Thursday, March 31, 2011

Congrats, Grad!

One of my former students called me a few weeks ago to catch-up. Melissa is graduating in May with her Bachelor's degree in Nursing and she received her dream job offer of an OB nursing position. I'm so excited for her! I was one of Melissa's advisor since her freshman year in college, and so I've really seen her change over the past few years. Thus, the inspiration for today's card:
I used Waltzingmouse Stamps' Teeny Trees to show the trees from Winter to Summer. The grid is flush-left...kind of a cool look I think. Here are a few close-ups to see some of the details:


I used a yellow glittery pen to draw the buds and the inks are Brilliance, which give a lot of shimmer in person. Here's a close-up of the sentiment I made in Word (I don't have a graduation sentiment??):


The change in the trees reminded me of the transformation of Melissa--starting out fresh from high school, having a few bumps along the way, but turning into someone who is really ready to move onto the next phase of her life. I'm so proud of her!

Thanks for looking, and thanks for the kind comments!

Here's what I used:
Cardstock: Kraft & Vintage Cream (PTI)
Patterned Paper: from the Walk in the Park collection (Echo Park)
Stamps: Teeny Trees (Waltzingmouse Stamps)
Inks: Rocket Red, Sage (Dew Drop); Peacock Trio (Archival); Rich Cocoa (Memento)
Pen: yellow glitter (Sakura)
Rhinestone: from the Holiday Assortment (Doodlebug Designs)

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Gnomephile

I think I am becoming addicted to gnomes...not sure what that says about me! But my new Gnomebody Like You stamps from Wilson Designs are super fun.

Last week, I posted this boy gnome card, so I had to make a girly gnome card. I went with a real simple design, and my color inspiration came from the amazing Chan Vuong's gift bag (if you haven't already, check out her fab color combos during the latest Lawn Fawn release). Anyhoo, here's the card:


Aren't those gals too cute? And yes, they are supposed to be off-set. : )  Here's a close-up:

The sentiments in this set are very punny (and if you look at any of my other posts, you'll see I love those puns). The yellow button is from My Favorite Things (they sell buttons now) and the salmon one is PTI. Of course, when my husband saw the card he said the buttons looked like a pig nose (yeah, thanks for the honesty...now all I see is a pig).

Thanks for looking and thanks for the comments!

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Spring is on the Way (Soon!)

Happy Sunday! Just a quick post today. Today's card is a thank-you for my in-laws for watching our kiddos when I was traveling over the past couple of weeks. So thank you! 

The yellow die-cut was done on my Cricut and most of the patterned papers are from Echo Park. The floral look to the card was inspired by the Die Cuttin' Divas Spring is on the Way challenge. Here's the card:

A little different for me (even my hubby noticed), but when I make cards for others, I try to do something I think they'll like. Here's a close-up:

The die-cut butterflies are from the My Favorite Things....cool dies that come in 3 sizes. 

Thanks for looking, and thanks for the comments!

Here's what I used:
Cardstock: Hawaiian Shores (PTI)
Patterned Papers: Life is Good collection (Echo Park); yellow-Urban Prairie (Basic Grey); pink (Fancy Pants)
Stickers: Life is Good (Echo Park)
Flowers: pink and blue (Prima); yellow (Recollections)
Dies: Butterfly trio (My Favorite Things); Paper Lace (Cricut Expression)

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Citiscape

Moxie Fab World is having a Citiscapes Are on the Rise challenge. I checked out some of the cards, and *wow*! Thought I would whip something up.

This CAS card should have taken me a short amount of time to create, but I mulled over the colors, the die-cut for the window, to sentiment or not to sentiment... I am way too analytical when it comes to cards! I actually finished the card, tore off the top layer, and created another card (I do this a lot!). Anyhoo, here's the final product:


I drove my husband crazy discussing the sentiment (I mean really, how many times can two people discuss a card sentiment?). I decided to go the cutesy route with a quote from PTI's Everyday Button Bits...I think it's a quote in Cinderella, but it is sweet and appropriate. The sentiment reminds me of people moving to the city to pursue their dreams (a little corny but happy!).  Here's a close-up:


I'm going to give this card to my brother and sister-and-law who moved into a larger house this month. Yippee for them!

Thanks for looking, and thanks for the comments!!

