A Stitch

A stitch and a few challenges is what I am up to for today.  Steph is hostessing the Ways to Use It challenge and it is all about stitching.  I opted for faux stitching as I have "issues" with my sewing machine.  Namely, it is as old as me and I am a bit afraid to use it.  The rub-on stitches worked quite for well for me.  Another challenge I added into my card was Kelly's Stamp 2 Spend challenge with a quilt theme.  Finally, I worked in a Timeless Tuesday challenge to focus on a sentiment.  Really, the sentiment is what drove the creation of today's card.  With "heart" in my sentiment, all the other pieces just fell together.  My clean and simple loving heart led the way and kept a lot of white space for the rest of the heart.  A couple of chomped corners and I was done.

It's another warm and sunny day here.  My hubby has a short work day and then I think it will be time to do more work in our garden.  It's really starting to produce.  I have broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage to pick today. 

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

Details - Stamps: Window to the World (Flourishes); Paper: Sweet Tooth White, Bordering Blue, BG Lilykate; Ink: Bordering Blue; Accessories: Heart framelit dies, Square Lattice ef, corner shomper, stampin' dimensionals.

Speedy TV and Birthdays

It's another Monday challenge with the Friends of Speedy TV.  Today's challenge is all about birthdays.  Who doesn't need a birthday card?  I am always running out of these, especially the masculine variety.  With all of the fun and fancy embellishments that are available these days, it's hard to keep it simplified.  I think it did it here though!  I repeated that tree a bunch of times to get that forest on there.  I only reinked it a few times so that I would get some variation in the color of my trees as well.  I did one thing here that I rarely do, as it feels criminal most of the time.  I cut apart my stamp so that I could lengthen my sentiment to fit my flag.  Have you ever cut apart a stamp?  How does it make you feel?  If you get some time today, it would be great if you could play along! 

After a full week off from work, I head back to school today.  Let's hope I can remember my job! Thanks for stopping by and Happy Monday.

Details - Stamps: A Walk in the Woods (MFP), Buffalo Spring (MFP); Paper: Certainly Celery, Very Vanilla, Early Espresso; Ink: Old Olive, Early Espresso; Accessories: Earth Elements button, paper snips, stampin' dimensionals.

Using Stickers

Hi there!  Thursday was my turn to hostess another Ways To Use It challenge at Splitcoaststampers.  I chose stickers as my theme for this week's challenge.  I figure that just about everyone has some kind of sticker in their stash.  My sticker here is a clear sentiment sticker from Cloud 9 Designs.  It has been in my drawer for at least two years.  Every else about my card is rather simple.  I die cut a couple of hearts.  I embossed and sanded one for a little more interest.  I distressed the edges and really worked my corners for some more shabbiness. 

I used a sketch from My Favorite Things.  Sometimes I find their sketches a bit challenging.  That probably means that I need to keep at those for a while.  I also worked in a Stamp 2 Spend challenge offered up by Kelly to make a card and send it to someone.  This will be my anniversary card for my husband.  I'll have to tuck it in his luggage, as he will be traveling on our anniversary.

Thanks for stopping by!

Details - Paper: Very Vanilla, Chatterbox Inc. dp; Accessories: Cloud 9 Designs sticker, Musical Flourish ef, edge distresser, sanding block, Heart Framelits, square punch, stampin' dimensionals.

Precious Baby Boy

Oh my gosh, this turned out sweet!  I tore into an unused pack of patterned paper to flesh out this Verve Sketch from last month hostessed by Diva Amy.  I also worked in Kelly's Stamp 2 Spend challenge to make a baby card.  I opted to go with a baby boy card as I use a lot of pink on a regular basis!  This paper is supposed to be elegant, wedding type paper, but I think it converted nicely to baby boy love.  I couldn't resist adding some pearls and seam binding to it.  After all, it's most likely that this little boy's momma is going to open and read this card ;)                                          To totally change gears on you, I only have 12 days of school left before I am off for the summer and I couldn't be more excited.  Only two more detentions and one more day of the after school reading program!  Look out summer, here I come!  I should also give fair warning to my daughter as it's the end of daycare as she knows it...now she gets her mommy full time and I am planning some fun times and lots of kindergarten prep!  We got all signed up for the summer reading program yesterday and she has logged 60 minutes of reading already (being read to)!

Details: Stamps: To The Moon (Verve); Paper: Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Elegant Soiree dsp; Ink: Basic Brown, Crumb Cake; Accessories: M's pearls, Baja Breeze seam binding, 1 3/4" circle punch, WCC, blender pen, glue dots, stampin' dimensionals.

 

Time Flies

Seriously, I guess it has been a week since I posted.  Yikes!  Well...I guess taxes and life and a closed daycare caught up to me.  I'm sure everyone has had weeks like this, so I'll get on with it!

I played along with Limelight Papercraft's sketch challenge.  This week the focus is on scallops and I just kept straight with the sketch.  You might want to play along as Mandy has extended the deadline until this Thursday and is giving away a stamp set.  I think part of the reason that the challenge was extended is that Mandy had a baby boy on Friday.  Congratulations Mandy!

