Cuttlebug Challenge :: 29

This week's Cuttlebug Challenge is a Mother's Day theme that includes use of some digital images from MyGrafico.com. Additionally we were to include an envelope w/our projects.

I normally relish the opportunity to rant about the challenges w/challenges, but I'll spare you the grumbling ... just because I feel like I'm beyond my whining quota for this month.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock: craft supply, Archiver's, DCWV and Basic Grey (envelope)
digital image: My Grafico
dry embossing: Cuttlebug Texture Textiles and word filled hearts
ribbon and letter stickers: American Crafts
die cuts: Nestabilities ovals and scalloped ovals

2 Peas Stamp Camp :: Week 3 and 2 Sketches 4 You

I'm double dipping for this card. I like it.

2 Peas' Stamp Camp continues this week. The technique is background stamping. Very nice video and examples from Nicol Magouirk. The background stamping on this card came out more subtle that I would have liked. I guess I could have used black ink to get it to pop. I had wanted to heat emboss it, but I could not find my VersaMagic ink.

I also decided to combine Stamp Camp w/this week's 2 Sketches 4 You sketch. This week is Laura's sketch. Like always, the sketch allows for lots of improv.

I love my Tim Holtz stamp ... I am trying real hard not to purchase more of them. Just not really my turn to stimulate the economy. But that ribbon was a good get. It was something like 15 cents a yard at Cord Camera. I might go back and see if they still have some because I really like it.

And how about that journaling spot ... Jillibean Soup. I plan to get more of these. I know that the come in circles too. And maybe different colors.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock: craft supply and DCWV
dry embossing and die cut heart: Cuttlebug
ribbon: Amercan Crafts
stamp and ink: Tim Holtz
journaling spot: Jillibean Soup

Cuttlebug Challenge :: 27

This week's Cuttlebug Be Inspired Challenge involves numbers. I don't own the Cuttlebug numbers embossing folder. That would be nice to use.

But I just got this Tim Holtz stamp and I've been wanting to use it. So maybe you thought that the paper already had numbers on it, but no, that's me and my stamp. Nice. I like it. But that's the look I like: a bit messy and antique-like and fun.

So I used the Cuttlebug for the heart die cuts. I used one from Cuttlebug and one from Cuttle Kids. Also, there is embossing on one of the hearts and that is the Cuttlebug as well.

Make sure you check out the Cuttlebug Challenge blog and get in on this week's challenge.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock: Bazzill and DCWV
patterned paper: K&Co.
heart die cuts: Cuttlebug and Cuttle Kids
embossing: Cuttlebug
stamps: Hero Arts (sentiment); Tim Holtz (stamping on the paper)
ink: Tim Holtz/Ranger
ribbon: American Crafts

2 Sketches 4 You :: So Thoughtful

I'm trying to get in early on this week's 2 Sketches 4 You. This sketch is from Kazan. I love the simplicity. It allowed me to do something quick and simple.

I decided to make a mini-card. This card is 4x4. I like that, though I don't currently have any 4x4 envelopes. Guess I could make one to match, right?

There's not much more to say. That's what happens when 'simple' speaks for itself.

Oh, and my mom has her card done already this week too.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
patterned paper: K&Co. and DCWV
rick rack: Creative Impression
stamp: Hero Arts (acrylic)
ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink/Ranger
flower: Bazzill or
twine and button: unknown

Cuttlebug Challenge :: 16

This week's Cuttlebug Challenge is to create a card using distressing. You can sand it, ink it, tear the edges and/or use a distressing tool.

Well, I've had some fun w/distressing in the past. Not that this card was not fun because it was, but it was not elaborate in the area of distressing. It does not really live up to my 'distressed past'. (lol).

Actually, the stamped panel I had laying around - torn edges and all. I guess I had planned on using it and just had not gotten around to it. I thought that the yellow would add more color. It has a white core, so I did sand it though it is not so visible.

That's about it for this simple one.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock: Bazzill and Die Cuts With a View/DCWV
patterned paper: Basic Grey
stamps: Whispers (to my friend) and Inkadinkado (flower)
ink: VersaMagic and Tim Holtz
other: sewing

Cuttlebug Challenge :: 13

It's another week and another Cuttlebug Challenge. This week's challenge is to create a simple white card. Something elegant and usually that's what the white brings - elegance.

I think that the Textile Texture embossing folder brings some elegance as well. That's the folder I chose to use. I think that the ribbon is a nice touch as well. Oh, and how about the partial embossing. I like that technique so that I can leave space for my sentiment.