Here's what I used:
Cardstock: white (Papertrey Ink), yellow (Bazzill)
Stamps: Everyday Button Bits (PTI)
Dye ink: Tuxedo Black (Tsukinenko)
Font: Little City (FontRiver.com)
Dies: Labels #14 (Spellbinders); sun- Cricut Expression (Provocraft)

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Orange Crush

I have a crush on the Imaginisce Berrylicious collection. Smiling fruit...bright colors...cute sayings...it has it all. This paper just speaks to me (besides "buy me!"). Although maybe I need therapy since I'm hearing paper talking to me ;)

Of course the Berrylicious orange die-cut came to mind after I saw this week's Moxie Fab World's Tuesday Trigger:

Aren't those colors yummy? I also based the card off of this week's Card Patterns #107 sketch:


I also used my new Wilson Designs Ride Away With Me stamps for the heart background. The stamp has just a few hearts, but Kim Wilson is brilliant in making this stamp so it's easy to line up. Therefore even though I must have stamped the hearts 50 times, it went fast.


*sigh* Isn't he too cute? I want to squeeze him!

I fussy cut the sentiment and put it over a die-cut doily from My Favorite Things. The pattern paper and yellow sticker borders are from Echo Park and the cardstock is Papertrey. The screen print is from Hambly.

Thanks for looking and thanks for the comments!

There's Gnomebody Like You

A few weeks ago I won the new Gnomebody Like You set from Wilson Designs (thanks, Kim!). These stamps rock! If you haven't seen them, then check them out.

Anyhoo, when I think of gnomes (not that I spend a lot of time thinking about gnomes), I imagine them peeking around trees and corners. So, I paired the gnomes peeking out with cathedral window paper blocks. My mom recently suggested that I look at the cathedral windows used in quilting blocks, and I tried it out.

I was inspired by the OTWC #49 Challenge colors--love those colors! Here's the card:


Aren't those gnomes hilarious? The sentiment is also part of the set. I paper-pieced the gnomes and colored their faces. Here's a close-up:

 I used one of my all-time favorite older lines of Cosmo Cricket. Here's a close-up of the sentiment:

I colored the hilarious sentiment with colored pencils--markers looked a little harsh with the rest of the card, so I tried pencils. A little Twinery twine tops it off.

Here's what I found playing around with the cathedral folds (at least the way I did them):
  • Heavier paper (over 60lbs.) or papers with texture didn't work as well....even ATG tape wouldn't hold down the edges past a few hours.
  • I put solid cardstock squares on the inside, but double-sided paper would work, too.
  • I used Score-Tape to hold the edges down, but it seems like weighing down the papers for a day (before putting them on the card) seems to help the tape hold. 
Thanks for looking and thanks for the comments!

Monday, March 21, 2011

First Birthday!

There's no card today--just a personal post.

I'm still in Kansas City, but my son is at home celebrating his 1st birthday today. We had a party for him on Saturday, and I snapped a few pictures. See captions for his perspective:

 Hmmm...why are these people singing? What are those floating shiny things? Why is that thing on fire?

I guess I'll pick up this food and try it...I can always spit it up later.

 Mmmm...it's good! Where's more?


 Yeah! I've had sugar! I'm saving a little frosting on my highchair to eat later.

Happy 1st birthday to my little man! Thanks for letting me indulge.

Sunday, March 20, 2011

(Not) A Bun in the Oven

I drove to Kansas City today for work this week. I'm not sure if there was an 80s flashback on every radio station this weekend or if the recession is really hitting the midwestern radio stations, but jeez, there were more 80s tunes than back in the 1980s! I heard Berlin's "Take My Breath Away" 4 times this afternoon (yes, really). Kind of made me feel like I was in a Top Gun marathon...except I was looking at Iowa countryside instead of Tom Cruise....and I wasn't going as fast.

But now I'm ready for my marathon meetings the next few days. Hopefully I'll be able to sneak in a trip to a local scrapbook store one evening! :) If anyone knows of any in the KC metro, please let me know.

I made the card below using the Plus One Lawn Fawn stamps. And no, I am NOT pregnant, but I thought the little bun in the oven was so adorable I had to use it! I'm entering it in the Lawnscaping/Wee Memories Cute and Cuddly Challenge. Anyhoo, here's today's card:

I used Crate "Neighborhood" and "Restoration" patterned papers...like the pink and grey together. The May Arts ruffle ribbon looked kitchen-like to me. I added some Doodlebug jewels to the oven knobs...I think it pulls the yellow together. Here's a close-up of the cute little oven:


We actually used this expression to tell my in-laws about my first child. We put a hamburger bun in the oven and pointed it out...they didn't get it (they called it a roll). After about 10 minutes, they finally understood what we were trying to tell them. Wish I had had these stamps back then!

