The Paper Playscape

A is for Animal Antics

2012-02-09T22:53:00.000-06:00

In another animal related challenge, the Alphabet Challenge Blog is doing A is for Animal Antics. I chose this super cute whale from the Stampin' Up set Long Fellows.

Cardstock: Pumpkin Pie from SU, Gina K white cardstock
Ink: Memento black
Patterned Paper: Polka dot one was from Hobby Lobby I think - maybe Daisy D's, yellow is Daffodil Delight from SU, same yellow for the ribbon
I colored the whale with copics and added a tiny bit of diamond Stickles for the water spray
Cuttlebug circles dry embossing folder

Z is for Zoo Animal

2012-01-26T22:02:00.000-06:00

I like flamingos and was tickled pink to find this fun vintage graphic on The Graphics Fairy website.
Z is for Zoo Animals at the Alphabet Challenge Blog this week.

Cardstock is Pink Pirouette, Melon Mambo and Very Vanilla

Background stamp is from Doodle This set by SU

Happy Birthday stamp by Hero Arts

Y is for You Choose

2012-01-12T22:28:00.000-06:00

Happy New Year and hope you enjoy more papercrafting than ever this year. One great way to sharpen you card-making skills is to become part of a Design Team for a card challenge blog. This will force you to be creative and get your juices flowing on a regular basis. While I am part of the Alphabet Challenge Blog now, I will be stepping away from that lovely design team in about 6 weeks. That means there is room for YOU to join if your work is accepted. Take a look at the site for all the details.

This card was my choice. I specifically made it for a teenage boy or young man.
CS: Stampin' Up's Old Olive, Cool Caribbean, Island Indigo
Patterned Paper: Little Yellow Bicycle, Twig collection, Woods; Text paper is from my stash - I can't seem to identify it. Possibly SU.
Font cut out is Rockwell Extra Heavy Bold cut with the Cricut.
The embossing plate I borrowed from my friend Julia (thanks Julia). Can't remember the name.

Have a great week!

W is for White Christmas

2011-12-08T20:13:00.000-06:00

This week on the Alphabet Challenge Blog the theme is W is for White Christmas. I used just one color, Stampin' Up!'s Baja Breeze (pretty much my favorite one).

Cardstock is Whisper White and Baja Breeze. Stamp Set is SU's To You and Yours. Ink is Baja Breeze. Dry Embossing Folder is Square Lattice. Snowflake is a Baja Breeze felt snowflake (retired) from SU. On top of the felt snowflake is an iridescent clear acrylic snowflake (one from a bag of confetti) with a rhinestone glued on top. I cut an oval from both the white cardstock and then a slightly smaller one from the blue paper and layered them. I put pop dots under both. Happy Winter everyone!

Get well in a big way!

2011-11-15T08:22:00.001-06:00

My husband has a long-time colleague who is injured and having some complications in recovery. He wanted me to make a card that had plenty of room for signatures so this card is 5.5" x 8.5".

Digital Image: Pure Innocence by Heather Ellis (from Etsy)
Coloring Medium: Copics
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Baja Breeze, Poppy Parade
Patterned Paper: Cosmo Cricket's Togetherness Mini Deck 6x6 (3 papers)
Scallop punch: Fiskars Threading Water
Twill: Stampin' Up!
Baker's twine: Martha Stewart
Sentiment: Created on the computer
Button: from my stash

Challenges I will enter this in: Paper Sundaes Challenge #95, Simon Says Stamp (women)

Thanks so much for looking!

U is for Under the Sea

2011-11-10T20:20:00.000-06:00

This week U stands for Under the Sea at the Alphabet Challenge Blog. I found this very nifty antique postcard graphic over at a wonderful website called Graphics Fairy. I printed it out on smooth white cardstock and then matted it on Stampin' Up!s Marina Mist CS. The map paper, the chipboard seahorse and the glittery wave are all from K & Co. Sea Glass collection. Twill and hemp are from Stampin' Up! Button is just from my stash. Thanks for looking!

T is for Tea Time

2011-10-27T23:03:00.001-05:00

Over at the Alphabet Challenge Blog, the theme is T is for Tea Time.

My entry this week uses the new Stampin' Up! Calypso Coral cardstock along with the pale yellow polka dotted SU paper (retired). The floral paper is from Fancy Pants, the line called "It's the Little Things." The stamp is a clear Hero Arts stamp set called Have a Donut. I used Copics to color it. Used the Threading Water punch on the floral paper. Misc. buttons. Thanks for looking! Happy Halloween!

S is for Soon to be Halloween

2011-10-13T22:25:00.000-05:00

Over at the Alphabet Challenge Blog, S is for Soon to be Halloween.
No other holiday makes me as happy as Halloween. To me, it is a holiday that is focused on childhood, fun fantasies, costumes and CANDY!! Every year I tend to buy new paper and embellishments for the season even though I always have plenty left over from the previous season. I love the black, orange color combo and the look of distressing.

While my kids are in middle school, we still do Boo Bags for neighbors and some special treats for special teachers (likely cookies this year). Here is the bag design I am using this year:

Bag is a black lunch-size paper bag I got in a pack of a dozen from Michael's
Patterned Paper: All Authentique Halloween papers
Cardstock: Naturals Ivory by SU
Owl: Stampin' Up! digital version of stamp set Dark & Dreary
Black bat is a punch out of Martha Stewart bat punch
Orange button: Stampin Up Pumpkin Pie corduroy buttons
Ribbons: striped is Ribbon Boutique for Hobby Lobby, orange is American Crafts Elements ribbon
Happy Halloween is a red rubber stamp by Inkadinkado stamped with black ink
Owl and background Paper is distressed with black ink

A Pirates of the Caribbean Party

2011-10-11T15:50:00.001-05:00

My oldest daughter's birthday is one week prior to Halloween. Over the years, we've included the whole Halloween celebration into her birthday from time to time. Last year, when she turned 13, she decided she wanted a "Pirates of the Caribbean" birthday party theme. I figured it was one of my last at-home "theme" birthday parties to throw. The days of Dora the Explorer, Strawberry Shortcake, Disney Princess were gone for good. Here was my chance to do it one more time.

If you are familiar with the Johnny Depp movie franchise of Pirates of the Caribbean, you know there are some great lines in the movies. My 2 daughters and their best buddy Emily absolutely loved quoting from the movie. Their favorites were "I've got a jar of dirt and guess what's inside it!" and "Why is the rum gone?"

Naturally, I took off on all this and I decorated the house with plenty of skulls, skeletons and borrowed pirate gear such as plastic swords and pirate flags. Doing this at Halloween time made it very easy. I have a large trunk (a genuine family antique) that sits behind our sectional sofa. I opened it up and filled it like a pirates treasure chest with plastic jewels, cups and pieces of eight gold coins (the big black thing is our wireless stereo component).

More decor including a jar of eyeballs and a framed quote from the movie...

I printed still photos of the characters that I found on the internet, aged the paper with ink and popped them into cheap frames we already had. Then I signed them as though they were autographed. The black belt was part of a costume. used lots of dyed or dark colored cheesecloth.

