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 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 Bonus Sketch

I've somehow managed to carve out plenty of crafting time this week. Possibly to make up for not crafting at all last week.

This week on the 2 Sketches 4 You blog, they have a bonus sketch. I like that circle; I'm just attracted to it. So I quickly jumped to make a card. That little tag is cute too. I put some bling on the flower on the tag, but I don't know if it will stay that way. I wanted something flat that would slide in and out.

I used Basic Grey's Periphery. It's a bit bland and dreary, but I'm really smitten w/it. I found it on sale at Pat Catan's for .25 cents a sheet. Nice get, so I got it, and lots of it.

Well, enough chatter ... thanks for looking, here's what I used:
cardstock: Bazzill
patterned paper: Basic Grey
ink: VersaMark, VersaMagic and Tim Holtz/Ranger
stamps: Hero Arts (many many thanks) and ??? (thank you)
ribbon: Michaels and Offray
tag die cut: Sizzix
heart die cut: Cuttlekids
flower punch: EK Success
bling: Darice
other: sewing

Thanks :: 2 Sketches 4 You

Well, another Monday and another new sketch on 2 Sketches 4 You. I thought I'd jump in early because it's a busy week and not as much time for crafting. As a matter of fact, I may just miss out on this week's Blog Hop over @ Papertrey Ink. Actually, I can't think of anything creative to do w/a cd case, which is this week's challenge ... oh, well, I'll keep thinking on it.

So am I the distress queen or what? I just like the look. Though I was not going to distress the edges on this card ... but it just looked too plain, so I grabbed my handy Making Memories distresser and went to town. There's also a cool tutorial about distressing edges on CPS (I'll definitely get to their sketch before the week is out).

I also used some paper that I recently used for another card here. Oh, and that striped Sassafrass Lass paper. I made some Christmas card kits several years ago, so I fetched one of the panels because it matched up nicely w/the decorative edge paper. Love it when things come together; it's so rewarding, eh? (no, I am not Canadian, but I used to hang out in Toronto ... ha).

Oh and one more thing, that epoxy circle, that is one of those $1 goodies from Colorbok that are at Joann. Nice.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock: craft supply (Hollo's)
patterned paper: Sassafras Lass and Creative Imaginations
stamp: Hero Arts
ink: VersaMark
embossing powder: Ranger
square punch: Marvy
flower punch: EK Success
paper flower: Prima
button: Foof a la
brad: Bazzill ??
bling: Darice
circle epoxy: Colorbok
chipboard: DCWV
flower die cut: Cuttlebug
floss: DMC
other: sewing machine

Someone's Turning 40 ...

... and I don't know who it is. My girlfriend asked me to make her several 4oth birthday cards for her girlfriends who will be turning 40 in the coming months. On some of the cards, there is a sentiment inside that says "You're not turning 40, you're 22 with 18 years of experience!" So true.

These were fun to make. Especially the one's w/the Black women on the front. I used Photoshop for those. I was working w/a scanned image and I converted the image into a brush. I used a muted brown color to give the image a vintage look. The only downside is that the image is not as crisp as I would have liked it to be. But I did print it out on patterned paper so that the focus would not be on the image. I should have went w/the frayed/distressed edges too ... oh, well.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
Dress Card (above)
cardstock: Bazzill and craft supply
patterned paper: A Muse and K&Co.
ribbon: Michaels
dress die cut and scalloped circle: Quickutz
stamp: Stampin Up!
ovals: Nestabilities
dry embossing: Cuttlebug Swiss Dots
flower die cut: EK Success
bling: unknown
sentiment: created w/Photoshop

Black Women Card (above)
cardstock: Bazzill
patterned paper: K&Co.
ribbon: Offray
jump ring and metal embellishment: Making Memories
sentiment and image: created using Photoshop
other: sewing

Workin Another Sketch CPS :: 76

I'm trying to get in the habit of submitting to several sketch blogs each week. I'll be working on a card for 2 Sketches 4 You before the week is out.

For now, I tried my hand at the Card Positioning Systems (CPS) sketch for this week. It was posted on Sunday evening. It's a rather simple sketch providing much room to improvise. As always, I wanted to do more, but sometimes simple is best.

