Friday, January 30, 2009

Clean and simple gift set

Today's SCS Limited Supplies challenge (LSC205) was to make a Clean and Simple card (CAS). I don't do these often. For some reason, if the card doesn't have lots of layers, ribbon, and bling, I feel like I am "short changing" the receiver. Silly, I know!


Anyway, my friend has her birthday this Sunday and I jumped on this chance to make her a set of cards. I love how they turned out! I am in love with punches and they made these cards really fast to make. I made all 5 in less than an hour!
The set includes 2 birthday cards, a baby boy and girl card and a Valentine's card for her DH. She doesn't check my blog, so I am safe to post them here!! LOL!


Check out the Martha Stewart punches!! She has the BESTEST punches. I just bought the Royal Butterfly yesterday and I am already in LOVE! Did you see the embossing/border punch combo on the bottom of the card on the right?? This was part of the blog candy I won from America (see this post)!!

Oh, and don't ask me why as posting pictures is a mystery to me. But, if you click on my pictures, they get bigger again!

Thanks for stopping by!

Card Deets:
Stamps - Verve Family Phrases and Hearts on Fire, PTI Birthday Basics
Paper - soft sky, PTI spring moss and sweet blush
Accessories - various punches, ribbon and bling

Photobucket

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Mojo fun with felt and Sketch 213

I went to Michael's today... AND WHOA! They have some amazing stuff in stock right now. Their Dollar Section is rockin' and they have a WHOLE new section with Primas -oh be still my heart!

My friend, Pam made a cute card using their felt coasters and I just HAD to get my hand on some. I chose the yellow ones (they come 4 to a pack) and got some ribbon to match. I mounted it on white cardstock and put stickles all over it.

I used Julee's Mojo 71 sketch as it had the PERFECT sized panel for the coaster. The sentiment came from Verve's Beautiful You set. The punched butterfly is from Martha Stewart, Royal Butterfly (also bought today). The clear bling are from Kaiser Crafts.

Here is a pic of some of the supplies I used.






This next card uses yesterday's SCS sketch challenge (SC213) and Crafty Secrets weekly challenge (CSSC53), this week to use long lost stamping stuff!

I have had some Crafty Secrets Heartwarming Vintage Stickers forEVAH and never used them. I love how they help make the card easier to make. The prima is from the Sprites collection, the buttons and dotted organdy are from Pinkhedgehog Papercrafts and the BG stamp is Pretty Pattern from CHF.

I painted Angel Wings Shimmerz on the prima for some extra sparkle. I also used a couple of the stickers from the pack to decorate the inside of the card. Here is a close up shot of the flower and buttons.

Card Deets (mojo):
Stamps: Beautiful you
Paper: Summer sun, Lemon Tart (PTI), white
Accessories: MS butterfly punch, clear bling from Kaiser, Ribbon and felt coaster from Michael's, stickles

Card Deets (SCS):
Stamps: CHF pretty pattern BG
Paper: blush blossom, wasabi, celery, celery DSP
Ink: blush blossom
Accessories: Greeting and Sentiments stickers, buttons, ribbon, prima, dimensionals, shimmerz


Photobucket

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Verve project parade day and a Verve round up

Today is my day to post my Kid at Heart project on Verve's blog. Here is a close up teeser picture, you will have to hop on over to the blog for the others and the details of my card!!

At the end of the month, I like to show all the Verve release cards that I didn't have time to post on my blog. Sort of a monthly round up if you will. I have 4 cards to share.



This first card uses the Hearts on Fire set. I stamped the image with Versamark ink and embossed it with chocolate brown embossing powder -there are pink gems accenting the swirls and embossed corners. The DP is Basic Grey Two Scoops and the ribbon is SU! Chocolate tafetta ribbon. Here is a picture of the inside:

This next card uses the Jeremiah 29:11 set. I used some Basic Grey Perphery paper and lots of primas, brads and buttons!!