I also sent the girls on an indoor scavenger hunt where they had to find a small treasure box of goodies.

I found all sorts of skeleton table decor including spoons, forks and knives that were ivory and in the shape of bones from Oriental Trading Company. Cups came from the dollar store.

I mocked up some new labels for real wine bottles to make them look like they all belonged to Capt. Jack Sparrow.

But the piece de resistance was my Jar of Dirt cake. First, I have to tell you that it is very important you NEVER BAKE A CAKE IN A BALL GLASS JAR. These jars are not meant for dry oven heat and can create some scary chemical reactions according to a university study I read. No problem. I just bought Ball jars (Mason jars) with a wide mouth. I baked a cake in a regular rectangular cake pan and used a biscuit cutter to cut circles of cake just the right size. I alternated layers in the jar with cake circles and piped icing tinted to resemble dirt. I topped off the cakes with Wilton candy skulls I found at Michael's and added red gel icing eyes. Then I made labels and glued them on.

All in all everything was a hit and the birthday girl loved it. If you have any questions, just email me.

Q is for Quick and Simple

2011-09-15T20:33:00.001-05:00

The theme at the Alphabet Challenge Blog was Quick and Simple. Nothing as clean and quick (and often elegant) as a white card. This is a digital stamp from Two Peas in a Bucket website called Dress It Up. I recreated the text I orginally saw it from using my own fonts. The words are not a stamp.

Paper is Stampin Up Whisper White. Designer Paper is from Fancy Pants (I think). I printed the wire dress form on the white paper and then on the backside of the patterned paper so you wouldn't see the wires. I cut it larger on the patterned paper to look like a dress ON the form. The nice thing was I could make the skirt skinny or more A-line and then "dress it up" with a belt or pearls or whatever. I could have also made it be a sleeveless dress instead of strapless. I edged the pattern paper with a little Old Paper Distress ink to give it some depth. Corner Chomper rounded the corners. Fun and easy.

P is for Pastels and plenty of pink

2011-09-01T22:00:00.000-05:00

This week (x2) on the Alphabet Challenge Blog is for P, as in Pastels. This card will end up going to a particular child turning 1 in November, a real little doll.

Yes, you have seen the layout before, many moons ago on this blog. I happen to love the design and decided to recreate it with another color scheme.

Cardstock: Pink Pirouette, Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Pear Pizzazz, Whisper White

Stamp Set is SU's Birthday Bakery

Stampin' Up! Markers in the same colors as CS

Ink is Memento Black

Swiss Dot embossing folder

Patterned paper is by Daisy D

Thanks for looking!

O is for Only Three Embellishments

2011-08-18T21:35:00.000-05:00

You wouldn't know it by looking at my blog, but I actually like scrapbooking more than I like cardmaking. I have made scrapbooks of our family for many years. In the past, these have been annual books - one commemorating all the things of the year. I can't tell you how many Halloweens, Easters, birthday parties, Christmas celebration, etc. I have marked in time with photos, paper, adhesive and more. I have dearly enjoyed all of this so very much. As my kids are getting older, 13 and 11 now, I am a little more selective about what I scrapbook. Birthday celebrations are still so unique and one-of-a-kind that I usually do those. But truly, I just can't scrapbook another Easter egg dying event at our kitchen island - it all looks the same! Nowadays, vacations are my favorite thing to scrapbook. I have done a Disney World album, a Rocky Mountain album and I am currently working on a trip we took to South Padre Island, TX last summer.

This week's Alphabet Challenge Blog recognizes O is for only three embellishments. This very simple page came together from photos plus the new 2011-2013 In Color colors from Stampin' Up! plus K & Co. embellishments. I count the three as the title, the umbrella and the darker blue background paper.

Background paper: SU's Pool Party Textured Cardstock
Other cardstock: SU's Island Indigo, Calypso Coral
Embellishments: Family Fun accent, Umbrella from K&Co. Seaglass collection

N is for Navy Blue and Not what I had in mind

2011-08-04T22:26:00.000-05:00

This was one of the rare occasions where I was not inspired. Challenge was to do a card with Navy Blue plus one other color. The stencil is a SVG download that I used on my Cricut. Stampin' Up's Poppy Parade Red is in the background. The Congrats is done with the Cricut and glued on top. I had Internet problems this week and well, lots of other hiccups. Just excuses. So sorry. It is not my best work.

From now on, the Alphabet Challenge Blog will be an every 2 week challenge. Wanted you to know.

M is for Metal and a magical birthday

2011-07-28T22:47:00.000-05:00

Next door neighbor turned 14 recently - saw the final Harry Potter movie on her birthday. If you haven't seen it, it is magical. This card is for her.

M is for Metal this week at the Alphabet Challenge Blog. The brad here is a giant metal heart brad. I can't remember the manufacturer but it came in a set with lots of arrow brads also.

CS: SU's So Saffron, Soft Suede, Pool Party

Stamp: SU's Happiest Birthday Wishes (new hostess set) done in Early Espresso

Scalloped tag: K & Co Wild Saffron die cut labels,

Postage Border punch is by Fiskars

The glitterly border is from Pink Paislee's Hometown Summer Border Stickers.

Bling is misc.

L is for Lemon Lime

2011-07-21T22:41:00.000-05:00

This week's challenge is a bit out of the ordinary. L stands for Lemon-Lime this time around. I didn't know if this should mean color or image, so I went with color. This is another one of my white background cards.

Cardstock: SU's Whisper White and Wild Wasabi; Gina K Pure Luxury for printed butterfly

Image: MS Word for phrase (used the WordArt function), butterfly is Hero Arts digital

Patterned paper: Crate Paper

Punch: Corner Chomper corner rounder, Fiskars Threading Water

Stitching, Glossy Accents on Butterfly, Copic markers on butterfly

Provo Craft swirl dry embossing plate

K is for Kitten

2011-07-14T22:27:00.001-05:00

Oddly enough, in all my years of card making, I have never spent any time exploring the simplicity of a all-white background card. Recently, when I made a stack of cards for a friend to give her kids, I decided to go with simple backgrounds. I made this card and others and realized how great these ultra clean and simple cards are. Here I used an image I have used before. It is a kitten image from the one and only Mo Manning of Digital Pencil Too. Then I colored with warm grey Copic Markers. The text is computer printed on the white card next to the digital stamp. Thanks for looking.

Just one word

2011-07-08T11:00:00.001-05:00

The Alphabet Challenge Blog is recognizing J for Just One Word. A friend is in Ireland and hired me to make cards for her two young daughters to receive while she and her husband are there. One child will also be at Girl Scout Camp for part of the time. I combined the shamrock - cut from an .svg file on my Cricut with Girl Scout paper from K & Company to create this. The stitching is printed on the paper, not real. Kraft paper is from Stampin' Up!

PPA 100 Challenge entry

2011-07-01T08:21:00.000-05:00

This is a special post to enter the Pals Paper Arts challenge 100! Some of my favorite techniques are using the accordian fold rosettes. Here I copied the look of the Making Memories Bravissimo line. This was one teacher (receptionist) gift that I gave at the end of elementary school this past May.

