Happy 11th Birthday!

Tomorrow my baby girl turns 11 years old!  Since I haven't figured out how to make time stop for a bit I'm just enjoying every moment with my girls.  It really does go too fast.

I decided to us the sketch from CAS(E) this sketch for my daughter's birthday card.  I used Stampin' Up's paper-piercing pack to give the card a little something extra.  I really love those tools.

Have a wonderful week,




 All supplies from Papertrey Ink unless stated.

Stamps:  Birthday Basics
Paper:   White, Sweet Blush, Autumn Rose
Ink:   Fresh Snow
Other:  Heart dies, Eyelet Lace border die,  paper piercing set (SU!)

FYI Design Team Call

Just letting you all know that there is a Design Team call for our For Your Inspiration Challenge Blog.

Do you enjoy working with inspiration photos?  Do you have time to create two projects a month?  Are you interested in working with some wonderfully talented and laid back women?  Then why not apply to be on our first 2013 design team? 

You can find out all the information about the call HERE on the FYI blog.  You have until November 23rd to apply.  Come join a great group of talented designers in a relaxed, fun atmosphere!

Orange Blooms

I'm playing along with CASology's latest challenge -- Orange.

This card was quick and easy.  I just bought this gorgeous die from memory box called Wild Blooms.  Had to put it to use right away.

• Embossed cream panel
• Die cut bloom image
• Back with patterned paper
• Add tag and embroidery floss
• Mount on orange panel
• Adhere to card base

Yay for quick cards and gorgeous dies!  

Blessings,




 
Stamps:   Birthday Basics (PTI)
Paper:   Orange Zest, Vintage Cream (PTI), SU! pp
Ink:   black
Other:  Wild Blooms die (memory box), Decorative Tile embossing folder (CB), orange embroidery floss

Peace LOVE & Joy

I finally got myself together enough to make a card for a challenge and get it posted before the deadline:)  This is for the current retrosketches #36 which is from an awesome card that Suzanne posted back in September.

I just loved Suzanne's card and layout and had to play along.  I decided to make a  holiday card in non-traditional colors using some patterned paper that I got for free at CHA years ago.  The ladies at the KaiserCraft booth were just handing out handfuls of 6x6 paper packs by the end of the day.  I still have a ton left.

Since I loved what Suzanne did with her scalloped panel, I used Papertrey's Edgers #3 die to cut the colorful panel.  The little bow and three circles are cut out of some glittery silver card stock from Michael's.  

Hope your week is off to a great start!

Blessings,






Stamps:  Bells & Boughs (PTI)
Paper:  KaiserCraft Lush Collection, silver glittery paper (recollections)
Ink:  black, vintage Cream (PTI)
Other: Edgers #3 die, bow die (PTI), silver twine, hole punch

Another Quick Birthday Card

Here's a quick card I whipped up for my niece.  Thank goodness for all these family birthdays that keep me crafting:)  Sorry for the bad photo.  I needed to get this in the mail right away.

I just love the soft color combo of White, Groovy Guava and Certainly Celery.  I've had these SU! papers around for a long time and need to put them to use.

The birthday sentiment, from 2012 Birthday Tags, is stamped in Groovy Guava and hand cut.  I layered it over the oval frame die cut from PTI's Pretty Peonies.  This is the first time I've used the Simple Stripes IP from PTI since I've bought it.  I just love the look of it.

Off to make more cards!







All supplies from Papertrey Ink unless stated.

Stamps:   2012 Birthday Tags
Paper:  White, Groovy Guava, Certainly Celery, Groovy Guava pp (SU!)
Ink:   Groovy Guava
Other:  Simple Stripes IP, Pretty Peonies frame die

First Birthday CASE

Hello out there in blogland!  It's been a while since I've blogged or made many cards.  I enjoyed the little break and am hoping to crank out more cards and get them posted.  Hopefully there are still a few of you who are stopping by to say hello:)

In order to get my mojo going again I CASED a few cards from the Papertrey DT.  I find that helps me get the creative juices flowing.

Since I needed a card for my nephew's first birthday I turned to my awesome By the Number dies and went looking for ideas.  I ended up creating a card like Dawn's card HERE.

Here's my take on it:

This was so quick and fun to make.  The little truck is colored with Copic markers.

That's it for now.  Hope each of you has a wonderful day!





 
 All supplies from Papertrey Ink unless stated.