This card uses the Meditations set. I really struggled with this card, not because of the set (it's GORGEOUS), it's just that I couldn't get it to turn out how I envisioned it in my head. So, I ended up doing some simple scoring at the top and bottom. And using Basic Grey Eva DP. The stamped images are colored with Copic markers and have Coal Shimmerz on them. They look a little silvery or something, but IRL, it's just sparkly. I added the black and green pearls for the finishing touch.

Lastly, this card uses this release's Plain Jane stamp called Comfort. I love this stamp. I get asked to make sympathy cards more than any other kind and this stamp works for almost any sympathy occasion. I used some of my FAV Memory Box DP called Sprout and my new Labels One nesties!! Some layered Grey tafetta/lavendar organdy ribbons and purple bling added the finishing touches.

I often get asked where I buy/get my Basic Grey DP. I almost always buy the 6x6 paper pads as they have the designs scaled to cardmaker size. I get some from my LSS, Craft Warehouse, but I get the majority of it online at Jacksonbelle Embellishments. Thanks for stopping by! I will be back later to post today's sketch challenge card!

Photobucket

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Jacksonbelle Tuesday challenge

It's Tuesday, and time for Jacksonbelle Embellishment's weekly challenge. This week, to use STITCHING on your card -real, faux, stamped, whatever -just stitching! As always anyone can play along, you don't have to use JBelle products, but if you don't have any why not click here and check out the store? If you post to SCS, you can use the keyword, JBE037 so we can find them!
This challenge was tough for me, I am not a sewer (my sewing maching is in it's box in the garage -GASP!), so I opted for the stamped kind of stitching. Sassafrass Lass has a stamp set with all kinds of stitching borders and such, called Stitched Borders. The cupcake is from Inkadinkado, Birthday Cupcakes.

I did something different with the cupcake, this time I colored the image with Shimmerz Gold Glimmer and Wintergreen. I highlighted the sprinkles and bottom with copics and then painted on the Shimmerz. I love how it turned out, very sparkly with a hint of color! I also painted the Shimmerz Gold Glimmer on both primas. The DP is from Basic Grey, Urban Prairie -so love that pack, the colors are fantastic!! The sentiment is from PaperTrey Ink, Birthday Basics. Here is a close up picture, I am not sure if the sparkle shows up in the picture.

For the sketch, I followed Taylors Cupcake challenge TECC52TV -it's part of her anniversary celebration of sketches!
Here are some of the supplies I used.

If you haven't had a chance to check it out, I did a tutorial on Shimmerz awhile ago, you can check it out here. Don't forget to check out the other DT blogs for more lovely stitched creations!

AJ Otto
Card Deets:
Stamps - Birthday Cupcakes, Birthday Basics
Paper - Cool caribbean, Urban Prairie DP
Accessories - Shimmerz Gold and Wintergreen, copic markers, primas, buttons, SU scalloped border punch, oval nesties, aquapainter for Shimmerz
Photobucket

Monday, January 26, 2009

My DDC challenge, another catty case

This week's DDC challenge was hosted by ME! I challenged everyone to case the current SU! catty (not the new one, some of us don't have one yet -sob!). I know, if this sounds familiar, it is! I did this challenge last time too. But I loved it so much, I thought a repeat was necessary.
I chose the lovely and simple (keyword simple here) card on page 67 (top left card). I kept the same colors, ribbon and general feel of the card. I changed the image, ribbon and DP. The image I used was sent to me from my friend Jodi. It's from Paper Pretties and I apologize, I don't know what it is called. I colored it with copic markers and added a tiny bit of stickles in the center of the flower.

Here are some of the supplies I used:

The Double Dare girls would like to invite you to join along in our weekly challenges! Just create a card or project using the Double Dare challenge instructions listed above and post it in your SCS gallery. Please be sure to use the keyword DDC when you post so we can all find your card. There is no time limit for posting your card and a new challenge is issued each Tuesday. You can find the other DDC cards here. So come along and join in with us!! We can't wait to see what you create!