Cardstock: Pacific Point and White, Stampin Up!
Patterned: Pacific Point DSP by SU, Bo Bunny alphabet paper from Learning Curve line
Ribbon: striped Hobby Lobby, measuring tape (internet purchase years ago), other is miscellaneous or even Copic colored ribbon
Paper piecing (another favorite technique): Cricut Straight from the Nest

I is for Insect

2011-06-30T22:30:00.000-05:00

This week on the Alphabet Challenge Blog, we're doing I is for insect. Thank heavens that butterflies are insects because they are so popular in card making. I stumbled across something I didn't know existed and that was a Hero Arts *digital* stamp. I saw it on a card online and was able to find it at Two Peas in a Bucket. Color me thrilled. I am in the midst of making a set of cards for a friend and this is one of them.

It is very simple, but I was going for simplicity. I am glad you can see the Glassy Accents on the wings, but I also used Pearl Glimmer Mist on the pink cardstock which doesn't show up too well. Cardstock is all SU and font is CK Legacy. Butterfly is printed on Gina K 80lb white cardstock and colored with Copics. So far Gina K is my favorite paper for Copics, but I have never tried Papertrey Ink's.

Thanks for looking.

H is for Half Dozen

2011-06-23T22:42:00.001-05:00

You've heard of the dance of the seven veils? Well, here is the card of six ribbons! This week's challenge was to use 6 of something. It would be easy to do 6 punches but I have done that before for a birthday card for a friend. Now her daughter is having a birthday and I made this for her. I got this cool woven ribbon idea from a post at Jennifer McGuire's blog. I used hole punches to make the L look holey and kinda funky.

Cardstock: Stampin Up Whisper White, Pacific Point; Green is from Bazzill for Creative Imaginations

Patterned Paper: Stampin Up DSP retired

Ribbon: All from either Michael's or Hobby Lobby.

Die cuts from my Cricut, Butterfly Punch from Marvy Uchida

These are some of my favorite colors to work with time and time again so I had a lot to choose from

G is for Get Well Soon

2011-06-16T22:26:00.000-05:00

This week on the Alphabet Challenge Blog the letter G is for Get Well. Here is a potential Get Well card - or use if for anytime someone is on your mind. The paper piecing is fun.

Stamp: Flower is by Stampendous, phrase by Stampin' Up in Silhouette Sentiments

CS: Whisper White, Rose Red

DSP: All the green is SU's Old Olive DSP, Vase is Rose Red DSP, Flower is October Afternoon One-of-a-Kind, Butterfly punch by Marvy Uchida, Tag punch by SU, Button is from stash, Colored pencils are for the shading

Thanks for looking!

Father's Day a little early

2011-06-09T23:23:00.000-05:00

Good thing the men in my life don't read my blog so they won't get an early gander at this card. I struggle with masculine cards at times because I don't have many stamps that yell "men I know!" I probably should get some. Fishing, computers, music, photography and West Highland Terriers occupy the time of my husband, my dad and my father-in-law (not all and not in that order). Oddly enough there is not 1 golfer in all the men (and 20+ year old guys) in my family.

Here is the card I came up with. It was inspired by a card on page 23 of 2011 Stampin' Up! Occasions Mini Catalog (you're gonna go look, aren't you?)

No stamps, hm...

Cardstock: SU Sage Shadow (ret), Always Artichoke, Crumb Cake

DSP: Both retired SU designer paper

Cricut cut 1, DAD, gr and 8; Circle is 2" punch out of Making Memories lined paper

Hodgepodge Hardware, Printed twill, SU button and linen thread and 1" circle punch

E is for Easel and Easy So Far

2011-06-02T23:59:00.001-05:00

We're only a few days into summer but it is puttering along well. Kids are not too bored and I am not too busy so it is balancing nicely. Here is my very first easel card. I have finally amassed a good number of Copic markers in some nice color groupings. I decided to find a tutorial that would show me how to color something where I had just the right markers. I found this awesome Copic marker tutorial by Nicole Magouirk and followed her feathering technique with this Mo Manning kitten so I could really get as close to the original as possible. I was actually very happy with how it came out. My daughter's friend loved the card too (she had even remarked to my daughter that she really wanted one of *MY* cards for her birthday - gotta love that).

Cardstock: SU's Pear Pizazz, Wild Wasabi, Blushing Bride, Marina Mist
Patterned Paper: Cosmo Cricket
Digital Image: Mo Manning's Fall Kitten
Ribbon: Stampin' Up Wild Wasabi and Marina Mist
Fiskars Threading Water punch
Copic Markers: Cat uses warm grays
Button is SU, Twine is Jillibean Soup, Dot of Crystal Effects on cat's tag

D is for Dog and Done!

2011-05-27T00:01:00.003-05:00

Today is the last day of elementary school for my youngest child. It is such a bittersweet thing to have to say goodbye to our elementary school. With 2 girls, we've been there for 8 years and I will miss it a lot. I have buried myself in all kinds of papercraft gifts lately which you will see soon. Here is my entry for Alphabet Challenge Blog Design Team D is for Dog. The card went to my daughter's band teacher this morning. I CASE'd the card from Life in my Craft Room which I found on Splitcoaststampers.

Cardstock: SU's Real Red and Crumb Cake and Whisper White

Calendar - printed from a MS Word pre-made calendar template

Stamp: Stampin' Up Long Fellows Hostess set, colored with Copics

Ribbon: purchased at Hobby Lobby made by Ribbon Boutique

Paper punch: SU's spiral punch

Sentiment is written with a .005 Micron pen

Pop dots

C is for Clean and Simple

2011-05-19T22:06:00.002-05:00

This is for C - Clean and Simple - at the Alphabet Challenge Blog. It is as simple as I like to make a card. The scallop along the top edge of the SU Rich Razzleberry DSP was made with a scallop blade on my Fiskars Rotary Trimmer. The image is the "It's a Parade" stamp from Hero Arts that I snagged weeks ago at Michael's - stamped twice here in Rich Razzleberry ink to get the length. The card is SU's Crumb Cake and the blue is Baja Breeze. The ribbon is a Bazzill ribbon I picked up a couple years ago at Archiver's. The 'thanks' is American Crafts MiniMarks rub-ons in a font called Kate. That's it. Pretty simple.

B is for Brads and Bling and Blogger-less

2011-05-13T12:17:00.000-05:00

You probably already know Blogger had a long outage, hence the reason mine and so many other posts are late getting up. I will make this post brief. It is B week at the Alphabet Challenge Blog. B is for brads and bling so I included both.

Stamps: for you from Elements of Style, envelope from Send a Celebration set
Card stock: Regal Rose, Blushing Bride
Texture Embossing plate from Provo Craft
Hodgepodge Hardware in antique brass
EK Success mini flower punch (comes in a set of 2 flowers)
Copic coloring

Stay tuned - C is next week, of course.

A is for Around the World - on a horse

2011-05-05T22:00:00.002-05:00

This week's challenge at Alphabet Challenge Blog is back to the beginning with the letter A. We've chosen A for Around the World and the requirement is to choose a country to feature in the piece. I searched my stash and really had nothing that could be country specific (not even my own USA), so I went online and found this hilarious image at Just Inklined Digital Stamps. They have some fun and hilarious images as well as some great still life images with lots of details. A great selection and right now there is a sale going on. Check it out at the website.