Just keeping it short and simple this week.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock: Bazzill and Die Cuts With a View/DCWV
dry embossing: Cuttlebug
stamp: Stampin Up!
ink: Versamagic
embossing powder: Joann
ribbon: unknown

Oh, but I just had to add another card that I made last year. I'm including it because it has a white embossed focal point and it has a Valentine's Day theme and guess what is on the horizon? That's right and the ideas can't come soon enough ...

Here's what I used:
cardstock: Archiver's
dry embossing: Cuttlebug (heart blocks folder)
stamps: Stampin Up! and Michaels $1 stamps
circle punches: EK Success
ribbon: unknown

Cuttlebug Challenge :: 12

This week's Cuttlebug Challenge is to use sanding on the embossing. Quite easy and a technique that looks very nice. I like the weathered look. I used Die Cuts With A View cardstock because it has a white core that would show once the sanding was complete.

I've combined this w/a sketch from the Hero Arts blog. I also like this card because it was rather easy and fun to put together. I managed to use some heat embossing, dry embossing, and sewing - and it was all pretty simple.

I hope that you all have a wonderful holiday and even if you don't celebrate Christmas, have a Happy Thursday.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock: Bazzill and Die Cuts With A View (DCWV)
patterned paper: K&Co.
heart die cuts and dry embossing: Cuttlebug
stamp: Hero Arts
ink: Versamark
embossing powder: Ranger
other: sewing

Bless You :: 2 Sketches 4 You and Color Inspiration

It's has been a slow craft week for me.

But it was fun to coordinate this card. Actually, it should be much easier w/a sketch and the colors, but everything has to be just right.

I'm working w/the 2 Sketches 4 You card sketch and Kristina Werner's Color Inspiration.

I like the result. I used my newest craft purchase - or the most recent to arrive - the labels Nestabilities. Love those. For coordinating colors, I am having much success using my Die Cuts With A View (DCWV) Mat Stacks and Border Strips. They have lots of color variations so that helps out a lot. That's what I used w/the browns on this one.

I almost went overboard too by adding three felt flowers along the right side ... it was just too much and I again went w/the 'simple is best' approach. Oh, and I had wanted to do another 'Thank You' card, but I like this sentiment and I have not used it in a while.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock: Bazzill and Die Cuts With A View (DCWV)
patterned paper: Basic Grey
die cut labels: Nestabilities
stamp: Hero Arts
ink: VersaMark
embossing powder: Ranger
ribbon: American Crafts
dry embossing: Cuttlebug
other: sewing

Thank You :: Color Inspiration 31 and Hero Arts

I've gone and created a 'wowser'. Well, actually I was uncertain as to how this one would turn out and - to me - it has a wow factor. I've been seeing some cards that have more of a white card base. I usually use olive or other colored cardstock as a base. I also like the white card base w/a panel of white on top and in this case using the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing adds such a nice touch.

I used Kristina Werner's Color Inspiration Challenge. As you can see, the image that she uses is rustic and seasonal, but I did not tap into that feeling. I do like the mix of pumpkin and cocoa, but even the eggplant and the saffron bring a nice warm touch. And those are colors, but could easily be a meal. :-)

Now, for the Hero Arts Challenge:

"This week I challenge you to create a thank you card that uses at least one stamped scrap and one Hero Arts stamp."

I think I followed the instructions. I just purchased the Thank You stamp in the upper left corner. It's in a set of acrylic stamps - Heartfelt Messages. I am learning that I like rubber stamps better in many cases. I like the Tim Holtz inks and they do not work well w/the acrylic stamps. IMO. I've tried to use an eraser to take off the residue and create better absorbency, but no luck.

Lots of fun to be had w/these weekly challenges.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock and patterned paper: Die Cuts With a View (DCWV)
stamps: Hero Arts (Thank you's); Inkadinkdo: (script)
ink: VersaMagic and VersaMark
embossing powder: Ranger
fabric brad: The Paper Studio
dry embossing: Cuttlebug Swiss Dots and Textile Texture
ribbon: Joann
circle and flower punch: EK Success

Ooooh, look ... it's thick stickers!

My most recent article for Craft Critique is for American Crafts Thickers; those awesome thick stickers. What's not to love about these?

• easy to use
• great colors, textures and fonts
• no mess

I could go on ... this is such a wonderful product, oh, and the price. Very reasonable especially if you catch them on sale like I do. I usually buy a ton of them when Hobby Lobby has them at 50% off.