Card Deets:
Stamps - Paper pretties watering can, sentiment from Inkadinkado
Paper - Old Olive, Old Olive DSP, Ruby red
Accessories - double sided white satin ribbon, copic markers, yellow stickers

Photobucket

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Some scrap pages to share

OK, I am not sure how to post these pictures, so bear with me. I scrap 12x12 side by side pages. So, I will try to load them that way. They look side by side on my screen, then when I post them, the right page drops -sigh...


I will share 2 sets of pages. Both are of my boys (the subject of 99% of my pages!), Daniel and Ryan. If you click on the picture, it will get larger.

These first pages are of them playing in the mud in our backyard:
























These pages are of the Airport Museum in Tillamook, Oregon.

Some supplies used:
Backyard pages: Creative Memories DP and stickers
Airport pages: MME DP and frames, SU star and corner punches
Photobucket

Back to reality and a NEW blog banner!

Hi everyone! Whew, what a whirlwind week. I Spent the majority of it reading the Twilight books -made it thru Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse and 1/2 way thru Breaking Dawn and saw the movie 2 times!! Ahhh, Edward...

Yesterday, I spend 11 hours at the Portland Expo for a Creative Memories Celebrate! which is an all day CROP from 9am to 8pm! Oh, it was fun, this is my 3rd year going. There are over 1000 women all in one giant room working on scrapbooks. I finished 10 pages (with about 6 I am happy with). My GF did 30!! She scraps a bit different than me, so I am happy to have completed 10.

To give you an idea of size, here is a picture taken from the isle looking to the left. There another section of seating to my right too!! I told you it was BIG!!
So, I am off to pick up the boys from my mom's and have several cards I have to get made, so back to reality for me. But, what a lovely break! Thanks Stephanie Meyer!! And THANKS to Jodi for finally convincing me to read these books and now she has another person to share her Edward obsession with.

And lastly..... did you notice my NEW BLOG BANNER AND SIGGY? For those of you with the Google Reader, click in and check it out. I LOVE it!! The talented Jami (sgtStamper) made it for me. I soooo love it! I saw what she did with Amy and Tosh's banner and HAD to contact her about doing one for me. She is fast, amazingly talented and SUPER sweet! Thanks Jami, hugs to you!

Be back later. I may be coarsed into posting a pic or two of some scrapbook pages I did yesterday!
Photobucket

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Twilight progress

OK, I am now almost finished with Eclipse (have less than 50 pages to go). I to go grocery shopping (why do we have to eat?) yesterday and that cut into my reading time -LOL! I also saw the movie and am embarassed to say this 40 year old woman is IN LOVE with a 19 year old FICTIONAL vampire!! Ahhh, Edward...

My friend is coming over for an all day of making cards (scheduled this before my Twilight decision), so I won't get a good dent into Breaking Dawn until tomorrow.

Thank you everyone for the comments and emails! For those of you who have asked, YES reading the series is worth it. I also read all the Anne Rice vampire chronicles and actually (gasp) like them a bit more. Two very different styles of writing and story telling. The Twilight series is definitely a fast paced easy read and very compelling. So, if you want a great compelling set of stories to sink your teeth into (pun INtended), definitely start Twilight!!

Check in later!

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

We interupt this "Twilight" break...

...to bring you this Jacksonbelle Tuesday challenge!! Every Tuesday the Jacksonbelle Embellishments DT brings you a challenge. This week the challenge is to use October Afternoon products -stamps, paper or BOTH! As always, you don't have to use JBelle products to play along, but if you don't have any why not click here and check it out? If you post to SCS, you can use the keyword, JBE036 so we can find them! 
 
