Thinking of You

I had a little time yesterday, so I decided to look through some challenges over at Feline Playful.  Lots of times it's just a challenge for me to put two challenges together and do it in a timely manner.  I am a putzy crafter, you know!  I put two challenges together - Card Patterns sketch and the Scrapmaster's Paradise Color Challenge.

As soon as I saw those colors, I thought of a couple of old paper packets - Grace and Key to My Heart.  I combined the papers to make this card:

I made little tiny flowers using the Art Philosophy cartridge, and bunched them around the oval.  Fun, fun card sketch, and I am sure I'll use it again!

CTMH items used that can be found on my website:
X5642 Cocoa Cardstock
Z2114 Cocoa Exclusive Inks
D1476 Card Chatter Sympathy stamp set
Z1686 Cricut Art Philosophy Collection
Z1336 Pearl Opaque Gems
Z1377 Kraft Color Ready Borders (while supplies last)
Z1118 Creme Brulee Metal Corner  - Mini Medleys (while supply lasts)

Life is Good

 I saw this sketch over at Card Patterns and had to sit right down to make a card.  It's just such a fun sketch!

That curve is just so much fun, right?  As you can see, I used the sketch pretty much the way it is drawn.

The papers are Echo Park's Little Boy, and the twine is from Really Reasonable Ribbon.  That sentiment stamp (which I LOVE) is from the CTMH Treetops stamp.  I added just a little bling around the sun to give it some shine.  Be sure to go over to Practical Scrappers on Wednesday because we will be showcasing cards and layouts using the sun.

This card wll work for several other challenges:
Create Blog (CARDS) - summer cards with waves
Come and Get It - Father's Day
Creative Inspirations - Father's Day
Crafty Hos - Summer - Let the Fun Begin!
Paper Cutz - beach or travel

Blues

The sketch at Card Patterns this week is so versatile.  As I was creating my card, I thought of all different kinds of ways to use this:

Here's my card using a variety of blues:

I embossed the focal stamp - Hero Arts' Flower Garden - with CTMH Heavenly Blue embossing powder.  That wooden but on the top is from CTMH (it matches the kraft borders perfectly!), and I've put a CTMH cordouroy brad in the middle.  The inside is stamped with a birthday sentiment.

Creative Imaginations IOD

I pulled out some Iron Orchid Designs paper from Creative Imagination today.  I so love the softness of the paper!  I thought as long as I was playing and making some more Valentine's that I would also enter a few challenges.  The first card is for Frosted Designs where they are asking for transparency, vellum, or acrylic.

I made an acrylic card for this challenge.  I cut a hole in the front with a circle nestabilities, and then used the scalloped circle to make a border around the cut.  (If you click on the picture, it will show larger for you and you'll be able to see the detail.)  The background paper is on the inside of the card as well as the "xoxo" and one butterfly.  "Beloved" and another butterfly are on the front.  I am so glad that FD had this challenge because it was really fun to challenge myself to make an acrylic card again!  I'll also enter this card into the Wee Memories challenge which is to "free your creativity."

I have used the sketch from Card Patterns for the next card.

Again, I used IOD paper and a matching journaling tag.  The ribbon, stamp, and sparkles are CTMH.  I am going back to playing now.  I've got some finsihed projects sitting on my desk that I'll have to wait to show you.  But I still want ot continue on in the Valentine's mode so back to crafting!!

With All My Love

It is snowy and cold here.  Well, I should say that it's almost 20 degrees today, so it does feel a little bit warmer.  But last night we got another 2-1/2 inches of snow.  It just keeps coming, and I dare say I am not the only person tired of it!

So it's fun to pull out some bright colors to work with.  Moxie Fab has a monochromatic color challenge using three shade of pink.  I brought that together with the sketch at Card Patterns and the heart themed challenge at Really Reasonable Ribbon.

I stamped the hearts in three different inks before stacking them together - CTMH Baby Pink, Blush, and Hollyhock.  It's very easy to do this with clear stamps, and I am going to point you to Jeanette Lynton's blog to teach you how to do this.  She has new stamping techniques every week, and you will love what you learn from this extremely kind founder of CTMH.

Supplies used: CTMH Hollyhock and Baby Pink cardstock; CTMH Soul Mates and Birthday Script stamp sets; Petaloo flowers; Recollections pearls; SU Whisper White ribbon; Nestabilities Circle and Scalloped Circle; WRMK Corner Chomper rounder

Take Time to Chase the Snowflakes

This is my 3rd post for the day, so be sure to scroll down.  I have had such much needed paper therapy time today, and I've gotten quite a bit accomplished!