While I am still struggling some with Copics, I am getting the hang of it a little more and understanding the whole "choose the right colors to blend" thing. I have read some really great info at www.debbiehodge.com under her category of Using Copic Markers. There is also an online class at this website taught by Michelle Houghton of ScrapWeaver. I think Michelle's talent might be a well kept secret until now. ;-)

Oddly, I used both Copic and Stampin' Up! markers on the above image. I will tell you where the SU markers are: Hatband: Poppy Parade, Sleeves and shoe soles: River Rock, Hat texture: Crumb Cake. All else is Copic.

Cardstock: All SU: Poppy Parade, Tangerine Tango, River Rock, Soft Suede

Patterned Paper: Bo Bunny (circa 2007!)

Ribbon: American Crafts

Big Brad: Bo Bunny (I think), small one unknown

Embossing Folder: Clockworks from ProvoCraft

Challenges: The Pink Elephant- TPE99, Alphabet Challenge Blog

A certain teenage boy will get this for his birthday later this month.

Z is for Zoo animal - and this one is a Girl!

2011-04-28T21:27:00.000-05:00

It's a girl! And a giraffe! This is my entry for the Alphabet Challenge Blog for Z is for Zoo animal. There were lots of stamps to choose from - none in my rubber stash but plenty of digis online. This little guy was created by Eline Pellinkhof of Squigglefly.com. Her artwork is always simple and adorable. I wanted fake colors to make this look more like a stuffed animal and not a real giraffe. I used Copics again. I am still struggling to get this right. I am using Neenah Solar White in Classic Crest. I can't seem to get the blending quite right despite how many tutorials I have watched. I might be using colors that are too far apart to get them to blend smoothly. More practice is needed, I am sure.

This card will go to a friend who just learned she is having a baby girl. She has two sons so this has been exciting news for the entire household. Why I didn't simply douse this card in pink, I don't know.

This card is also entered into the sketch challenge at Papertake Weekly.

Cardstock: White is Neenah Classic Crest, SU's Blue Bayou (retired) and Soft Sky (retired), Crumb Cake

Patterned Paper: Cosmo Cricket Girl Friday, and Togetherness Mini Deck, Fancy Pants Little Sprout line

Digi Stamp: Squigglefly.com (see above)

Rubber Stamp: SU Curvy Verses

Ribbon: Blue Bayou SU, Martha Stewart bakers twine

Punches: Fiskars Threading Water and SU's tab punch, paper crimper

Copic Markers

High on color, low on embellishments

2011-04-22T14:30:00.001-05:00

I am working hard to get the hang of Copic markers. I am getting there slowly but surely. Heather Ellis images are easy to color so I picked this cupcake one for a multi-challenge card (and I needed a birthday card). I used the sketch from Pals Paper Arts, the color choices of Crumb Cake, Tangerine Tango, Pacific Point, and Riding Hood Red in the Stampin 411 Color Inspiration Challenge, also the No Text Challenge over at Cute Card Thursday. Here is the quick and simple card I came up with.

Cardstock: SU's Crumb Cake, Riding Hood Red, Tangerine Tango, Neenah Solor White Crest
Patterned Paper: All SU - Pacific Point, Tangerine Tango
Embellishment: Retired SU grosgrain burgundy ribbon
Stamp: Digital Heather Ellis Pure Innocence
Coloring: All Copics except for colored pencil on the hair
Coluzzle Circle Cutter
Challenges: Pals Paper Arts - PPA90 Sketch Challenge, Cute Card Thursday - CCT161, Stampin 411 Color Inspiration 155

T is for Thanks and Y is for Yellow

2011-04-21T20:30:00.001-05:00

This week it is Y is for Yellow at the Alphabet Challenge Blog.

First, a big thank you to Mary Fish, my upline and Stampin' Up! demonstrator for the card I CASE'd to make this Yellow card (More Mustard to be exact). I fell in love with it a year ago when I saw it and went back to it for this challenge. I adore these blocky collages. One online stamper named Connie Tumm makes quite a few of them.

Cardstock: SU's Elegant Eggplant, Very Vanilla and More Mustard

Ink: More Mustard

Stamps from top to bottom and L to R: SU's Big Pieces, Punch Potpourri, Elements of Style, It's About Time, Hero Arts It's a Parade - twice (fell in love with this one in Michael's just a couple days ago), It's About Time, Elements of Style twice, Have a Seat, Big Pieces, Elements of Style.

Punches: little Marvy, big Fiskars, square is SU's 1.25 square

pearl embellishments

This was really fun and I have a feeling I will do this layout again.

Alphabet Challenge Blog Debut

2011-04-14T22:18:00.000-05:00

For my debut week over at the Alphabet Challenge Blog, X is for Xmas. I wanted to kick off by using products and techniques that are in a lot of my work. I started with a Stampin' Up! stamp set called Jolly Holiday. I colored Santa with my beloved Prismacolor Pencils and Sansodor (odorless mineral spirits). I used Copics for the flesh tone and the beard and the fur. The patterned paper is a Christmas paper from BasicGrey.

Solid cardstock is White, Early Espresso, Old Olive (my long time favorite color), and Certainly Celery. I even CASE'd (copy and share everything) the layout from a 2008 Stampin Up! catalog. Brads are antique copper buttons from Hobby Lobby. The HO HO HO was stamped with a little alphabet stamp from Studio G. I used pop dots on Santa and on the sentiment. The only thing missing which I normally use is ribbon. Enjoy and please join us over at the Alphabet Challenge Blog. New challenges appear on Friday.

I've joined a design team!

2011-04-11T09:08:00.000-05:00

I am happy to announce that I was selected to be a member of the Alphabet Challenge Blog!! I am very excited to be part of this clever team of artists.This week W is for White and one other color. I jumped right into the W challenge. I've always wanted to make a predominantly white card for a challenge as I have seen them once and thought they were very attractive.

Cardstock: Both SU and Bazzill

Patterned Paper: All SU Daffodil Delight DSP

Texture Plates: Sizzix, ProvoCraft

Punches: large circle and butterfly by Fiskars

Ribbon: Stampin Up

Pearls: self adhesive - unknown

Stay tuned for what the Alphabet Challenge Blog has in store for the letter X! You won't want to miss it!

Repetition is Good!

2011-04-03T20:22:00.000-05:00

First, let me just say that the March 31 post WAS an April Fool's joke. The card was real and it really was intended for a band director, but the organization, the contest and the prize were fakes.

On to today...If you've ever studied design in a classroom setting, the teacher probably told you about elements and principles of design. Repetition is one of the key principles of design and this challenge from Clean and Simple Stamping went right to the heart of it. I loved the simple sketch provided and combined it with the challenge at Pals Paper Arts to use punches. For as great of a love affair as I have with my Cricut Expression, I still love my punches and almost never include any of them when I am trying to purge out old, unused supplies I no longer want.

So, I combined the sketch, the use of punches, and the gorgeous new Stella and Rose paper from My Mind's Eye into this card.