My card uses the FAB October Afternoon paper from the Weather Vane line called Sweater Weather. For those of you new to OA paper, it is thick and double sided! I loved the soft blue tones of this paper and paired it with Blue Bayou, Soft Sky and Very Vanilla. The stamp is from Prima -yep, they have stamps too, and is called Giraffe. I colored the image with a couple Copic markers. The sentiment is from Verve Stamps, Family Phrases. After gluing everything down, I took my paper piercer, made 2 holes and then tied some silver cord around his neck. I then tied some more cord around each side of the sentiment panel to balance out the design. The stars were punched out with a combination of the large and small SU! star punches and the mini one is unknown.
This card uses this week's fabulous sketch by Jen, one of her Sketches For You To Try! She posts a great sketch every Saturday!
Here are some of the supplies I used.
You can hop over to the JBelle Embellishments blog for some more details. Don't forget to check out the other DT blogs for more lovely OA creations!
Twighlight update: Finished New Moon this morning, starting Eclipse!!!
Card Deets:
Stamps - Prima, Giraffe
Paper - Soft sky, blue bayou, very vanilla, October Afternoon -weather vane
Ink - Black Stazon
Accessories - star punches, silver cord and brads, copics, SU double stitched soft sky ribbon, CB flowers die and tags die, word window punch

Monday, January 19, 2009

Taking a "Twilight" break

Ok, it was only a matter of time. EVERYTHING it seems is all about Twilight!! My GF Jodi (Kharmagirl) and the entire Unity Stamps DT rave about this series of books, the movie, and have you TRIED to get FaceBook Flair without it being something Twilight related?!?

Anyway, at the last Verve Stamps release party, I was chatting and shyly admitted I had never read the books... well, the girls informed me I simply MUST make the time! So, my mom has the boys staying at her house this entire week, and I thought this is it!

Yesterday, I read Twilight (LOVED it, fabulous, just as everyone said!!). I couldn't help myself, last night around 9PM, I drove to my sister's house and borrowed New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn (the rest of the Twilight saga). I figure, what the heck? I will spend the next several days doing NOTHING but reading -no stamping!! Make up for lost time. Oh, I will be back tomorrow to post a card for the Jacksonbelle Tuesday challenge, but that's it!!

Have a great day -I will!

Friday, January 16, 2009

A couple challenge cards to share

I haven't had a chance to post my Sketch challenge card these last couple days, so today I am posting cards for 2 challenges.
First up, the SCS Sketch challenge. This card was also for the Crafty Secrets weekly challenge -this week was to use NEW things on your card. I like these challenges, cause I love using new things! The images are from CS Birds Galore set. I colored the birdies with prismacolor pencils and popped them up on dimensionals. I used Angel Wings Shimmerz on the birds and the primas. The new things on this card is the DP is my new Basic Grey pad, Granola, the Primas are new from the Youth bottle and the buttons are also from Basic Grey Granola!

Here is a close up of the flowers. You can kind of see the Shimmerz on them.

P.S. If you like this card and have a minute, I would love it if you would post a comment in my SCS gallery on it. There is a little contest going on with the Crafty Secrets challenge! Here is the link to the card.






Next I have a triple challenge card. I started out doing the SCS Ways To Use It challenge. I like these challenges, but rarely have a chance to play along on Thursdays.

Last night I found time and combined it with This card uses Julee's Mojo Monday 69 sketch for the layout. Love Julee's sketches! And lastly, this card is also for a weekly challenge I do with some SCS friends called the Double Dare Challenge (DDC). We would love to have you join in on our Double Dare Challenges every Tuesday. Just create a card using these challenge instructions and post it to your gallery.

This week's challenge was issued by Charlene (LilLuvsStampin), the challenge requirements are:


1. use one or more punches
2. use a background stamp
3. no designer paper may be used

Please be sure to use the Keyword DDC when you post your card so that we can all find it! There is no time limit for you to do this challenge.

My card uses the Boho Blossom punch that coordinates with the One of a Kind set. My background stamp is the retired Simple Stripes. That large brad is from Basic Grey, the Bittersweet glazed brads. LOVE them! Here is the inside of the card.


