Caardvarks Sensational Sketch

I so love this lil sketch and just knew that I had to create a card using it. It's a part of a Caardvarks Challenge and the sketch is courtesy of Laura from 2 sketches 4 You. I have not posted on Caardvarks in some time. They have some cool challenges; I have just been all over the place, but I'm back Caardvarks.

So, now ... a little bit about this card. I was in a rush to complete it because I needed to hit the road for a weekend trip. The card is okay, but there will be a transformation; there has to be. Because just okay is not my thing.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock: craft supply and Bazzill
patterned paper: A Muse
stamps: $1 Michaels and Wordsworth
rick rack: Creative Impressions
dry embossing: Cuttlebug Swiss Dots
embossing powder: Ranger
other: sewing machine

It's a Birthday Wish

I'm using this week's 2 Sketches 4 You sketch for a birthday card. I wanted it to be a bit busier than it is; I really do like the collage look. This card was easy enough. I stamped the sentiment before using the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder for dry embossing. Then I did the machine sewing (sentiment layer first, then the top layer. I ended up laying down the loose strings on the inside of the card w/a small piece of tape (I don't like to do that, but oh well).

I was going to sew down the rick rack, but decided against it. I also like the bling.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock: Bazzill
patterned paper: K&Co.
chipboard elements: American Crafts
rick rack: Creative Impressions
dry embossing: Cuttlebug Swiss Dots
bling brad: Joann
other bling: unknown
other: machine sewing

Sketch-less week, but Inspired!

No sketches for me this week. I might try to play catch up next week or just jump back in w/the most recent ones.

I've been checking out some places for inspiration. Looking for inspiration is everywhere. But recently there was a chat on 2peas hosted by Rhonna Farrer - love her. The chat was a part of 2peas' CHA festivities. Very cool. So Rhonna was asking participants where they get inspiration. It turned into a huge four page chat w/lots of links to inspiration.

Of course I listed Keisha Campbell and here A Bit East blog.

But here are some of the others that I really enjoyed:

• Sasha Farina blog - lots of color and totally thinking outside of the box
• Donna Downey's Fabric Albums - I've always like fabric, this just takes it to the next level
• Rhonna has a photo book that is way cool, very eclectic and fresh
• Melibean always posts her lovely work for me (and others) to oggle over
  

If it's photos that you dig or aspire to be better at, get geeked about these:

• Bobbi+Mike - a wife and husband photography duo composing images in awe-inspring ways
• Tara Whitney's resume of images is deep; you will look and love!

But for my everyday, all the time inspiration, I usually check out my fav forums and galleries:

• 2Peas
• SIS TV
• Splitcoast Stampers

Oh and for techie plus creativity and freebies and just all around good stuff:

• Savitri's blog - just good peeps and so much fun
  

That should keep you busy ... here's to never-ending inspiration (and sharing it)!

July Blog Hop

Okay ... so I am way too excited for this month's Blog Hop. If you get a chance, check out some of my post over the past week as I prepared for Blog Hop. Love the challenge of using vellum; it made me think outside of the box.

Can't wait to see what you all did.

Details are below all of the pix. Thanks for looking.












































































... here's what I used:
**first two cards
cardstock: Bazzill
patterned paper: AMuse
vellum: The Paper Studio
ink: Tim Holtz/Ranger
stamps: Inkadinkadoo, Rubber Stampede and Stampin Up!
ribbon: Michaels
brads: Miss Elizabeth's

**last two cards
cardstock: Bazzill Bling
patterned paper: SEI
vellum: The Paper Studio
stamp: Inkadinkadoo
ribbon: Dollar Store
flower punch: EK Success
bling: unknown
rick rack: Creative Impressions
other: machine sewing, distresser

Tag Time

I made this clean cut tag because I thought that I wanted to use it for Papertrey Ink's July Blog Hop. Turns out I have another idea in mind for that ... two days and counting until the monthly Blog Hop. I just love the Blog Hop idea; so much creativity to take in.

Enjoy this treat ... here's what I used:

patterned paper: Papertrey Ink's Chocolate Remix
chipboard: Die Cuts With A View (DCWV)
stamp: Michael's $1 stamp
ink: VersaMark
embossing powder: Ranger
ribbon: Martha Stewart and ???
circle die cuts: Quickutz

It's a Birthday Card ... but late!

This card was so quick and simple to put together. I think it's because the patterned paper has so much character.