Challenges: PPA87, FTL134
Cardstock: SU's Daffodil Delight, Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy, Naturals Ivory
Patterned Paper: My Mind's Eye, Stella and Rose Happy Bouquet by Jen Alyson
Stamp: Hero Arts
Ink: Not Quite Navy, Distress Ink Old Paper
Punches: Fiskars butterfly, SU circle punch
Embellishments: Dark yellow/gold rhinestones, brads

I won the AAMSBD Card Contest!

2011-03-31T22:57:00.001-05:00

I am so excited to announce that I have won the 14th annual AAMSBD Card Contest! I was runner up last year, but this year the $300 prize is mine! For those of you outside the crafting world, the American Association of Middle School Band Directors hosts a card contest each year to create awareness for the gratitude needs of middle school band directors. The rules are that you must incorporate music or musical symbols into a Thank You card. You also must use school colors. So I created this card for my daughter's band director and for the contest. I was competing against some big names: Beate Johns, Debbie Olson, and Jenn Balcer. Look for this card on the inside of an upcoming Paper Crafts magazine!

My winning card

Cardstock: Concord Crush, Basic Black, Very Vanilla
DSP: SU Newsprint and Concord Crush
Punch: SU scallop circle
Ink: Distress Old Paper, Concord Crush (from marker)
Stamps: Pink Cat Studio music, Hero Arts Thank You
Embellishments: SU Twill, embroidery floss, good april fool's sense of humor, black brad

A Celebration Banner with Cricut and Fun Colors

2011-03-25T15:13:00.002-05:00

I just love the challenges at ColorQ. The color schemes that come out each week are divine and combinations I might never have thought of. I had a sudden urge to create a banner - something bigger than a card or a scrapbook page and this color challenge worked out perfectly. This will go to my friend Amy who is celebrating the end of 18 months of cancer treatment and being NED (no evidence of disease). Can't wait to give her this. I made her a shadow box back in June.

This challenge called for Stampin' Up!'s Concord Crush, Kiwi Kiss (ret), Bermuda Bay (ret), Bashful Blue and White. All my shapes were done on my Cricut using Make the Cut software and a font called Wish I Were Taller off the internet. I handmade the rosettes using the Martha Stewart Scoring Board and dry embossed them with the Cuttlebug dot folder. Embossing was the challenge at The Rubber Cafe this week too. Hot glue is required to make these or at least I believe it is the optimum way to make them. I dry embossed the Kiwi Kiss scalloped circles. Banner is a self-made shape. All supplies are by Stampin Up!.

A Guy Card with a Sketch and a Color Challenge

2011-03-19T23:06:00.000-05:00

Wow! Two posts in one day - a rarity here. The earlier post today was a card I made for my niece's birthday. The day after her birthday is her oldest brother's birthday and this one is for him. It combines two challenges. Because I was designing for a man, I went with knots instead of bows and I think the color combo is appropriately masculine. Again with the abbreviated, text-message style greeting. The 2 and the ampersand and 'many more' were cut using my Cricut and a great software package called Make The Cut plus the font Museo Slab. I dry embossed the card and the 2 to give just a tiny bit more oompf to the card. I also used plenty of pop dots - one of my favorite products.

Challenges: Get Sketchy GS79, The Play Date Cafe PDCC73 color challenge
Unless otherwise mentioned everything is from Stampin' Up in the colors of Morning Marigold (retired), Cajun Craze, Naturals White and Perfect Plum.

Provo Craft embossing folders, Cricut, EK Success Star punch, Old Paper distress ink

Stamp Set is Well Worn Alphabet

Thanks so much for visiting. Feel free to comment and followers are very much welcome!

Some Card Elements Need Room to Breathe

2011-03-19T11:09:00.000-05:00

You know it as well as I do. There is an infinite number of divine papers, stamps and embellishments we can put on our cards and scrapbook pages. Manufacturers today can infuse the smallest items with so much delightful detail that the words "eye candy" are not sufficient to describe it all. This is where you need to watch what you use and how you use it.

I have a personal rule that the more detail something has, the more 'space' it needs. For example, if you use a patterned ribbon, you might not want to put it over a patterned piece of paper. Let the item with the most detail 'sing' while nearby elements stay quiet. I had a ribbon that color-wise matched this Old Olive and Rich Razzleberry color scheme - both colors on one ribbon. But, when I paired it with the trees and the gently patterned Razzleberry paper, it was simply too much to look at. I went with solids to complement the patterns. The sketch already had that dearly needed white space built in, giving my curvy phrase room to look pretty.

It's a lot like home decor and clothing. Some pieces should demand focus and attention and others should simply play a supporting role. White space (a misnomer, as it can be any empty space or even rhythmically patterned paper, like the Razzleberry polka dots) is often underrated but it can work wonders for your favorite items. My best use of this is on my Ghandi card. I loved the stamp and wanted it to get the most attention.

What's your favorite detail-heavy item to put on a card or page? You don't have to leave it lonely, but remember to give it breathing space and the attention it deserves.

Really enjoyed combining four challenges here:

Just Add Ink JAI60: Color scheme of SU's Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Crumb Cake and White

Clean & Simple Stamping FTL132: Sketch

Alphabet Challenge Blog: T is for Trees

Totally Papercrafts Challenge TPC#58: Use buttons

Cardstock: SU's Rich Razzleberry, Crumb Cake, Old Olive

Patterned Paper: SU's Rich Razzleberry DSP, Basic Grey's Basic Manila Paper Pad (white printing on manila paper)

Stamp: SU's Curvy Verses

Embellishments: Ribbon, twine, button by SU. Distress Ink in Old Paper. Trees are a combination of Cricut cartridge Straight from the Nest and handcut trunks

Text Messaging to Save Time and Money

2011-03-11T13:16:00.004-06:00

Do you do it? Your husband? Do you do it with each other and with your friends? I'm talking about that super-abbreviated text messaging that so many people, especially teens, have adopted. It's where you substitute 'ily' for 'I love you,' 'ikr' for 'I know, right?' and 'sry' is 'sorry.' This habit, whether you find it annoying or liberating, can save you time and money with your cards and scrapbooking.

Here's what I mean: This morning I needed to make a birthday card for my daughter to take to her band teacher. I had exactly 1 of each letter in a sparkly orange chipboard alphabet. No chance I could spell out 'happy birthday' or even 'celebrate.' Plus, I didn't have any numbers. So instead of doing a mish-mash of letters from a variety of alphabets (which has a scrappy-chic charm of its own), I just abbreviated it all into 'hb2u' and used the 2 from a white sticker set. Try this next time you are making a card for someone you are sure 'gets' text messaging language, like a middle school teacher. You may save yourself time and money buying extra alphabets to get more vowels and letters. However, I don't recommend this for a sympathy card or a 90th birthday card.

You could try the hb2u or others like:

ily for I love you
thx for Thanks.
wan2tlk? for Want to talk?
ms u for Miss you?

There is even a translator online where you can type in what you want to say and it translates it to text messaging abbreviated language. It is called Lingo2Words. Have fun with this! Make it into a riddle for someone to solve. It will make them smile.

w/o furthA ado, hre S my crd (without further ado, here is my card).