Thanks so much for looking. Your comments make my day!

Friday, March 18, 2011

Apple of My Eye

Well, it looks like I'm another Paper Crafts reject. I submitted a card for the clever canvas entries--I thought it was pretty clever (at least very punny).

Before I was making cards regularly, I used to make a lot of hair ribbons and hair clips. So, I decided to try and make korker ribbon out of canvas to make curly "hair." Since I couldn't find any websites that showed korkers out of canvas (I don't think they exist), I consulted my mom and her friends at a quilting retreat to get advice on how to cut the canvas into very narrow strips without shredding it (their take was to cut on the bias with a rotary cutter). With the right amount of fabric stiffener, it worked! Here are the results:

Aren't those canvas korkers cool? At least they look cool in person ;) I used ink to shade them, although you could dye them, too. These little mosters are from My Cute Stamps, the sentiment is from Lawn Fawn, and the apple card template is from Paper Smooches. The papers are from the new Neighborhood collection by Crate.


Above is a close-up of the canvas ribbons. It was pretty challenging to get them to lay flat enough...there are 3D adhesives under the body and regular glue dots under the hair, but the hair is still higher!

I love how the two monsters are holding hands! The sentiment is perfect for the one-eyed monsters, too.

This rejection was pretty disheartening since the card took a lot of thought and time to make. But, that's the way it goes. I'm going to take off the canvas "hair" and add some hearts now, which I think will look better :)

Thanks for looking!

Clear Stamps: (Eek! A Monster) My Cute Stamps; (My Silly Valentine) Lawn Fawn 
Inks: (Tuxedo Black) Tsukineko; (Warm Red) Clearsnap; (Petal Pink) VersaColor 
Cardstock: (Pure Poppy, Aqua Mist, Sweet Blush) Papertrey Ink 
Patterned paper: (Together and Chores from Neighborhood collection) Crate Paper; (Joy from Stella & Rose Mabel collection) My Mind’s Eye; (Love Letters from Be My Valentine Collection) We R Memory Keepers 
Pen: (Gelly Roll White) Sakura 
Digital element:  (Apple Card Template) Paper Smooches   
Fibers: (Satin Center Dot Red ribbon) May Arts 
Other: (canvas, wooden dowels, clothespins) craft supply; (Stiffen Stuff Spray fabric stiffener) Beacon

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Hellooooo Sunshine!

I'm in Baltimore for work, and since I've been holed up in a hotel conference room for 9 hours, I have yet to see sunlight. But today's card is inspired by the sun (I'm an Arizona native--love the sun!).

After I finished this card, my 5-year-old daughter said it should be in a museum (awwww!). Her high esteem means this card is high on the tacky-o-meter though. There are enough rhinestones to supply a BeDazzling convention. But, I still think it's fun:


The sunshine stamp is Lawn Fawn, and the sentiment is from PTI. I colored in each letter with markers...reminds me of writing notes in 6 colors of pens in middle school.

Thanks for looking, and thanks for the comments!

Here's the scoop:
Stamps: (Partly Cloudy) Lawn Fawn; (Fillable Frames #5) PTI
Ink: Orchid  Pastel, Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko); (Canary) VersaColor
Cardstock: (White) PTI; (Yellow) Bazzill
Embossing Powder: (Holographic) Ranger
Makers: Marvy Uchida

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Prom?

This week's Lawnscaping Challenge is to use Lawn Fawn stamps in an unconventional way. Since I turned Lunar Lights into Christmas bulbs for the last challenge (see this card), I couldn't use that idea again. Instead, I used the dress from the brand spankin' new Happily Ever After set (a wedding set), and made it into a prom card.

Now, I never gave or received cards before prom, but I envisioned something glamorous like giving this card to my daughter before her prom. Except that she's 5...and she's not allowed to date until she's at least in her 20s...but that's what I thought of.

I used the sketch from Sketch #106 from Card Patterns. Love that sketch! I'm also entering it into the Moxie Fab Paper Piecing Challenge. Here's the card:

This new stamp set is adorable (like all of them). I'm lucky enough to live by a retailer that sells Lawn Fawn stamps (A Walk Down Memory Lane), so I picked up this set and the new bun in the oven set. The papers are Basic Grey June Bug, which is so cheerful for spring!


I also picked up the new Maya Road satin pleat ribbon in hot pink. Hubba hubba! I twisted it into a boutonniere and used some May Arts wire ribbon to twist around the bottom. The other flowers are Prima.
I used Lawn Fawn's Jessie's ABCs to make a sentiment. I love how I can make any sentiment!

