The life of a card maker - or not ...

Okay, so my card making and virtual life have come to a stand still. Timing. I've started some outside endeavors (read: part-time job), and it aims to take over my life.

If that was not enough, my laptop has crashed; well, the Windows operating system has. My daughter has the reinstall disk, but guess what, she can't find it. Whatever. Of course the warranty has expired and I don't quite have the computer know how to fix it especially w/o the disk. Oh, woe is me.

So I bring you this little note courtesy of the public library. Thanks goodness. I could actually post some cards, if I had some spare time to make some. Oh, well.

I did not even get a chance to complete this week's Cuttlebug Challenge card. And there is a Stamping Camp taking place on 2peas. Actually, I thought that I could work the two together. My loss.

Other things I'm missing out on - I can look but not participating:

• weekly sketch on 2 Sketches 4 You
• weekly sketch on cps
• making a shape card @ Card-A-Licious
• Kristina Werner's Color Inspiration Challenge
• All of the activity on the Hero Arts blog
• Beate's Fresh and Fun
  
• And so much more
  

Don't know when I'll have time to seriously trouble shoot the laptop issue. But for my sanity, I need my time to craft! It's art therapy and you already know that.

October Blog Hop

It's the 25th of the month and time for another Blog Hop hosted by Papertrey Ink.

I've had this card done for a few days now. I did a scrap lift from the September issue of CARDS Magazine, which I am in.

It's a card from Melissa Phillips also known as MeliBean (p. 42). Her card is pretty and uses some pastels and florals. Very nice. I've been following her gallery on 2Peas for sometime now.

So when I decided to scraplift, I knew that I wanted to use the polka dot paper, though I can't recall who makes it.

Oh, well have fun w/this month's Blog Hop. Thanks for stopping by and thanks to Papertrey Ink for hosting.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock: craft supply
patterned paper: K&Co. and (can't remember the polka dot company)
stamp: Stampin Up!
paper flower: Bazzill
flower die cut: Cuttlebug
buttons: Foof a la
flourish rubon: K&Co.
ribbon: Michaels
rick rack: Creative Impression
ink: Tim Holtz/Ranger
floss: DMC
other: sewing

Color Inspiration 27 and cps :: 87

I'm just a bit behind in getting this done and posting. So much so that this week's winner has already been posted for the Color Inspiration. But it's not always about winning, now is it? Besides this card fulfills not one, but two challenges. Actually, the card is also based on this week's Card Positioning Systems sketch.

The Color Inspiration Challenge is very cool. Helps me to diversify my color palette. Otherwise, I'd only use olive green and brown. This week's color was red or pink as the main color.

I'm sort of feeling this card. I used up some scraps. I also made it open face. I like my interpretation of the cps sketch because I did not follow the sketch inch for inch.

Well, I am swamped ... thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock: craft supply and Bazzill
patterned paper: Basic Grey and K&Co.
epoxy embellishment and alphabet stamps: Making Memories
heart die cut: Sizzix
heart button: Dress It Up
button: Foof a la
ribbon: Creative Impression
ink: StazOn
paper flower: Prima
twine: Darice
dry embossing: Cuttlebug Script Texture
other: sewing

Cuttlebug Challenge :: week 4

Check out this week's Cuttlebug Challenge. You can still get in on the fun. Oh and there's Cuttlebug Camp too. A weekend of fun and crafting and using the Cuttlebug.

Here's my card for this week's challenge to use patterned paper and the Cuttlebug.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock and buttons: Bazzill
patterned paper: K & Co.
stamp: Hero Arts
ink: VersaMagic
floss: DMC
scalloped edges: EK Success corner rounder
circle punch: EK Success
dry embossing: Cuttlebug Collage folders

The World's Best Looking Greeting Card

Okay ... so I was a bit over the top w/the title post, but a girl can dream right? And in my world it's all about the dreams.

This card is based on a 2 Sketches 4 You sketch. This week it was Laura at the helm. Sometimes I scratch my head w/sketches, but not this time. I have way too many scraps in my work area so I just started pulling some and tried to coordinate. Then I lost the desire to coordinate, but somehow it still works here.

I purchased some lace a few weeks ago because I've been seeing it on more and more projects and I thought today'd be a good day to try it out.

I have a lot going on here. That's why I mentioned it as "The World's Best Looking Greeting Card". Here are the elements from the designer's perspective - that would be me:

• Used the Cuttlebug and inked the dry embossing
• Used the sewing machine to add more texture
• Stamped on the patterned paper for added effect
• Used a journaling stamp, but did not journal - ah, ha ...
  
• Created the flower using felt, muslim, stamp and button - love that
• Used felt and die cuts to cut out heart and the letter 'u' - that was tricky since my felt is flimsy and the heart and letter did not cut cleanly; had to use scissors
• How about that ribbon? It's got the wire in it so I could fluff it up (still working on my bow making skills)
  
• And finally, the bling - a heart bling - it's all about the bling!