CHALLENGES: TT#39 (Tuesday Throwdown), TSG97 (There She Goes Stamps), CR84FN18 (Create for fun)
Cardstock: SU's Crumb Cake
DSP: SU's Daffodil Delight DSP, Cosmo Cricket
Embellishments: SU rub on, Doodlebug Delights '2' sticker, SU felt flower, orange button and linen twine, orange glitter chipboard stickers from Target, EK Success asterisk punch, flower brads?

Coloring White with Colored Pencils

2011-03-05T19:42:00.002-06:00

I love working with Prismacolor Colored Pencils and I found an interesting challenge over at Digi Doodle Shop's Best Challenge for the week. It is a challenge to make a card using a digital image and use primarily black and white. One of their latest digital stamps is a chef serving a cupcake. It was ideal for two birthday cards I needed to make and for using for this challenge. I am also adding the challenge at Pixie Dust Studios since I used polka dots.

However, I had no idea how to color white. I didn't want to just leave it alone. After some online research looking at colored images that were to be white I realized that the shading on the white shirt, hat and apron could have some color in order to reflect the colors around it in the scene. I experimented and shaded with both Prismacolor pencils in warm greys and cool greys on two different images. I also took an eraser and removed any color I when I thought the image looked "dirty." That plus a small amount of pale blue, a bit of dark brown in the shoes and flesh-toned Copics for the skin and I was happy with the results.

The first card - the one for the challenge - looks like this (I went with a warm grey for the shirt and a cool one for the apron. I just wanted to play around.)

CS: SU's Basic Black and Whisper White

Patterned Paper: The Paper Studio

Image: Digi Doodle Shop's Special Delivery

Coloring Media: Copics and Prismacolor Pencils

Ribbon: Making Memories

Hemp: Stampin Up!

Charm: Unknown

Diamond Stickles on cupcake.

The next one with the same image and very few differences in the coloring came out like this:

CS: SU's Blushing Bride, Whisper White, Basic Black
Patterned Paper (plus red strip): both sides of 2-sided paper by Dear Lizzy + American Crafts in Golden Gleam
Crystals by Mark Richards
Coloring Media: Prismacolor Pencils, Copics
Crystals by Mark Richards
Fruit Punch shade of Stickles on cupcake

Whoo Hooo!! Top Three on Thursday!

2011-03-03T09:17:00.000-06:00

I was thrilled to find this morning that I had made Top 3 at two different challenges with my Kraftin Kimmie card from a few days ago. Thanks to The Case Study Challenge Blog and 4 Crafty Chicks! I love your challenges!

Embellishment Making to Save Time

2011-02-28T14:29:00.002-06:00

PPA82, MOJO180, CIC100

I love to have fun with my Cricut and see all the cool stuff I can create. Like so many of us, I might make a series of cute embellishments but I don't always want to stop and make each one into a card. That's why I keep a box called Card Parts. They are embellishments, stamped images, cool punched shapes, etc. that are just waiting to get adopted by the right card. Sounds like the story of Annie.

Here is why this works so well:

These premade embellishments allow you to put together an original, custom-made card quickly
The embellishment-making itself is super simple to do while you are watching TV or waiting somewhere
It's a great way to use up scraps all at once
You can make as few or as many as you like and use them as you go
Each one can be just a little different so they are similar but not all alike

Case in point #1: My husband quickly needed a sympathy card today for a co-worker. Using my Card Parts stash, I was able to put a nice one together. It looks like I spent plenty of time on it - and I did, but that time was in bits and pieces, happening long before today. Today I only needed to adhere the materials together and stamp a sentiment on the inside.

On to the challenges. I had this cupcake in my stash complete with stickles and I needed to make a birthday card for my aunt. Saw the challenges at Pals Paper Arts #82, Mojo Monday #180, and Cupcake Inspiration Challenge #100 and I was off to the races.

Cardstock: SU's Chocolate Chip & Blushing Bride, Rose Red

Patterned Paper: plaid (either Bo Bunny or Fancy Pants), aqua print is Fancy Pants (Daily Grind, Sparkle pattern), polka dot is SU's Blushing Bride DSP, Brown stripe is SU Chocolate Chip DSP, manilla paper is Making Memories Audrey Scallop Ledger (3/4" circle),

Embellishments: pre-made cupcake (you've seen it before here) is from Cricut's Straight from the Nest, SU button, checkered ribbon is BasicBasic, pink is SU's Blushing Bride twill, baker's twine is from Martha Stewart and I painted it with a blue-green Copic Marker, stickles

Kraftin' Kimmie Case Study

2011-02-27T20:06:00.000-06:00

This is my first time using a Kraftin Kimmie image. Annie Rodriguez is a fantastic artist. Her images have SO much personality you feel like they could almost talk. I do wish that she sold some things in digital format as it took me a few tries to get a well stamp image of Emelia.

Three challenges addressed here: Kraftin' Kimmie Challenge #67, CASE Study Challenge #28, and 4 Crafty Chicks Challenge #26
All SU Cardstock: Pear Pizazz, Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Baja Breeze
Decorated Paper: SU's Greenhouse Gala, Basic Grey Manilla Paper Pad 8x8 (cloud)
Rubber Stamp: Kraftin' Kimmie "Emelia" (plane included in set)
Ink: Archival black
Coloring Media: Prismacolor pencils, Copics for fleshtones
Embellishments: Provo Craft swirl dry embossing folder, Pear Pizazz twill ribbon (SU), Fiskars scalloped cutting blade for their rotary trimmer for scalloped edge, cloud - custom designed SVG file, glossy effects used on goggles, punch is SU Decorative label punch, font is Japan printed from the PC

Color and Sketch Challenge

2011-02-22T15:28:00.000-06:00

I found a wonderful color challenge, Curtain Call Color Challenge #70, at Stampin with Stacey. This week asks you to use Pear Pizazz, Tangerine Tango, White and Tempting Turquoise by Stampin' Up! What a delicious and vibrant combo. Perfect for male or female cards. I also found a simple sketch for a square card at Papertake Weekly Challenger #53. Other challenges this card fits are Use it Tuesday challenge #2, Totally Papercrafts Challenge #53 , Do You Stack Up Challenge #7. I am sure I could find more but I want to tell you about the card.

Cardstock: SU's Pear Pizazz, Tangerine Tango, Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White

Patterned Paper: Stampin' Up! Tangerine Tango DSP, Pear Pizazz DSP, other SU DSP

Digital Image: Pure Innocence Cupcake by Heather Ellis, sentiment uses CK Jessica font printed out (SU has this as a stamp in Birthday Bakery, but I wanted it larger)

Embellishments: Turquoise Twill by Wrights, Button (unknown), Martha Stewart twine

Coloring Media: Prismacolor Pencils with Odorless Mineral Spirits, Turquoise marker by SU, Copic Markers for fleshtone, dimensional foam dots.

While I was making this card I had a hard time making the bow. I found many YouTube videos on the way to tie a nice ribbon bow, but I particularyly liked a video by Kerry P that shows not once but twice how to tie a nice, simple bow with ribbon. Check out Kerry's video tutorial here.