And because we live in a world of balance I suppose, I have made this card for a Stamp 2 Spend friend, Soni, who has recently lost her husband.  What a terrible tragedy to lose your spouse.  I pray for her in her time of sorrow.  So, this card will go in the mail to Soni and hope that it brings her a brief moment of respite from her grief.

Thanks for stopping by!

Details - Stamps: Kind Words (Verve); Paper: Sahara Sand, Pink Pirouette, Always Artichoke, Whisper White, Bella Rose dsp; Ink: Mellow Moss, Always Artichoke, Pink Pirouette; Accessories: Sakura clear star gel pen, M's rhinestones, Bigz XL Tasteful Trim, Pink gingham ribbon, glue dot.

How Do You Feel About Buttons?

Me?  I just have a hard time with naked buttons.  Buttonholes just beg to have something through them or be covered up.  I hope that doesn't make me a prude!  I do tend to be more on the modest side :)

This card was made for another Stamp 2 Spend challenge offered up by Kelly.  She asked us to go into our favorites and remake one of the oldest in our stash!  I found this card by Becky Oehlers that I had tucked away for just this kind of inspiration. 

It's a pretty clean and simple design.  I went with pinks and red to compliment the love theme.  I embossed the stitched heart image and then cut it out.  Then I used a buttonhole punch and threaded some thin satin ribbon through it.  I tried to tie a bow, but I just couldn't make it work.  So I resorted to a knot.  I added a little faux stitching on my die cut shape to mimic the heart image.

Thanks for stopping by!

Details - Stamps: Text Objects (Verve), Swirling Hearts (Verve); Paper:  Whisper White, Real Red, Pretty in Pink, Print Pack dsp, Pattern Pack dsp; Ink: Real Red, Regal Rose, Versamark; Accessories: white ep, heat tool, Nestabilities, corner chomper, wide red grosgrain ribbon, thin satin ribbon, buttonhole punch, paper snips, stampin' dimensionals.

It Must Be Spring

It just must be spring because there is a bird on my blog!  Just kidding!  I am hoping that spring is right around the corner, though.

I made this card for a couple of different challenges.  First,  Kelly challenged us in the Stamp 2 Spend challenge to make a card inspired by a robin.  It had to include black and rust and have a bird or curve on it.  Check, check, check!  Second, I cased a card by Neva, this week's Featured Stamper on SCS. 

I punched my bird from some black and white designer paper and sponged some rust ink over the belly of the bird and around the edges of the wing.  I used a rub-on for my sentiment!

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!


Details - Paper: Really Rust, Basic Black, Whisper White, Night and Day specialty dsp; Ink: Really Rust; Accessories: rub-ons, XL bird punch, birds and swirls ef, Nestabilities, M's self adhesive rhinestones, sponge dauber, stampin' dimensionals. 

A Case of Miles

I joined in on the Stamp 2 Spend challenge again this year.  Even though I ended up in the black last year, I do believe that it kept me in check and kept me using the supplies that I already own.  Kelly, the S2S hostess, has issued the first challenge and it is to bust out your scrapbooking and stamping magazines and make the project or card you have been meaning to make.

I cased a fabulous card by Alli Miles in Papercraft's Card Creations, Favorite Occasions, Vol. 2. Specifically, Alli's card is on page 17 of the magazine.  I just had to use my new Verve set.  This set is called Text Objects and you can see the text stamp in the top left hand corner with the quote larger in the bottom right hand corner.  Text objects also came with fun accents and the heart is one of them!

I'm still on the weather watch!  We are due for some snow and for whatever reason, I cannot wait!

Details - Stamps: Text Objects (Verve); Paper: Whisper White, AC Blue Skies, unknown SU pink; Ink: Versamark, Early Espresso; Accessories: clear ep heat tool, paper snips, random button, linen thread, Square Lattic ef, corner chomper, mini glue dot, stampin' dimensionals.

Happy Friday!

Woohoo! It's Friday!  It's the last day of the work week and we had some sunshine this afternoon.  I hope it stays nice for the weekend.  We have many outside chores to do in the next couple of days. 

An easy dinner tonight, leftover lasagna I made last night.  No bath routine tonight and a family movie.  Fun stuff!

This card is a card I made for my nephew a while back.  I made it for a Stamp 2 Spend challenge to case Tina.  This is the card I cased, right here. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Details - Stamps: Pocket Silhouettes; Paper: Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Bella Bleu dp; Ink: Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel; Accessories: Chocolate Chip grosgrain, Button Latte button, stampin' sponge, glue dots, thin ivory satin ribbon, Chit-Chat rub-ons.

On a Sponging Kick

I needed a few more quick note cards for a co-worker.  I opted for my version of the Brayered Sky technique.  I am brayer challenged, so I used my sponges.  I created my sunset with a few inks and then stamped over it in gray and then embossed over both!

I love how this turned out, even though it is quite simple!  I played along with a Stamp 2 Spend challenge to create your own VSN challenge to fit with last month's theme, Summertime in the Land that I Love.  I called my challenge "Summer Sky" for the gorgeous sunsets I love to watch with my friends and family. 