Thanks for looking!

Here's What I used:
Cardstock: Blue & raspberry (Bazzill)
Patterned Paper: June Bug (Basic Grey)
Stamps: Happily Ever After & Jessie's ABCs (Lawn Fawn)
Ink: (ColorBox)
Die: circle (Spellbinders)
Ribbon: Pink Pleat Ribbon (Maya Road); yellow (May Arts)
Flowers: Prima
Rhinestones: Kaisercraft  

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Monster Hugs & Kisses

My son's first birthday is in a couple of weeks, so it's time to make some cards for him. This monster sticker from Sassafras is so cute! I paired it with the "XOXO" paper and the coins border to make monster hugs and kisses for a quarter. Clever, huh? Of course at 1, my son isn't going to understand it.

The card is based on sketch #105 from Card Patterns. The sketch worked well for all the patterned papers (there are 6 pp on this card!):

I added some wonky stitching to finish the card and inked up the edges with a cream colored ink to mimic the distressing in the papers.


Isn't he so cute? I put the sticker on the polka dot paper...wasn't sure if it was too much, but I think it works.

Thanks for looking!

Here's the stuff I used:
Cardstock: AC Cardstock
Patterned Paper: Monstrosity (Sassafras); Surprise (Scenic Route); Bungle Jungle (Sassafras)
Sticker: Monstrosity (Sassafras)
Dies: Labels #9 (Spellbinders)
Ink: Alabaster (ColorBox); Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko)
Thread: Yellow denim (YIL)

Monday, March 7, 2011

You're Dandy!

I love making tie dye backgrounds with alcohol inks. Sometimes rainbow, sometimes purples, sometimes earthy colors...all have a kaleidoscopic look. My 5-year-old daughter likes to make these with me, and they're easy enough that she can do them with a little assistance. The only problem is she often inadvertently spits on hers.  :)

We made some tie dye backgrounds yesterday to use in Practicing Creativity Designs' Sketch Challenge. Here's the final card I came up with:



The stamps are from the "You're Dandy" set.  The yummy linen ribbon is from May Arts, and I think I could go through 100 yards of it.

Here's a closer view of the paper--sorry for the glare. It is harder to stamp on the photographic paper, and I've found that only white and black ink will have enough contrast. The sentiment is heat embossed to enhance the contrast.

Thanks for looking!

Here are the details:
Cardstock: White (PTI), Turquoise (Bazzill)
Stamps: Just Dandy (PCD)
Ribbon: Sunny Yellow Linen (May Arts)
Pigment Ink: Frost White (ColorBox)
Alcohol Inks: Citrus, Watermelon, Sunshine Yellow, Butterscotch, Cranberry, Lettuce, Wild Plum, Sunset Orange, Stream, Sailboat Blue, Purple Twilight (Ranger)
Embossing Powder: Detail White (my stash)
Other: Photo paper

Saturday, March 5, 2011

Fastest Card in the West

I hope you're having a great weekend!

I don't know about you, but I take a very long time to make a card. I try and retry elements. Not long ago, my husband said, "Each card shouldn't take over an hour, should it?" Well, yes! I think my record is 7 hours, but most cards take at least an hour...and that's after I have an idea.

So "whipping up a card" just isn't in my repertoire. But here it is...a card that took less than 20 minutes to make. And it's cute, too!

I was able to make this card quickly because I used a large sticker and matching papers. Way easy! This balloon cardstock sticker is from Pebbles. These stickers are great and available at Hobby Lobby. The papers are from the Lime Rickey collection, which is one of my all time favorites!

My daughter was invited to a classmate's birthday party in a couple of weeks. I thought this card would work for a 5-year-old boy. Or, if I decide I like it enough, I may give it to my own son (his birthday is in a few weeks) so I can keep looking at it. LOL!

Thanks for looking and the super nice comments!

Here are the elements in the card:
Cardstock: blue (Bazzill)
Patterned Paper: Lime Rickey (Basic Grey)
Sticker: Carnival Snapshot Cardstock Stickers (Pebbles)
Stamp: Think Big Favorites #1 (PTI)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko)
Twine: Lemondrop, Peapod, Maraschino (The Twinery)

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Ready...Set...Bloom!

Most of the time when I make a card, I go through enough trials to make two cards (at least). I'll die cut extra pieces, try a ribbon, stamp something on a few colors, etc. And I have a stash of the "good" leftovers.