Stamps:  Tiny Treats Birthday
Paper:   Putty (MS), White (PTI)
Ink:  Summer Sky (memento), Bamboo (CTMH)
Other:  By the Numbers die, Mat Stack 5 die, Copic Markers

Paper Dolls Challenge #52

Hi all!  I've been on a bit of a blogging and card making break.  It wasn't planned, but I know you all understand how those things have to take a backseat to everyday life sometimes.

It's my turn to host the next Paper Dolls challenge.  Since I've been so busy I've made this one really simple.  

Use Your Patterned Paper

***  Create a card or project that uses at least three different patterns of paper.  ***

Most of us have an enormous stash of patterned paper that we could never, ever use up.  So pull out a few sheets and put them to use.

I chose to make a set of note cards with two slightly different looks that are blank inside.  These will make a great gift set sometime. Here's the first one:

And here is the second look:

I hope you'll join us for the challenge.  Just hop on over to the Paper Dolls blog to link up your card or project.





 
 All supplies from Papertrey Ink unless stated.

Paper:   Guidelines pp, Royal Velvet & Vintage Cream
Other:  Butterfly die, Hawaiian Shores felt, Lavender Moon ribbon, apron lace punch (fiskars), leaf die (sizzix), small butterfly punch (MS), sewing machine

Splash of Lime

TGIF!!!  Had a bit of time today to play along with two challenges.  I also needed a birthday card for tomorrow.  I inked up one of the tags from 2012 Birthday Tags (PTI) that I hadn't used yet.  I really like the distressed striped on the image design.  I thought they'd go well with the embossing folder.  The lime paper is a scrap of adhesive vellum that I had in my stash for far too long.  Glad to finally put it to use.

Here are the challenges --

The Play Date Cafe challenge this week is:

I'm also entering this into the Moxie Fab Repetition challenge.

Have a fantastic weekend!




 
 All supplies from Papertrey Ink unless stated.

Stamps:   2012 Birthday Tags
Paper:   Black, White. Lime adhesive vellum (shortcuts)
Ink:   Black, Pear Tart (memento)
Other:  Distressed Stripes embossing folder, twine, YG03 copic marker, 1 3/4" circle punch

10 Minute Craft Dash #1

I just discovered a new challenge blog called 10 minute Craft Dash, thanks to Suzanne Dahlberg.  The challenge is to create a card in under 10 minutes.  I need that kind of challenge to help me stop thinking about what to create and just do it!

Lately I seem to be needing more sympathy cards on hand so I decided to make a CAS sympathy card.

This card took nearly the full 10 minutes because I decided I wanted the butterfly antennae as part of the die cut so I had to cut it out by hand instead of using the die as originally planned.

• I stamped the butterfly image directly over the green frame for a shadow effect.  Got that idea from the amazingly talented Deanna.  I swear I could CASE everything she makes.
• Stamped the sentiment, rounded the corners and then added a few score lines with my Scor-Pal.
• Popped the butterfly on and finished it off with rhinestones.
• Stamped the inside white panel with a peony and adhered that inside.

Whew, just made it in time at 9 minutes 18 seconds!  How fun!  Can't wait to see more challenges from Paulina and Ginny.

Blessings,



 
All supplies from Papertrey Ink unless stated.

Stamps:   Pretty Peonies, Close as a Memory (SU)
Paper:   Certainly Celery, White (SU)
Ink:   Lavender Moon, Pear Tart & Black (memento)
Other:  scissors,  Scor-Pal, Black Rhinestones

For Your Inspiration #36

Welcome back to the next For Your Inspiration challenge.  This will be our last challenge for a while.  Our team has decided to take a break until January.

You have two weeks to join this challenge and create a project inspired by this stunning photo:

Isn't it a beauty?  Reminds me of Ireland.

Here's my card which was completely inspired by THIS amazing card from Joan B.

• I started by brayering ink from my Kaleidacolor "Pastel" ink pad onto glossy card stock.
• After a bit of brayering I sponged yellow ink over the top half.
• I then stamped the silhouette image in versamark and heat embossed it with clear powder.  I just love how it took on the darker colors.
• Next, I stamped the sheet music score over the whole panel and wiped any ink off the silhouette.
• Finished off with ribbon and tag punches folded around the edges.

 
All supplies from Papertrey Ink unless stated.