I like the heat embossing on vellum and in the Seafoam White too. And just a little hint, I used the bling to sort of hide the glue dots. This is a mini card; something like 3 1/2 x 4.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock: SEI
patterned paper: SEI's Jolie Chocolat
vellum: The Paper Studio
stamp: Inkadinkadoo
embossing powder: Ranger
bling: Dress It Up

July Blog Hop Preview

Papertrey Ink's monthly Blog Hop is scheduled for next week - Friday, July 25, 2008 to be exact. I'm making this post in case you want to get involved.

It's alot of fun. There is a challenge and then you create something related to the challenge and you post it on your blog. There are some other rules/details that you can view here.

I'm getting a headstart because I missed last month's challenge. I was on vacation and although I had some craft items w/me, I did not have the main challenge item - a transparency. Crazy, most offices no longer stock them and I was unwilling to purchase a pack knowing that I have/had some at home.

Anyway ... I plan to schedule my post to go up on my blog and maybe someone can and will post a link to my blog in the forum (since there is a good chance that I will not be able to do it myself).

That's a long story, eh?

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock: Bazzill
patterned paper: SEI's Jolie Chocolat and Papertrey's Chocolate remix
stamp: Inkadinkadoo
ink: Ranger
ribbon: Offray
vellum: The Paper Studio

Laura's Sketch 4

I've been making lots of cards, but I have not posted them anywhere. I usually post on the blog, on 2Peas as well as on Splitcoast Stampers. That's usually in addition to posting it for whatever challenge or sketch that I am using.

So, I'm trying to get caught up.

I am really gearing up for the Papertrey Ink July Blog Hop, which takes place next week (more on that for tomorrow's post).

I like way this card turned out, however, I contemplated it for quite some time (while on the phone too). I started to sew on the scalloped part, but I thought that would be too much and if I only sewed the scallop then that would not be enough. I like the added touch of the butterflies. I used the Papertrey Ink Chocolate Remixed sampler (click on the paper to downloard the pdf) and printed it out on vellum paper. Oh, and for this card I used 2 Sketches 4 You.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock and scalloped edge: Bazzill
patterned paper: K&Co., Papertrey Ink and Basic Grey
ink: Tim Holtz/Ranger
stamp: Hero Arts
butterfly punch: Martha Stewart/EK Success
embossing: Cuttlebug
oval dies: Nestabilities
other: sewing

Craft Critique/CHA/SIS TV

Well, in case you don't know this week is the big Craft and Hobby Association (CHA) Convention in Chicago. Disappointed that I am missing it. I am going to make it a goal to attend next summer (can't make it for the Winter event in January).

CHA is when many of the companies release new products for the craft happy crew. There have been so many sneak peeks, that I can not keep up. But maybe you can and/or want to.

Here are some places to see the goodies before they are available to the paying public. NOTE: At CHA, you can not purchase product, but stores can place orders:

Craft Critique has posted/is posting their Annual Carnival list. This time, they are distributing it over several days. Much too see and oggle over.

I like to visit Lifetime Memories. They do a wonderful job of keeping up (though their webbie is not currently loading).

I am still waiting for the Basic Grey sneak peeks and/or releases. I understand that will be made available to anxious people like me sometime on Friday (seems like forever from now).

Over at SIS TV (Scrap In Style TV), there are lots of contests and challenges. Your participation means that you too will become anxious about when products will actually be in the store for purchase.

Happy crafting!

Birthday RAK and cps :: 73

I made this card as a RAK - random act of kindness. It's a group on Splitcoast Stampers. There is no real commitment; you just send out as many cards as you like. I've been picking a handful of names and sending out cards weekly. There are over 3 thousand members of this group so it's nice that you can do as much or as little as you want.

For this card, I used this week's sketch from Card Positioning Systems - CPS. Love, love, love that site (last week they did an article about sewing on cards and layouts - very cool).

I wanted another look for this card, but the huge rick rack is the closest I could get to a wave. I might improvise and do another before the week is out, but that would be awfully ambitious.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock: Bazzill
patterned paper: My Mind's Eye
rick rack: Karen Foster
stamp: Stampin Up!
ink: VersaMagic
embossing powder: Ranger
other: sewing

sketch this :: 57

Loving the sketches these days. Probably because I have time to create. Nice.
Now for this sketch, I used a sketch this sketch. Then I pulled out some old paper - American Crafts. I was seeking some other lavender/lilac combination, but I got tired of looking and settled for this. I also pulled out the easy to use $1 clear stamps from Michaels for the Happy Birthday. I don't like the way the birthday turned out, but oh, well. Then there's the embossed birthday cake. I 'borrowed' that embossing folder from my sister.