So I made a batch of cards to compliment my article. Love the simple-ness of this "Hi" card.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
card base: Joann
patterned paper: Die Cuts With a View (DCWV)
bling: Darice
ribbon: Martha Stewart
oval die cut: KI Memories
letter stickers: American Crafts Cream Soda Foam Thickers

3 Challenges in 1

I had to combine challenges which is not unusual but in this case I have three going on. But here's my reason why - still w/o my laptop. It is a sad, sad thing. I feel sooooo disconnected from my virtual world because I am disconnected. I'll be up in full swing soon, very soon.

You'd think I would have more time to craft, but it has been a crazily weird week and I don't know what I've done w/my time - other than make this card.

And this card is not my proudest moment. You see this week's Color Inspiration Challenge was a doosy! The colors were eggplant, teal, blue, pumpkin and white. Yes, challenging indeed. I did not think I even owned any paper in that color scheme. But in the old days, I just bought anything (I'm sure you did too). So, yes, I did have paper and embellishments in those colors.

The next challenge is for this week's 2 Sketches 4 You sketch. Which I did not follow whole heartedly - it was the colors that held me back. I really wanted to work w/some patterned papers that included all of the colors or at least I could coordinate patterns; whatever.

Lastly, I tried to get in on Card-A-Licious. Alas, we were supposed to make a 'give thanks' card a la Thanksgiving and I only got in the 'Thanks". I had planned to stamp out 'give' and cut the letters out individually, but I like the card in its plain way w/the addition of the letters.

Thanks for reading my rant. Really ... here's what I used:
cardstock: Archivers
patterned paper: Die Cuts With a View (DCWV)
flower die: Cuttlebug
ribbon: Offray
stamp: Hero Arts
die cut ovals: Nestabilities
button: American Crafts
ink: VersaMagic

Girlfriends :: 2 Sketches 4 You

It seems as if I was missing my mojo for a minute here. I've been putting off working on this week's 2 Sketches 4 You sketch because I could not figure out which direction to take this card. You would think that having a sketch would make things more simple. That's a good assessment however, this week the prize and sponsor is the Scor-it.

And I've discovered that I am not the only one who'd like to have this as one of their craft tools. Well since the ante is so high, so is the creativity. I scouted out some of my competition and decided that I would rather take this week off - especially after making the Fab 5 last week; then I thought better of it and here I am in the thick of the quest for a Scor-it. May this week's craftiest crafter win.

I like this card w/it's weathered look but w/a touch of 'pretty'.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:

cardstock: Bazzill and Die Cuts With A View (DCWV)

patterned paper: K&Co. and Basic Grey

stamps: Studio G/Michaels $1 (girlfriends) and Autumn Leaves/Rhonna Farrer (flourish)

charm: Making Memories

twine: Crafts Etc.

pearls: Mark Richards

embossing powder: Ranger and Joann

ink: VersaMark and Tim Holtz/Ranger

other: distresser and sewing machine

Happy Birthday Song on Paper

This is a scraplift! And an old one at that. I've been combing through some of my old CARDS magazines. I always go to my dog-eared pages first and sometimes wonder ... 'why did I like this?' I decided I would go to my mag stash more often for inspiration.

But this card is scraplifted from Alissa Fast and it's from the March/April 2006 issue (p. 99). I would have scraplifted more identically if I could have located my KI Memories note cards that she used as the base fo the card. Instead I had to use some note cards from Die Cuts With a View (DCWV); not a bad substitute just that I have those KI ones, but who knows where.

As for the happy birthday sheet music ... I just used Google Images to locate 'happy birthday sheet music'. I then imported the image into Photoshop and converted the image to a brush. That way I could better manipulate the coloring, which is a shade of brown.

Top it off w/stickers and it was a relatively easy card to produce.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:

note card and cardstock: DCWV
stickers: American Crafts
ink: VersaMagic
stamp: Katie & Co./Michaels $1
Happy Birthday sheet music: created using Photoshop

It is, indeed, a Happy Anniversary

I had to make some quick fast anniversary cards. I am really excited. There are two cards here and they are for two of my very favorite couples.

My one friend is a longtime college classmate. We've kept in touch and I absolutely adore his wife. I often stay w/he and his wife when I visit them. They go crazy if I get hotel room.

The second card goes to my girl, my rock and her hubby. Their wedding was the first and only wedding that I have ever been in and I almost was not in it because it was my birthday weekend. They are so awesome. I love to visit them in Portland, Oregon.

So Happy Anniversary to my very close friends.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock: Bazzill (card #1) and Die Cuts With a View (DCWV) (card #2)
patterned paper: ?? (will post this later; can't remember)
chipboard elements: American Crafts
ribbon: unknown
ink: Tim Holtz/Ranger Distress Ink
dry embossing: Cuttlebug Swiss Dots and Textile Texture
sentiment created in Photoshop
jump ring: Making Memories
other: sewing machine

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