Stamps:   BG Basics: Sheet Music, Silhouettes (Inque Boutique)
Paper:   Cream, Black, Wild Wasabi (SU), Glossy
Ink:   Kaleidacolor Pastel, Buttercup (CTMH), Black (memento), versamark
Other:  clear EP, small tag punch (MS), brads (CTMH), sheer ribbon

Rowboat Scene

I have another Stampscapes card for you today.  When I saw that the Craft a Scene challenge for August was The Great Outdoors I knew that I needed to put my Stampscapes images to work.  I created the peaceful, dusk / nighttime scene using various stamps (listed below).  The sentiment is from PTI's Pretty Peonies.

I stamped everything except the sky in black and sponged most of the colors onto the card stock.  The rocks are colored with pencils.  The milky way sky is stamped in blue and sponged with some purple and yellow.  I highlighted the oak branches with a white gel pen.

Hopefully, I'll get a chance to create another outdoor scene for this challenge.


Blessings,



 

Stamps:  Stampscapes -- Lakeside Cove Lg 049G, Oak Branch 203G, Water Ripple Light 305C, Rowboat 166A, Reeds Lg 068D, Milky Way 058E, Rocks in Water, PTI -- Pretty Peonies
Paper:   Kraft, Black, White
Ink:  Summer Sky (memento), Almost Amethyst (SU), Pink, yellow
Other:  quikcutz label, twine, white gel pen, colored pencils

Focal Point Impression

Hello all!  I'm finally playing along with Amy's Paper Dolls challenge.  Cutting it close to the deadline, I know.  Our new challenge goes up on the 10th.  You can read all about the challenge HERE.  Basically we are to add some type of impression over our stamping.  Don't you love the look?

Here's my card:

I impressed the sheet music IP over some Sweet Life roses.  I actually took time to mask off the roses as I stamped.  That's a technique that I usually don't bother with because it takes a bit more time.  Nothing difficult of course, just more time and effort.  The roses are stamped using Pretty in Pink (SU), then Berry Sorbet (PTI) and Rose Bud (memento).

Hope you all are having a wonderful week!




 
All supplies from Papertrey Ink unless stated.

Stamps:  The Sweet Life, Think Big favorites #7
Paper:   Berry Sorbet, White
Ink:   Pretty in Pink (SU), Berry Sorbet (PTI), Rose Bud (memento), black
Other:  sheet music IP, berry sorbet satin ribbon,  Apron Lace punch (fiskars)

I'm Sorry

When I saw the colors for the Play Date Cafe this week I was reminded of my Beautiful Blooms patterned paper from PTI.  I've had these three little pieces in my scrap drawer since I made this card for my daughter in 2010.  Yes, I really am that frugal.  I save most everything if I think I can use it again.  I'm certainly not a hoarder, but I do like to recycle, reuse and re-purpose what I can.

One of my husband's co-workers asked me to make her an apology type card to give to her husband.  I jokingly said "I don't even know how to make one of those."  I dug around and found this little "I'm sorry." sentiment and kept things pretty simple.  The added scoring helped frame the three squares.

Sorry for the horrible picture.  I wanted to get this to her quickly:)

 
All supplies from Papertrey Ink unless stated.

Stamps:  Flower Garden Sentiments
Paper:  white, black, beautiful blooms pp
Ink:  black (memento)
Other: heart dies, take three die, pure poppy, Hawaiian shores felt, Scor-Pal

For Your Inspiration #35

Where have these two weeks gone?  I really intended to get some other cards posted before now.  I cannot believe how quickly summer is flying by.

It's time for the next For Your Inspiration Challenge.  This week we have a gorgeous photo of Cologne Cathedral in Germany.  Stunning.   As always, you have two weeks to join in on the challenge.

I was inspired by the colors of the photo.  I just love all those lights.  

I was happy to finally break out some new stamps.  The flowers are from PTI's The Sweet Life and the sentiment is from Stampin' Up.  I stamped the flowers to mimic the sky and cathedral using Almost Amethyst, Breeze (which is like Aqua Mist), and Winter Wisteria.  The leaves which represent the bridge are stamped using Pear Tart and Ripe Avocado.

Please be sure to visit the rest of the DT to see what they created from this photo.  Their links are on my sidebar.

Blessings,



 
All supplies from Papertrey Ink unless stated.

Stamps:  The Sweet Life, Trust God (SU)
Paper:  Black, White
Ink:   Almost Amethyst (SU), Breeze (CTMH), Winter Wisteria, Ripe Avocado, Pear Tart (memento), black
Other:  Mat Stack 4 dies, Linen/Canvas IP, rhinestones