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