My first card is made for The Cutting Cafe:

I used a couple of Regina's printable stamps for this one - Snowflake Colored Backgrounds and a sentiment from the Snowflake Huge Circle.  The use of pearls makes this eligible for the Ladybug Crafts Ink challenge.

I also wanted to make a Christmas thank you card for The Studio challenge.  We need those after the holidays!  I used the sketch from Card Patterns.

I used my FaLaLa Slice card to make the snowflakes and the Words & Expressions Thinking of You card for the "thank you."  The two types of kraft paper worked out pretty well for this card!

Christmas Cards to Share

I am determined to have my Christmas cards out this weekend, so I am still busy creating them.  I suppose in the end it would be easier to make a bulk card, but I am really enjoying making each one as unique as a snowflake!  And speaking of snowflakes, I have been using them a lot on my cards!  This first one is based on a sketch from CPS that you can find here.

I just can't get enough of Bo Bunny's Midnight Frost.  Such gorgeous and peaceful paper!  I've used two Slice cards - FaLaLa for the snowflakes and Words and Expressions Holiday Words for "peace."  The stamp is one of Unity's Itty Bitty stamps.  I put glitter on the tree and star.  The gems are from Recollections.

For the next card, I used a sketch from Card Patterns.

I used some of Echo Park's Merry Christmas on this one.  Although there is green and a little bit of red, this card very non-traditional for me.  Of course, wouldn't we all like snowflakes to fall in chocolate!  The edge is Martha's double loop punch, and the snowflakes are from the Slice FaLaLa card.  Ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon, and the buttons/waxy flax are CTMH.  That wonderful sentiment is from Penny Black.

I finally have my house decorated!  It took some time this year to get everything up.  The tree is not decorated yet, but we are doing that as a family tomorrow evening when everyone is home.  I hope you are all enjoying these marvelous December days before Christmas!

A Little Midnight Frost for Christmas

When I went to the store to pick up some paper, Shane actually picked this paper up from Bo Bunny and said it was the most beautiful paper he has seen.  WOW, I knew I had to grab some and make a few cards!  Discount Cardstock is asking people to post some different Bo Bunny work on their wall, so it was the perfect opportunity for me to grab a couple sketches from CPS and Card Patterns and get to work.

CPS sketch:



Other than my white Bazzill card base, I use all Bo Bunny Midnight Frost paper for this card.  The ribbon is May Arts, the buttons and brads are CTMH, and the stamp is Penny Black.

Card Patterns sketch:

I flipped this one on the side.  Again, all but the card base is Midnight Frost.  The ribbon is May Arts, and the other embellishments are all CTMH.

For both cards, I used pop dots to make the snowflakes stand up a little.  The snowflakes were cut with my Slice FaLaLa design card.



Clean & Simple and Card Patterns

I thought I'd put a couple of challenges in this post.  This already my 3rd post for the day, so if you'd like ot see a layout and some exciting news about a new sketch blog, scroll on down!

Firstly, I want to show you a card I completed for the Clean and Simple challenge.  Now it is a challenge for me to be clean and simple.  There is always something more I want to do with a card.  However, I like their challenges because it truly is a challenge to me!  The sketch is next followed by my card:

Items used: TPC white CS; Cuttlebug folder; Creative Imaginations scallops; May Arts ribbon; Petaloo, Bazzill & Prima flowers; Rock Candy Distress Paint; Versamagic Ink - Tea Leaves and Aegean Blue; CTMH brad

My next card is for the Card Patterns challenge.  I went my own way with it, but you'll still see the base sketch.

Items used: CTMH White Daisy and Black CS; Basic Grey Origins; Stampendous stamp; May Arts and CTMH ribbon; Bazzill flowers; random button and gems

Find Joy Every Day

It is a beautiful day here in Minnesota!  Right now I am listening to the robins sing out my craft window.  So wonderful!!  The sky is blue, the trees are rustling with the light breeze, and all is well in our corner of the world.

I chose to grab a sketch today from Card Patterns, and I incorporated it with a challenge from American Crafts.  For AC, the challenge is to create a card or layout with 2 or more pieces from the I Do line.  Such soft beautiful colors!!

This carnation flower is so simple to create. It is simply cutting scalloped circles and cutting on the scallops.  Fun!  I made a white flower and then distressed with a soft pink chalk ink.

Items used: American Crafts Dear Lizzy and I Do papers, CTMH white daisy CS, American Crafts Remarks and brads, May Arts ribbon, Making Memories pin, Hero Arts stamp

Thinking of You

I snuck in some crafting time this morning - such a busy week already!  I saw this sketch from Card Patterns and was really inspired to create.  Round cards appeal to me as they are such a fun change.

