A Bit of a Slow Down

I'm in a bit of a slow down. Right now the only thing I am doing is the Cuttlebug Challenge. However, maybe if there's a simple sketch at 2 Sketches 4 You or Card Positioning Systems (CPS), I might be able to churn something out.

I definitely have not fallen off. I also have not been shopping for any craft items. I'll look forward to using the huge stash that I already have.

Thanks for stopping by. I'll have a new Cuttlebug Challenge card up on Wednesday, January 14, 2009.

Holiday Wishes :: A Card for Multiple Challenges

This card fits the bill for three (3) challenges. You might be like "wow". But my lesson is learned here. From here on out, I will primarily do just one (1) or two (2) challenges at a time. Three sort of seems like a jack-of-all-trades, master of none. I think my card just looks so-so and that if I would have focus on two challenges I would have had a better result. And I actually wanted to add a fourth element: using the 'spotlight' stamp technique for 2Peas' final week of Stamp Camp.

The three (3) challenges being attempted:

1. Kristina Werner's Color Inspiration #33
   
2. Card Positioning Systems (CPS) card sketch #93
   
3. Hero Arts Make-It-In-Minutes Card Challenge

The biggest challenge was using the Color Inspiration colors: chocolate chip, pumpkin pie, taken w/teal, certainly celery and whisper white. The colors look good in the image, but not so easy to duplicate on a small canvas like a card.

I do like this week's CPS card sketch. Nice that I had the small embossing folders from Cuttlebug to add the snowflake. I do like the rhinestone at the snowflakes center. Nice touch. I like using sketches ... just one less thing to think about while card making.

And finally for the Hero Arts Challenge ... make a quick card. This was sort of quick in that I had a sketch and the colors and just had to coordinate, hence, the challenge.

I like the dry embossing on the horizontal strip. It's from the Cuttlebug heart die and embossing folders set. I just embossed half of the strip and then embossed the other half.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock: Archivers, Bazzill and craft supply
patterned paper: K&Co.
dry embossing: Cuttlebug
stamp: Hero Arts
ink: VersaMark
embossing powder: Joann
rhinestone and felt: unknown
other: sewing

What's Up :: cps 91

Another day and another really fun card. I created this one for this week's Card Positioning Systems (cps) sketch. I really like the simplicity of this sketch.

For me the focal point is the stamping. I like that stamp too; very cool sentiment. Picked it up this past weekend. Actually, my mom got it for me. There was only one in the $1 bin. It's one of the Studio G ones. I like when the stamps are more solid and the heat embossing melts together. And the olive embossing powder is nice too. It's from Close to my Heart.

Everything else is kind of basic ... except for the fabric. Just a piece of some fabric that I picked up for $1.49 from Joann.

Oh, and I'm trying to get things back to normal computer wise. Though it's not normal yet. I did install Picasa on the laptop that my friend gave to me. So I am getting more and more comfortable w/this one. As opposed to going back to my laptop. Anyway, Picasa allows me to easily add my name and blog address to the pics.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock: craft supply
fabric: Joann
stamp: Studio G
embossing powder: Close to my Heart
ink: VersaMark
ribbon: Morex
oval and scalloped oval die cuts: Nestabilities
dry embossing: Cuttlebug Swiss Dots
other: sewing

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.

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

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

cps 83 :: Blog Hop Preview

Well, w/so much on my plate, I had to double dip at some point. I did have some fun w/this one. I had to go and pull out my trough of holiday patterned paper (made me decide right away that I can never purchase any more patterned paper - holiday or otherwise).

I do like this week's cps sketch so much. Thanks to Tami for hookin it up. Good stuff. Oh, and the Blog Hop Preview is that I used some of Papertrey Ink's most recent line of patterned paper - Holiday Vintage. Make sure you click the link to get the pdf and print it out for yourself.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock: craft supply
patterned paper: Papertrey Ink and Creative Imaginations
dry embossing: Cuttlebug
circle punch: EK Success
stamp: Michaels $1 stamps/Studio G
embossing powder: Ranger
other: sewing

cps 82 cards

This week's CPS (Card Positioning Systems) sketch is/was quite simple. I don't have a sketch preference meaning lots of details or very little. I just interpret the way that I want to.

So the interpretation this week could not be contained to just one card; not for me at least. I just got overly excited and the next thing I knew I'd made two different cards. Way too much fun. I did make a concerted effort to keep things simple.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
Thanks x 3 Card
cardstock: Bazzill
patterned paper: Basic Grey
dry embossing: Cuttlebug
ink: VersaMark and Tim Holtz/Ranger
circle punches: EK Success
other: sewing
Sending Love Card
cardstock: Bazzill
patterned paper: Basic Grey
heart die cuts: Quickutz
dry embossing: Cuttlebug
stamp: Oogaloo/$1 Michaels
ink: VersaMark
embossing powder: Ranger

Great Birthday :: cps 79

My vision for this card was a bit off. When I saw the sketch, I knew what stamp I would use. I really do like the stamp, but it was not my friend for this venture. But this is better than my take on last week's Card Positioning Systems (cps) sketch, which never saw daylight and was promptly dismantled.

So here I present you w/another crafty card ... I promise to do better.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock: craft supply
patterned paper: Basic Grey
ink: Colorbox and VersaMagic
stamps: Hero Arts (birthday) and Inkadinkadoo (flower)
oval: Nestabilities
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

Simple Things :: cps 77

I finally got around to making a card based on this week's Card Positioning Systems (CPS) sketch. Their sponsor is Inque. I meant to use some of the Inque Boutique stamps that I have, but as you can see I did not do any stamping on this one.

It's a good looking card, I'll say for myself. At least one that I like. I did not like the first row of stitching when I started and I almost ditched the whole thing. But I kept sewing. I thought that the stitch was too wide. And I used craft thread, which is a bit thicker and the stitches need to be further apart.

I'm really into the grungy look = distressed edges. I pulled out the old guitar picks from AMM and the old American Crafts ribbon too. Good stuff. Using up the stash. Oh, this is an open-faced card.

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

cardstock and colored chipboard: Die Cuts With A View (DCWV)

patterned paper: Basic Grey and K&Co.

flower die cut: Sizzix

guitar pick: AMM

ribbon: American Crafts

heart die cut: CuttleKids

embellishment: Dress It Up

other: distresser and sewing machine

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.

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

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

Happy 4th of July and cps :: 71

Happy 4th of July Americans! Nice to have a day to celebrate our independence.

So I'm back in the saddle and producing a trough of cards. I joined a group on Splitcoast Stampers called RAK (random acts of kindness). It's pretty much means just that - we send out cards to other group members as a random act of kindness, oh, and for birthdays too. Which is why I made this card using this week's Card Positioning Systems (cps) sketch.

Here's what I used:
cardstock: craft supply
patterned paper: K&Co.
ribbon: Michaels
stamp: Heidi Swapp
ink: VersaMagic
scalloped ovals: Nestabilities
flower die cut: Sizzix
chipboard: DCWV
button: Dress It Up
flower bling: Hero Arts
floss: DMC

Can I Get a Sketch?

I'm in the process of getting caught up on card making.

So here is a quick post of some of the places I visit to check out sketches:

cps (card positioning systems)
sketch this
triple the sketch
valerie's sketches

Here's to more sketches and lots of creativity!