Stay tuned. I am revamping my blog and it will kick off in March.

Teacher Birthday Card

2011-01-27T10:45:00.000-06:00

Both my daughters have had a wonderful 5th grade teacher named Mrs. Estes. I volunteered to create a 40th birthday card for her and I wanted to make it special. Here is what I came up with:

Supplies include:
Cardstock All solid colors are Stampin' Up!
Patterned Paper: Typewriter paper by October Afternoon, Red pattern by SU, Background kraft paper by Basic Grey. Exclamation point from BoBunny "Learning Curve" sticker sheet.
Die Cuts: all custom creations using Make The Cut software and Cricut Expression.
I did add a red button after I took the photo to serve as the period after "Mrs."

Birthday Bakery for Two

2011-01-13T09:35:00.000-06:00

I needed two simple birthday cards kind of quick. I am nuts about this stamp set by SU - a hostess set - called Birthday Bakery. I made one for a nephew and one for a sister-in-law that have back to back January birthdays. Blue one uses Certainly Celery DSP, Marina Mist CS by SU, the Birthday Bakery Stamp set, markers Marina Mist, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery and Peach Parfait. Memento Black ink to stamp. Twine is by Martha Stewart. I added a touch of blue stickles after I took the photo. Texture plate by Cuttlebug.
Pink one is Pink Pirouette CS, Baja Breeze DSP, markers Baja Breeze, Pink Pirouette, Pretty in Pink and Regal Rose. Misc ribbon. Texture plate by Sizzix.

Dear Uncle Bruce

2010-12-27T17:15:00.001-06:00

My husband has an uncle that neither I nor the kids have ever met. He jokes that we don't really believe he exists. He lives in Arizona and is not willing to travel and we haven't made it there as a family (husband has). Every year he gets one of my handmade Christmas cards. And every year this almost-recluse of a man - an engineer and a man of very few words - writes me a hand-written letter to thank me for the card. So, even if I decide not to do handmade cards for everyone (or even anyone) on my list, I will stop to make him one. I made this one for him this year. It was the only Christmas card I made. On the inside it says "there is an Uncle Bruce." Used Katie Pertiet image from designerdigitals.com, SU ribbon, SU Felt Flurries, misc brads, label punch, computer printed sentiment, SU Love Letter paper, and SU snowflake stamp set.

Uncle Bruce wrote me that he loved the card. He said I was the cleverest person he never met :-)

New Year's Greetings!

2010-12-27T16:58:00.001-06:00

It has been about 3 months since I last posted. Among a variety of other projects, I made a dozen Christmas ornaments using mostly SU materials including Love Letter Designer Paper, My Digital Studio (even used some Katie Pertiet images from designerdigitals.com), new large label punch, a gold leafing pen, a little Basic Grey paper, Martha Stewart Tinsel Glitter, my trusty Cricut, Graphic 45 paper (the postage stamps), Bo Bunny brads and a hot glue gun ;-). If there is something here you want more details on, just email me and I will get back to you ASAP with the answers. TFL!

Mojo Monday 158

2010-09-27T22:03:00.003-05:00

An elderly friend of mine lost her dog of 17 years last week. I made this for her. I am never disappointed by the Mojo Monday sketches, so I used it to compose the card.

Supplies:
Card Stock: SU Riding Hood Red, Crumb Cake, Neenah Classic Crest Smooth (not sure of the precise name)
Patterned Paper: Think it is Bo Bunny
Stamps: Meljen's Designs fire hydrant, SU "Thoughts and Prayers" sentiment, Inkadinkadoo paws
Ink: Black, Baja Breeze
Used Prismacolored Pencils
Twill tape: SU; Buckle: SU; Eyelets: SU, Hand stitched edge with red thread.

A Natural Mojo in pink and green

2010-09-14T15:29:00.000-05:00

I finally got my hands on one of those adorable Pure Innocence images by Heather Ellis. I wanted to use green to meet the Shabby Tea Room Challenge and I loved the Mojo Monday sketch. Except for the flesh tones where I used a Copic Marker, all the coloring is with Prismacolor Pencils and odorless mineral spirits. I have been printing my digi's on SU's Whisper White on my Epson Photo printer. It works pretty well but I am itching to try what some others try. I ordered some Neenah Classic Crest Solar White on recommendation from Amy Sheffer's blog. She and others like Paula Williamson and Karen Motz are some of my card-making, colored pencil heroes. Anyhoo, I went with soft colors this time and liked what I got. I originally planned to use a ribbon on the left but it wouldn't fit. This embroidery floss and the itty bitty clothespin were things I just had sitting around in my stash. Love it when that happens.

CS: SU's Soft Suede, Whisper White, Pink Pirouette

Patterned Paper: all Stampin Up!

Pink bird cut out: Cricut Straight from the Nest cartridge - border setting

Stamps: Digital Heather Ellis, phrase Inkadinkadoo

Punches: Threading Water by Fiskars and Heart punch by SU

clothespin by Memory Shoppe, floss by DMC

Challenges:

Mojo Monday: sketch, MM156

The Shabby Tea Room: Something from nature and/or color green, STRC#27

A Western Thank You

2010-09-12T14:49:00.001-05:00

High Noon. I don't believe I have ever seen it, but that was the challenge (CSCC#95) over at Cinema Saturday. I thought at first I would have nothing to throw at this but then I stumbled across the nifty distressed bandana paper and it all came together.

CS: Per a challenge: SU black, Crumb Cake, Red

Patterned Paper: SandyLion Bandana, SU Newsprint, K& Co.

Stamp Set: Su retired All About U, Itty Bitty Backgrounds

Ink: Black and Tim Holtz Brushed Corduroy

Embellishments: Buttons Galore Antique Brads, SU Twill, EK Success star punches

Lace from Making Memories I think

Challenges addressed here:

Cinema Saturday Creative Challenge: High Noon

I {heart} 2 stamp: Sketch, SFYTT 9.11.10

Crazy for Challenges: C4C54, colors of Black, Red, Kraft

A Bookish Mouse Lives Here

2010-09-10T16:04:00.002-05:00

I finally dusted off my colored pencils so I could work with a digital stamp. I adore this one and have used it before here. Melissa Jenkins is so crazy talented. You can see her wonderful designs at Whimsy Stamps. I need to do more digital stamp challenges so I can color more. It is so much fun.
Supplies I used are:

Cardstock: SU Peach Parfait, Marina Mist, Whisper White
Patterned Paper: Marina Mist DSP, Crate Paper Baby Bee Collection - Dragon Fly and Little One
Ribbon: American Crafts
Button and twine: Stampin Up Soft Subtles
Pencils: Prismacolor Pencils
Ink: Old Paper by Tim Holtz
Marvy Butterfly punch

And for the challenges, I picked several. I did learn that the Pile It On website has folks who can use 10 or even more on 1 card. Yowza!!
Eat Sleep Stamp: ESS100 - Sketch
Picture Perfect Creations: Color: Marina Mist, Daffodil Delight, Peach Parfait
Meljen's Designs: Back to School
Fab 'N Funky Challenges: 'What 'eva"
Cupcake Craft Challenges: Books & stories
Pile It On: Layers

An Inaugural Scary Tree in Sleepy Hollow

2010-09-05T22:26:00.000-05:00

Two challenges and a whole lotta Cricut work. I am adding this card to the inaugural 4 Crafty Chicks Challenge. You gotta love a new challenge blog!!! It follows (as best I could) the sketch that is there. I am also submitting this for the Cinema Saturday Creative Challenge of "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" with a requirement of using a scary Halloween Tree. I *adore* Halloween, so I was all set to dive into this theme.