I plan to send this to a friend who has her first chemo session last week after being diagnosed w/breast cancer. I'm going to include a set of Thank You cards that she can send out to her family and friends.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock: craft supply
patterned paper: Creative Imaginations and Basic Grey
stamps: Inkadinkadoo
ink: Versa Color
bling: unknown
other: sewing machine

NOTE: I have other images, but Blogger is importing them upside down and sideways; oh well.

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

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

A Birthday Card for My Girl

Here's a card that I made for my daughter. Though it almost did not happen. She nearly coerced me into making it. It includes a bit of her fav color, turquoise, along w/some bling!

cardstock: craft supply
patterned paper: K&Co.
ribbon: Michaels
oval and scalloped oval: Nestibilities
sentiment: created using Photoshop CS3
bling/rhinestones: craft supply

cps :: 65

Here is my take on this week's cps (card positioning systems) sketch. Kinda cool and fun.

cardstock: craft supply
patterned paper: Basic Grey
stamp: Hero Arts
ink: Tim Holtz/Ranger
oval and scalloped oval: Nestibilities
ribbon: Michaels
flower punches: EK Success
bling/rhinestones: craft supply

Many Thanks (and many flowers too)

So for this card, I had this idea that I got from the most recent edition of Paper Crafts (April/May, p.68). But this card got the best of me. Adhering all of those flowers was incredibly tedious. I ended up using a glue pen, but just know that it is time that I will never get back. And for the record, I am not mad at this card ... just exhausted. And oh, how about that heat embossing ... ? Heck Yeah!


So here is the supply list:
cardstock: Bazzill
patterned paper: Basic Grey's Sultry
flowers: Martha Stewart
circle punches: EK Success
stamp: Hero Arts Happy Everything
ink: VersaMark
embossing powder: Stampendous!
embossing: Cuttlebug
ribbon: Michaels
bling/rhinestones: Dress It Up and unknown

All About the Pink & Black

Such a cute color combination. I was surprised when I purchased the DCWV (Die Cuts With A View) paper pack called All That Glitters. I like a little bling, but not over the top. I had intended to give the pack away as a gift, but as I flipped through it, I got some ideas and I said, you know I'm going to keep this one.

So I finally got around to using it. It's another mini card set (2 @ 3 1/2 x 4 1/2 and 1 @ 4 x 4). I like the minis and I have some envelopes that they fit in as well. I guess I could make some envelopes too, huh?

Here are the goods:
card base: Bazzill and craft supply
cardstock: DCWV's The All Dressed Up Matstack and craft supply
ribbon: Michaels
rick rack: The Paper Studio
Circle punch: EK Success and Sizzix
sentiments: Making Memories
black chipboard: craft supply
rhinestone flowers: Dress It Up
additional bling: unknown

Card Positioning Systems #44

Here is a card that I created using a design from Card Positioning Systems (CPS). I really enjoy the sketches that they provide and some of the challenges too. Quite inspiring.



card base and glitter flower: K & Co.
cardstock: K & Co. and craft supply
ink: Tim Holtz/Ranger and VersaMagic
circle ring die cut: Quickutz
stamp: Stampin Up!
ribbon and rhinestones: unknown

Pink is the new pink!

I have more than my share of pink craft supplies: buttons, paper, flowers, brads, eyelets and ribbon. The ribbon is plentiful, like more than 20 spools ranging from gingham to grossgain to satin to ric rac; there's polka dot satin and polka dot sheer; then there's thick and then. I love that pink ribbon.

Then I stopped by the local LLS, Expression Connection. Just when I was about to leave empty handed, I saw some cardstock. Not the usual kind either. It was the new bling line from Bazzill. Oooooh, so good lookin. I got some in every flavor they had - and it happened to be in the pink scheme. The cards here are made with bling, though it may truly visible how cute this paper is - take my word for it. Here are some of the other products used:

cardstock: Bazzill; patterned paper: KI Memories; embossing folders: ProvoCraft's Cuttlebug; flowers: Prima; brads: Bazzill; beads: craft supply ; sequin: Hero Arts; ribbon: Joanns and Michaels; rub-ons: Amercian Crafts.

Thanks for viewing my passion for crafts.