which I bought so long ago I can't remember but have never used. Add to it the Handwritten Notes and I was good to go.

So, I set out to make a simple set of thank you cards for a friend.

Here are the first three:

I used a lot of "dusty" items from my stash including the handmade papers. While these cards are not really my style, they are my friend's. She loves pale and natural so I'm pretty sure I've captured her style.

The other three:


I tried to use sentiments she would use while at the same time use ones that don't HAVE to be "thank yous" just in case she wants to use them for something else.

And of course I needed to make a card to give her with the set. Another thank you card - for her friendship. While you can't really see it in the picture, the heart says "thanks so much" from the Mixed Messages set.



Thanks for looking.

Supplies:
Stamps: PTI, Stamping Bella
Inks: Distressed Inks
Cardstock: PTI
Other: Ribbon(Pink Hedgehog), Eyelets, Handmade paper