Items used:  Paper Source round card, Swiss Dots Bazzill paper, CTMH Silhouette, SU sentiment, Bazzill and Prima flowers, May Arts ribbon, CTMH pearls

Cards, Cards, Cards (and then a few more cards!)

I told you yesterday that I would have some work to show you.  So I am going to show you the fruits of my labor today.  I made 8 of each of the next cards that I am showing you this morning.  I have the card swap at work, Mother's Day bags to fill, and Operation Write Home cards to send.  Cards never go to waste in my house!!
First I'll show you a couple of challenges that I did.  The first is for Stretch N' Bubbles.  I was so blessed to win free images from them last week!  What a fun thing to open my e-mail and find such cute images.  It was hard to pick one to go along with this week's sketch!

This is the little mouse image.  I thought it would make a nice card for a soldier to send home.  I used Basic Grey Kioshi and CTMH's TLC stamp set.  I am still so new to coloring, but it's really fun to use all the different mediums to give it a go.  (Kim, I know you are out there - are you surprised?!)

The next card is a sketch from Card Patterns:

I used American Crafts I Do paper with CTMH's Soulmate stamps set.  The flower is from the bridal section at Michael's and the ribbon is Little Yellow Bicycle.

The next card is Graphic 45 paper and a retired CTMH stamp set and is for the card swap at work:

The following cards are very simple.  You know what is funny to me is that my husband likes these cards the best of all the cards I made yesterday.  I guess there is something to be said for clean and simple with a good stamp!

(stamps for this and the next card are SU! and Inkadinkado)

(stamps - Unity and SU!)

(Unity stamps)

Well, I think it's time to switch over to some altered items and pages.  I can't say there won't be a card or two mixed in, but I think I'd like to finish some albums I've been working on.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful spring day!  The birds are singing like crazy here, both my furry pets are snoring right now, and life is good.

Graduation Cards with Lucky Me from LYB

Little Yellow Bicycle had a great line called Lucky Me, and I thought it would be perfect for some graduation cards I'm finishing up for OWH.  I used sketches for all of these cards - there are some really good ones again this week!  I'm going to list the "ingredients" at the end so that my post is not broken up so much.  As you'll see, I used a lot of the same elements throughout all the cards.

CPS:

Card Patterns:

Get Sketchy:

Clean & Simple:

Inspirational Card Sketches:

OCC Sketch Blog:

Items used:  Little Yellow Bicycle Lucky Me patterned paper, borders, buttons, and gems; CTMH brads, stamps, bitty sparkles, and ink; Hero Arts stamps; Bulk Ribbon from Michael's and Archiver's; Nestabilities circles and scalloped circles; Prima and Bazzill flowers

I hope that everyone has had a wonderful weekend!  I have been busy at work teaching a Melody Ross chip art mini album class.  It has been so much fun to introduce new product!  Should you use this new and wonderful product, let me know so I can see your work.  I would be excited to see it!!  I did get out on Saturday afternoon with Shane.  We did a little shopping and then had pedicures.  I have never had one before and it was really delightful!!  Boy, did it feel good to have a sea salt scrub and then have my calves massaged!  We came back home in time for Jerry's BBQ.  Again, I felt very pampered by my two men!!  I trust that everyone is well - can't wait to catch up on blogs tonight and see what you all are doing!

Happy Monday Morning!

I hope that all of you were blessed with a fabulous Easter Sunday.  It was such a beautiful day here - perfect for remembering our Risen Lord.

I have a few cards in this first post for the day.  The first is a sketch from the Sweet Stop:

This sketch is wonderful, and I absolutely loved working with it.  I grabbed some Tim Coffey papers, Martha Stewart ribbon, and a CTMH sentiment to create this card.  This card will also fit into the Stampin' for the Weekend challenge which is ribbons and bows.

The next card is a sketch from Card Patterns:

I am not much of a circle user like this, so this was a great challenge for me.  Again, I used Tim Coffey paper.  Along with that you'll see a Bazzill flower and CTMH ribbon and sentiment stamp.  In order to make the circles pop, I used Ranger Glossy Accents.

The last card of this post is a sketch for Your Scrapbook Stash:

I used Cosmo Cricket Material Girl paper for this card.  The flowers are CTMH and Prima, the button is from my stash, and the ribbon and sentiment are CTMH.  I love the brightness of this paper - so cheery!!

Yesterday we received some news about my mother.  Two of my sisters took her to the ER, and it turns out that she has double pneumonia and will be staying in the hospital. I am quite worried about her so if you happen to remember, would you keep her in your prayers?