Card Deets (SC211):
Stamps: bird lovers
Paper: so saffron, night of navy, white DP
Ink: Black
Accessories: primas, buttons, branch punch

Card Deets (WT201):
Stamps: one of a kind, simple stripes BG
Paper: rose red, kiwi kiss, pink pirouette
Ink: same plus Close to Cocoa
Accessories: silver brads, basic grey brads, olive grosgrain, circle nesties, flower CB die, swiss dots EF



Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Typical day for me

This is a typical day at my house...
Daniel: "mom, can you help me with the alligator?"

Me: "uhhh... what happened?" (almost too afraid to ask)

Daniel: "HE ATE FOUR FROGS and I CAN'T GET THEM OUT!!!"

Me: "FOUR?!?! Uh, OK, let me try to get them out..."

Here are some pictues to illustrate!

OK, WHO invented HOLLOW toy animals?????

Have a great day! I will be back later to post my sketch card!!

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Jacksonbelle's Tuesday challenge -New things!

Welcome to Jacksonbelle Embellishments Tuesday challenge!! Each Tuesday, we have a little challenge for you to play along with. You don't have to use JBelle goodies on your card to play along, but if you don't have any be sure to check out the JBelle Store and see what you can find!

This week's challenge is to use some NEW STUFF! Did Santa bring you any new stuff? Did you get new goodies for the New Year? Well, bust open those packages and play along! Any theme or layout, just use some NEW STUFF!
My card uses several new things. I used the new Basic Grey, Bittersweet and all I can say about these lovely designs is... WOW! I also used several new stamps- Imaginisce Twitterpated, Birdie and So Tweet and Verve's Sweet Valentine. I colored everything with Prismacolor pencils and gamsol and then painted on the new Shimmerz Blingz, Pixie Dust. For the layout, I used Taylor's cupcake challenge #50.

Here is a close up of some of the supplies I used.

Feel free to play along and if you upload to SCS, you can use the keyword JBE035 so we can all find your creations and leave you some love!! Or if you chose, you can post a link to your card at the JBelle Blog and we will find it there. Don't forget to stop by the other DTs blogs to see what new goodies they played with!


Card Deets:
Stamps - Twitterpated Birdie and So Tweet, Sweet Valentine (Verve Stamps)
Ink - Adirondack pitch black, certain celery for sponging
Paper - Regal Rose, white, BG Bittersweet
Accessories - white grosgrain, circle nesties, prismacolor pencils, shimmerz

Monday, January 12, 2009

A doll inspired blue Valentine

This card is for the Flourishes current challenge, to make a card inspired by something in your home, the details are here. I knew immediately I wanted to make a card using my Madame Alexander Scarlett O'Hara doll.

I have been collecting Madame A dolls since I was a very little girl. Sadly, I don't have a place to display them anymore, but I MADE room in my craft area for my favorite doll, the Scarlett O'Hara doll. Isn't she lovely? I got the gold accents from the gold trimmed ribbon in her hair seen here.


She was perfect inspiration for making a non-traditional colored Valentine card, using shades of blue. This also works for my DDC weekly challenge, this week Francie G challenged to use 3 shades of the same color. I chose Brocade, Bashful and Brilliant blue.I embossed the heart image from Flourishes, Lace Heart set with gold EP. It is stamped on SU shimmer white and adorned with Latte Kaiser pearls. The prima flowers are sponged with gold kraft and then painted with Gold Shimmer Shimmerz. I embossed the background with the cuttlebug Swirls folder to mimic the lace on her dress. Some punched branches in gold cardstock and gold cord finish off this card. Here is a pic of the inside.


This card did NOT come together easlily, you should see my recycle bin!!! But, I love the end result -not every Valenting card needs to be in pink or red! LOL! Here is a close up pic of the flowers.


Card Deets:

Stamps: Lace heart
Paper: brocade, bashful and brilliant blue, shimmer white, gold cardstock
Ink: Versamark
Accessories: gold EP, rectangle nesties, gold organdy, prima flowers, gold brads, gold shimmer shimmerz, kaiser pearls, martha Stewart branches punch