Finally, the only thing that is missing is I put a little bling to dot the 'i' in birthday. Forgot to do that before I took the pic.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock: Bazzill and Bazzill Bling
patterned paper: American Crafts
stamp: Studio G ($1 stamps from Michaels)
ink: VersaMagic
embossing powder: Joanns
ribbon: Michaels and Wright's
dry embossing folder: Cuttlebug

Using Triple the Sketch

...another sketch site card. This time it's Triple the Sketch. I really like their sample work. So much variety. So I'm tossing in my two cents. As for the sewing, I intentionally double sewed on the right side, not the look I was going for, but I did it on purpose and I did not feel like starting that section over again. I also used scalloped scissors. They seem a bit dull, so that was not quite satisfying for me either. But I do like the results.

Here's what I used:
cardstock: craft supply
patterned paper: Basic Grey
ink: Tim Holtz/Ranger and VersaMagic
embossing: Cuttlebug
die cut ovals and scalloped ovals: Nestabilities
stamp: ?? (borrowed from my sister)
other: scalloped scissors, sewing and foam tape

My First Sketch

... and probably my last.

And do I really need a sketch of my fav design? The answer is no, but now I have goo-gobs of respect for those who create them. I do love this design though. W/the right patterned papers and color combination, you will have a classic card for a smiley someone.

I used PhotoShop CS3. I can maneuver around the program decently. But I had some trouble trying to get the scalloped element. After viewing a tutorial from Jessica Sprague, and playing w/some different color shading, I got it done (though I'm not so sure I can replicate it).

Another digital accomplishment. Yea, me!

Using 2 Sketch 4 You

Here's my next card using the sketch from 2 Sketches 4 You. Another wonderful site w/incredible ideas and inspiration. Lots of smiles when I visit this site.

For this card, I already the panel - the paper w/the sewing. I had it from something I was working on a few weeks ago. It was in my pile of scraps. I knew that I wanted to make a birthday card. So I pulled out two things that I have not used in some time: The celebrate die from Quickutz as well as the Happy Birthday stamp from Hero Arts.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock: craft supply and Basic Grey
patterned paper: Basic Grey
ink: VersaMagic
embossing powder: Ranger
stamp: Hero Arts
word die: Quickutz
heart die cuts: CuttleKids and Quickutz
other: sewing

cps :: 72

I've been trolling some of my fav sketch sites. Trying to get some inspiration and what not.

I kept it simple for this card, but it's a simple sketch too.

Here's what I used:
cardstock: Bazzill
patterned paper: K&Co. and Basic Grey
ink: VersaMark
embossing powder: Ranger
stamp: Hero Arts
embossing: Cuttlebug Swiss Dots
other: foam tape

A Set of "Thanks" Cards

I love this paper. If you've checked out my blog, then you will see this paper often. I purchased it at a place in Ohio called Hollo's. They sell the cardstock by the pound. You could get 100 sheets of paper for about $2. Crazy cool, especially for a crafter. Oh, but there are limited colors and you never know what they will have in stock. The good thing for me is that it comes in a 5x8 pack of 100 sheets for $1. Then I just have to score it and get to card making.

Also, since I know what I want, I can usually call them and place an order though they do charge a handling fee in addition to shipping. Still less expensive that making a special trip to Brunswick.

Enough already ... here's what I used:
cardstock: craft supply
patterned paper: My Mind's Eye
ribbon: Michael's and Martha Stewart
oval and scalloped oval dies: Nestabilities
stamp: Hero Arts
ink: VersaMark
embossing powder: Ranger

Thank you, thank you, thank you so much!

I'm manufacturing cards like my life depends on it! It is my therapy. So much fun.

I like the colors on this set; again using my fav cardstock. And I have adopted this design as my fav. It's really easy to use the design when mass producing. I also like the design because that is not a lot of bulkiness so it should not need additional postage when mailing.

Here's what I used:
cardstock: craft supply
patterned paper: K&Co./Amy Butler and My Mind's Eye
stamp: Hero Arts
ink: Tim Holtz/Ranger
scalloped circle die: Quickutz
circle punch: EK Success
other: Fiskars Threading Water Punch