Earlier this week, I made this card with the large flower. I made a cardstock base, but when I went to attach the flower, it didn't look right and I couldn't cut it down. I tried and tried to get the card to work, but decided I was being completely neurotic. In went the cardstock base into the leftovers drawer.

WPlus9 is having a Color Cue #12 challenge. The challenge colors are kraft, lilac, turquoise, and white. So, I pulled out the base today, covered up the original sentiment, and added lots of stuff to fit the challenge:

There's a whole lot going on here! The Royal Velvet cardstock is stamped with a flourish from Little Yellow Bicycle's Zinnia stamps.  The flowers just make me smile!


In person, the black flourishes don't look so shiny and obvious. They're really cool stickers that can be colored with solvent-based inks or markers. I left mine black, but I've used alcohol inks on them before.


The sentiment is also from the Zinnia set. I stamped the sentiment with a chocolate brown ink, but because the Bazzill is irridescent, the color looks just like kraft. I love it when it works out like that!

So glad when I can use leftovers! Actually, I have to. Right now, the drawer is so full I can't even shut it!

Thanks for looking. I really appreciate any comments you leave. Thanks!

Here are the goods:
Cardstock: Royal Velvet, Kraft, Aqua Mist (PTI); Celebrations Linen (Bazzill)
Stamps: Zinnia (Little Yellow Bicycle)
Dies: Perfect Petal Trio (My Favorite Things); Fillable Frames #10 (PTI)
Ink: Timber Brown (Staz On); Versamark
Buttons: Hawaiian Shores (PTI); purple is from my stash
Stickers: Peel-Offs (Magenta Style)
Rhinestones: purple (Jolee's Flat Back Crystals)

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

I've Got My Eye On You

This week's Tuesday Trigger on Moxie Fab World was this gorgeous photo:


The picture kind of reminds me of my house...well except the lack of toys...and dust bunnies. I knew I had to recreate the yellow door.

Besides the beautiful color of the door, something that struck me about this picture is the proximity of the table to the door. It appears that the table is blocking the door--trying to keep something out. Of course it made me think "what would be on the other side?" I think I've figured it out: 


Okay, it's supposed to be funny. The patterned papers are a mix, but I am dying over the new Stella Rose by My Mind's Eye. Definitely hubba hubba. I wanted to mix the vintage look with the graphic bunny.

The Peeps bunny is glittery, so he (she?) stands out even more than in the photo. Here's a close-up view:

Yes, I realize that the "Welcome" on the mat should be upside down if you were inside a house, but I just went with legibility over realism. {There is a pink bunny in the door...it's not exactly a photograph!)

The doors look pretty simple, but it was rough getting those windows cut and everything lined up. Glad I didn't cut off my finger with the dull craft knife. Yowsers!


To sentiment or not to sentiment...I opted to put the sentiment inside. It's kind of creepy, but it's definitely my sense of humor.
Thanks for looking!

Here are the details on the card:
Cardstock: Vintage Cream: PTI
Patterned Paper: Stella Rose (My Mind's Eye); Nook and Pantry (Basic Grey); Sweet Summertime (Echo Park)
Stamps: Chatterbox (Practicing Creativity Designs); Cuter Than Most (Unity)
Ink: Turquoise (Crafter's); Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko)
Sticker: Peeps (Creative Imaginations)
Brads: (Making Memories)

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Happy Happy Everything

Today we're having warmer weather (that means above freezing!), and it seems like spring is coming. In honor of spring, I decided to make a flower card.

Of course, I couldn't just make a flower using a flower die or flower stamp. Instead, I made a flower out of My Favorite Thing's kite die. Here's the card:
The kite layers didn't fit together evenly, so I overlapped them onto a cardstock base and then cut out the base. I used the new PTI Royal Velvet color--yummy! The stamp in the background (3 "flowers" in a row) is from Little Yellow Bicycle's Zinnia collection. Wow, two background stamped cards in a week?! Crazy!


Here's a close-up of the flower. I layered two buttons and sewed them to the card with metallic thread. Ugh, my sewing skills need improvement...my mother will cringe when she sees the crooked button. LOL!

Thanks for looking!

Here's the stuff for the card:
Cardstock: Royal Velvet (PTI), mustard (The Paper Studio)
Patterned Papers: Zinnia collection (Little Yellow Bicycle)
Stamps: Zinnia (Little Yellow Bicycle); Fillable Frames #5 (PTI)
Ink: Versamark; Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko)
Buttons: Pure Poppy (PTI); orange button from the nice lady with the garage sale in Wellsboro, PA
Twine: Lemondrop (The Twinery)
Thread: Sulky




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