This card is truly one of my favs and it did not take forever to make. Oh, I'm also submitting this to Card-A-Licious. And yes, it is as yummy as it sounds. The challenge was to use a journaling spot.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock: craft supply
patterned paper: Basic Grey
stamp: Scrappy Cat
ink: VersaMagic
dry embossing, heart and alpha die cuts: : Cuttlebug
ribbon: Wright's
button: Foof a la
stamp: Inkadinkado
bling and felt: unknown
lace: Wyla/Joann
other: sewing

Cuttlebug Challenge :: week 3

Another week and another challenge over at the Cuttlebug Challenge blog. This week's challenge almost crippled me. Sometimes I just don't want to think outside of the box.

The challenge was to make something other than a card or layout. I had to make a list of things I might be interest in making: magnets, book marks, ATCs ... yeah, it was a short list for me. But then I sort of got an idea that I had wanted to try out last year, but never got around to it. I had to high tail it to Michaels and find the star that I ended up altering. I know that Pat Catans has paper ones, but Pat Catans ain't so close to where I live. The one here is metal.

This project was not simple in the least. I ended up creating a parallelogram template to use for each point on the star. Who wants to do alegbra at my age? Took me a couple of tries to get it near right. But wah-lah! I like the way it looks, though I am going to go back and use some Modge Podge on it because the paper is not staying on.

Oh, and love that paper, right? Basic Grey does not disappoint. I used paper from a couple of different lines. I think it's Figgy Pudding and Dasher or Blitzen.

Well, thanks for reading my post ... here's what I used:
patterened paper: Basic Grey
dry embossing: Cuttlebug (one of the small snowflake folders)
ink: VersaMagic
star: Michaels
ribbon: American Crafts

Happy Birthday :: 2 Sketches 4 You & Hero Arts

It did not seem to take me long to make this card. I started on it last night. Not quite what I envisioned, but I do like it. Hard not like the K&Co papers. I like the pink because the card is not so matchy-matchy.

It's the stamping that I am a bit iffy about. I do love that Hero Arts 'happy' stamp. But I did not do well stamping on the edges/creases. I should know better. I intended to go off the edges, but, well ... I wanted grungy and I got what I got, right? Oh, well.

Oh, and of course I would have a sewing glitch. Yeah, it got a little nasty. I was trying to adjust the tension because I was using craft threat, but the paper still got a bit stuck in the machine. I tried to recover. I had sewn about an inch or more; I pulled out those stitches, re-threaded the machine using regular thread instead of the craft thread and sewed over the original area. Then I covered it up w/that cute little butterfly - embellishments doing what they do ... embellish! Love that.

Oh, for the 2 Sketches 4 You sketch, I turned this sketch counterclockwise - for no particular reason.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock: Bazzill
patterned paper: K&Co.
stamps: Hero Arts ('happy' and 'just...'); Making Memories ('birthday'); Inkadinkado (writing and post mark)
butterfly punch: Martha Stewart/EK Success
rick rack: Creative Impression
ink: VersaMark, VersaMagic and Tim Holtz/Ranger
embossing powder: Ranger
other: sewing

Cuttlebug Challenge :: week 2

This week's Cuttlebug Challenge is to create a card or project w/a Fall or Halloween theme. Well, this is certainly not my strong suit. I just don't get into either one. I don't even know if I will be handing out candy this year in my neighborhood (mostly because it would take a second job to purchase enough candy for all the revelers in my hood).

Anyway, I did manage to eek out a little something; something that I like too. I like that ink. It's VersaMagic's Pumpkin. How appropriate, right? Oh and I pulled out my See-D's stamps too to stamp out 'Fall'. I like those, but I just had not used them yet.


Make sure you hop on over to the Cuttlebug Challenge blog and get in on the action.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock: craft supply
patterned paper: Basic Grey
stamps: Stampin Up! (happy); See-D's (Fall)
oval die cuts: Nestabilities
ink: VersaMagic
rick rack: Creative Impressions
dry embossing: Cuttlebug (various folders)
flowers: Bazzill
button: Joanns
twine: Darice
other: staples

Happy Birthday :: sketch this 70 / Color Inspiration 25

I haven't been over the sketch this in a bit, so I popped over to see what this week's sketch looked like. Nice enough for me. I was able to pull this card together in no time.

I'm doubling up on this card because I also checked out Kristina Werner's Color Inspiration Challenge. This was kinda cool too. There are four colors, but I only managed to get in three of the four.

Here's the thing about this card, the flowers are so likable. For the sheer flower, I used a milk jug. That's right, I rinsed it out and let it dry, and then I cut out the flat panels. I took my Sizzix flower die and ran it through my Cuttlebug and wah lah! I wanted to add some alcohol inks, but I was not in the mood to experiment and/or make a mess.