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

Details - Stamps: Upsy Daisy; Paper: Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White; Ink: So Saffron, More Mustard, Really Rust, Going Gray, Versamark; Accessories: white ep, heat tool, stampin' sponge, stampin' dimensionals.

One Layer Christmas

Poppin' pastels is a technique that I like a lot, but hardly ever do.  I gave it a try and I really do like it.  I did spray a sealant over my card and it gave it a bit of a grainy feel.  Kind of strange, but I will see how the chalking holds up now.

This card is for Susan's One Layer Wednesday challenge to use trees.  I had this rather large stamp and wanted to try it.  To keep it CAS, I just scored 1/4" from the top and bottom.  No other embellishments were needed. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Details - Stamps: Scenic Season; Paper: Whisper White; Ink: Versamark; Accessories: stampin' pastels.

CAS Friday?

For today, it is a CAS Friday.  I really should be getting ready to start my day, but I couldn't help but sit down to post this one!  I made this for Susan's One Layer Wednesday challenge to create on OLC with unexpected colors.  It's also a card that meets the Stamp 2 Spend challenge to create a Valentine's Day card in non-traditional colors.  I don't think that Teal, Celery and Gray are the colors you would normally expect to find on a Valentine's Day card, but here they are.  I really like how it turned out.  I like the whimsy of the tilted hearts and that it left me a constant open space for my rhinestones.  And....I love that I can personalize my rhinestone color with my Sharpie.  That makes me super happy!

Have a fabulous day!

Details - Stamps: Happy Hearts, Teeny Tiny Wishes; Paper: Whisper White; Ink: Taken With Teal, Going Gray, Certainly Celery; Accessories: M's self adhesive rhinestones, teal sharpie, celery sharpie.

A Few of My Favorite Things

I LOVE GROOVY GUAVA!!!!  It's true.  While orange is not one of my favorite colors, I adore Groovy Guava!  The Art of Life is also one of my all time favorite sets as well.  I combined them all to make a card in my favorite style, CAS.  I used a Fall To Layout from the clean and simple stamping blog.

This is part of a set that I am making to give to my 17 year old nephew who leaves in about two weeks to spend his senior year in Germany, as an exchange student.  My plan is to make sure he has cards on hand so that he can easily stay in contact with his family here at home.

I'm not sure what today will bring.  My craft room is calling me, but the sun is shining as well.  Maybe I will spend time in both areas. 

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Details - Stamps: The Art of Life, Teeny Tiny Wishes; Paper: Very Vanilla, Old Olive, Groovy Guava, River Rock (textured); Ink: River Rock, Old Olive, Groovy Guava; Accessories: Modern Label punch, Word Window punch, stampin' dimensionals, CK brads.

For Charlene and For Traci

What, how can a card be for two people!  Well, you see, I made this card for the Featured Stamper challenge today.  Charlene, aka Cookiebaker, is the featured stamper and I knew I wanted to use that particular stamp so I searched through Charlene's gallery until I found this. 

I made the card to send to Traci for her card give away blog.  Now I just need to get it in the mail to her.  I also made the card for a Stamp 2 Spend challenge to use roses as my inspiration for my card. 

Before I go, I want to wish everyone a Happy 4th of July!  Thanks for stopping by!

Details - Stamps: Almighty God (Unity); Paper: Riding Hood Red, Kiwi Kiss, Whisper White, Bella Rose dp; Ink: Old Olive; Accessories: Nestabilities, M's pink satin ribbon, Just My Type embossing borders, glue dot, stampin' dimensionals.

Crazy Colors for Tuesday

The Color Challenge on SCS today include Crushed Curry, Bermuda Bay and Dusty Durango.  I can't exactly remember which colors are retiring next month from Stampin' Up!, but I hope it includes Crushed Curry and Dusty Durango.  They are not my favorite.  I chose to CASE a card today, as part of a Stamp 2 Spend challenge, and to make the color challenge easier on me :)

The crafter in the spotlight for this challenge is Kurtis Amundson.  I recognize him mostly from his work for Gina K. Designs.  I chose this card and changed just the bare minimum to make it a case and not an exact copy.  Although, some might make a good argument otherwise. 

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Details - Stamps: Back2Basics (Stamps of Life); Paper: Sahara Sand, Crushed Curry, Bermuda Bay, Dusty Durango, Basic Black; Ink: Versamark; Accessories: clear ep, white ep, heat tool, 1 1/4" square punch, stampin' dimensionals.

Foxgloves For You

This card was absolutely heaven to make. So easy and so gratifying!  Of course, I made it for a couple challenges. The first challenge was the VSN challenge called April Showers Bring May Flowers and the task was to use flowers on your card.  I just strategically cut up my dp!  That was therapeutic in and of itself.  Normally, I hoard all the beautiful pieces.  Why, I'm not sure because I love this card.  The second challenge involved here was a Stamp 2 Spend challenge to create a card in my own style.  My style is hard to describe. I made a card that I liked. I used beautiful designer paper, clean lines, a bow and a girly-scripty sentiment.


Thanks for stopping by!
 
Details - Stamps: Fresh Cuts; Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, BS Wisteria; Ink: StazOn Jet Black; Accessories: M's black satin ribbon , glue dot.