I'm also liking that 'happy birthday' epoxy. It's from Making Memories. Finally, the other flower gets some cool points too. Mainly because of the metal embellishment in the center. It's from K&Co. Just adds a nice touch.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock, button and paper flower: Bazzill
patterned paper: Basic Grey
metal embellishment: K&Co.
epoxy sentiment: Making Memories
flower die cut: Sizzix
rick rack: Creative Impression
floss: DMC
other: sewing, staples and plastic milk jug

Thanks :: 2 Sketches 4 You

It's funny, most of my cards from the 2 Sketches 4 You sketches are Thanks and Thank You cards. That is so unintentional, yet interesting and funny to me.

What is also funny, how my card turned out based on the sketch. It does not totally match up, but these things are up for interpretation, right? I thought that the vertical pattern on the paper was complimentary to the vertical sections in the sketch. As for the two circles @ the bottom of the sketch, I wanted to add another flower, but the one is plenty.


Speaking of the flower, I used a Sizzix die and cut it from Fun Foam. Love that bling too. It's from Joann/CK. The sentiment is a $1 stamp from Micheals. I was going to stamp in like a pink, but that Tim Holtz Weathered Wood nearly matches the flourish underneath it; I love it when these things work out.

What almost did not work out was the sewing. I used some craft thread in the sewing machine, but I did not adjust the tension, so the first panel that I made got all ripped up. Note to self: do the sewing first and the stamping last when possible.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock: Bazzill
patterned paper: Making Memories
fun foam: unknown
flower die: Sizzix
bling: Joann/CK
stamp: Michaels $1
other: sewing

Holiday Card :: cps 85

I finally got around to making some cards this week. I was really into it last night and out of the blue the power went out - not all of it mind you, but just enough that I could not do the sewing - and I just had to have some sewing.

When things finally got back to normal this afternoon, I was still in the mood to sew, heck, I even took the time to change the color of the thread - twice!

I do like the results. I put a lot of thought into this card using this weeks Card Positioning Systems (cps) sketch. I love the Papertrey Ink papers, but I only have the swatches so this was a good sketch to put them to use. Also, I wanted to have the feel of using the ribbon like you would if you were wrapping a gift. Finally, that little christmas tree is adorable and it says "We wish you a Merry Christmas, we wish you a Merry Christmas, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!" How cool is that? I thought cutting it out and adding foam tape would add a bit of punch. One more thing, I was going to use red ribbon w/a pattern, but I went for the monochromatic look. Love that.

I also entered this card in Steph's Stamptoberfest Happy Holidays Stamp Challenge on 2Peas.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock: Bazzill
patterned paper: Papertrey Ink
stamp: Studio G/Michaels $1
ribbon: Michaels
ink: VersaMagic
dry embossing: Cuttlebug Swiss Dots
other: sewing

Stamptoberfest @ 2Peas

Stamptoberfest (SOF) has begun over @ 2Peas. It's a week long stamping events w/lots and lots of challenges and lots of goodies to go along w/that. Just fun, fun, fun and at no cost.

I'm hosting one of the many challenges. It's the SOF Cuttlebug Challenge (incidentally, I had this planned prior to knowing about Trudi's blog Cuttlebug Challenge). As a matter of fact, I hosted a Cuttlebug Challenge for Worldwide Stamping Week (WSW) on 2Peas earlier this year in June.

Anyway, I have a like RAK (random act of kindess) for participants. I have some Studio G Holiday stamps as well as a stamp set from Martha Stewart. I may even throw in some other goodies. I'll finalize that on Monday or Tuesday and post a picture.

Oh, so what is the challenge? Just make a card or project using the Cuttlebug along w/stamping. Super simple, right? The deadline is Saturday, October 11, 2008. For all the details, check out my 2Peas blog.

Cuttlebug Challenge :: week 1

There's a new blog dedicated to the Cuttlebug and challenging you to do what you love to do - make projects using your favorite craft tool - the Cuttlebug.

Here is my submission for this week. The challenge was to use three different Cuttlebug folders. Stop by there and see what everyone is up to. And you have until next Wednesday to get in on the fun.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock: craft supply
patterned paper: Basic Grey
dry embossing: Cuttlebug (various folders)
butterfly punch: Martha Stewart/EK Success
oval die cuts: Nestabilities
bling: unknown

Thank You :: 2 Sketches 4 You

Finally got around to finishing this card for this week's 2 Sketches 4 You sketch. I got started on it yesterday morning.

Anyway, thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock: Bazzill
patterned paper: K&Co.
chipboard heart: American Crafts
ribbon: Offray
die cut ovals: Nestabilities
stamp: PSX
ink: Tim Holtz/Ranger and VersaMagic
dry embossing: Cuttlebug Swiss Dots and ???
other: sewing