Cardstock: SU Elegant Eggplant, Old Olive

Patterned Paper: K&Co newsprint, SU retired halloween paper

Stamps: SU Everyday Flexible Phrases

Texture Embossing: Sizzix Halloween Set #2

Cricut Cartridges: Tree-Stretch Your Imagination, Vine - Straight from the Next, Large leaves & Giant label shape - Accent Essentials

Stitching to create the tree hollow (thread is olive colored)

Random button

Traveling with a Fabric Bookmark is a Challenge

2010-09-02T21:32:00.000-05:00

My post titles are like my cards - melding a bunch of things all together. This card has 4 challenges in one. We have the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge with travel or road trip. My latest road trip was to South Padre Island Beach off the coast of Texas, so palm trees are on this. Next was the cool challenge of making a bookmark at CCEE Stampers. Then there were two challenges asking for the use of fabric - One was Cute Card Thursday and the other was Fab'n Funky Challenges. Here is what I made with all the details

CS: Do you ever have something in your scrap stash that you think is really cool, but you just don't know where to use it? And that thing sits around for years until one day it becomes the perfect item to use? That was it for me today with this twill cardstock I bought years ago from Close to My Heart. It was twill with adhesive on the back. I adhered it to an old SU bookmark and cut around the edges to match the shape. I stamped it with another cool item I bought and never used - a postmark stamp from All Night Media that reads "Wish You Were Here," Pear Pizzazz, Peach Parfait, Natural Ivory
PP: K & Company Sea Glass collection
Stamps: SU's Happy Harmony, Itty Bitty Backgrounds; All Night Media postmark stamp
Ink: Tim Holtz's distress ink in Walnut Ink and Old Paper
Cricut Cartridge: Stretch Your Imagination
Buttons and brads and lower brown ribbon: Unknown
Bookmark ribbon and twine is by SU
Postage edge border punch by EK Success

Cool color combo

2010-09-01T22:27:00.000-05:00

Three more challenges addressed here: First is Scrapmaster's Parade Color Combo #63 which uses the super fun combo of SU's Pacific Point, Rich Razzleberry, and Pear Pizzazz. Next is the Tuesday Throwdown with the challenge of using ribbon in a unique way. Finally, it's a nifty layout from Twisted Sketches. Why the number 13? A certain someone in my household will soon be turning 13.

Here is what I used:
CS: All SU - Rich Razzleberry, Pear Pizzazz, Pacific Point
Texture Embossing plate by Provo Craft (forget the name)
Ribbon: Found this super decadent ribbon at Hobby Lobby in the fabric department. It is called "Decorative Ribbon." Original, huh? The color is listed as "blue." Anyhoo, it's a perfect match for the Pacific Point, hence my purchase. I cinched it up by a basting through it with white thread and then pulling it. I adhered it with 1/2" wide Tacky Tape.
Banner cut edge: Cricut Straight from the Nest cartridge
Letters and #13: Sans Serif Cartridge
Gems: unknown

PPC-CC#28 and MTSC89 and ABC Challenge

2010-09-01T08:27:00.003-05:00

Okay, so my post titles are just a bunch of acronyms. Oh well. I snagged three challenges with this card AND it will be mailed to some dear family members for their 55th wedding anniversary (whoo hoo!!). I haven't made a tower card in a while and I was itching to use this SU set Elements of Style. I must admit it is so pretty I get intimidated by it. The sketch challenge was from Mercy Kerin and the color challenge was from Picture Perfect Creations. and I stumbled across a challenge that asked me to use a charm - that was a huge coincidence. It is the ABC Challenge blog.

CS: Baha Breeze, Basic Black, Cherry Cobbler

Stamps: Elements of Style and Itty Bitty Backgrounds by SU, Happy Anniversary by Stampabilities

Ink/Markers: Black, Old Paper Distress Ink by Tim Holtz, Pink Pirouette, Baha Breeze, Cherry Cobbler, River Rock

Patterned Paper: Basic Grey from Blush line

Cherry Cobbler top cut out: Cricut Straight from the Nest (aka: The World's Greatest Cricut Cartridge)

Cherry Cobbler border: EK Success border punch Morocco Lace (I bought it on a whim - coupon in hand - and I like!)

Charm: 7 Gypsies

Glossy Accents are on the three largest blooms.

Off to hunt up more fun challenges!

Cinema Saturday and more

2010-08-28T19:42:00.000-05:00

Whoo hoo! Three challenges with this sunny card. First, I was inspired by today's Cinema Saturday Challenge, CSCC#93, using the movie "Annie." Love that movie and all the music. Thought this card could be a day brightener for someone using Annie's famous line. It also needed red accents and I unearthed this red Admit One ticket to use as both red and as a reminder of the fact that it is a movie (and a play too). All materials are random. Cardstock is Stampin' Up! Crumb Cake and Daffodil Delight. No stamps used. Second challenge is a from Unscripted Sketches #70, . Finally, the challenge at Just Add Ink #32 asks for material or ribbon in the project. Got that! This was fun.

Color challenge + sketch challenge (CCEE1033 & CI#137)

2010-08-22T11:40:00.000-05:00

Found a really fun sketch challenge at CCEE Stampers and a fun color challenge at Stamping411. Here is what I came up with:

All materials are Stampin Up except texture plate is by Provo Craft: CS: Certainly Celery, Wild Wasabi, Tangerine Tango; DSP: Certainly Celery, Wild Wasabi; Stamps: Birthday Bakery, Birthday Whimsy; Ink: Black + Tangerine Tango Marker

Totally Teddy card

2010-08-19T22:10:00.000-05:00

Okay, challenges for Our Craft Lounge OCLDT26 and Color Throwdown #106 are represented here with this Tri-Teddy card ;-)
All supplies are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise specified
CS: Crumb Cake, Certainly Celery, Chocolate Chip
Ink: Black, Choc Chip, Soft Sky
Patterned Paper: Soft Sky DSP
Stamps: Every Little Bit and Curvy Verses and Simply Sweet (flower)
Punch: Fun one, huh? I found this EK Success border punch at Michael's. It is called Morocco Lace. While I am a scallop freak, I wanted something a little different here and I got it. It is hard to use because of the intricacy but I love the look.
Ribbon is old Making Memories, button is SU.
Marker: Crumb Cake

cQc#46 and GS#51

2010-08-18T22:03:00.000-05:00

Whoo hoo! Gotta love a multi-tasking card. This card is for two challenges. The delicious color combo at colorQ blog is represented here. Also, the simple but fun sketch at Get Sketchy Card Challenge is here.

I was happy to be able to capture the Glossy Accents I used on the gumball machine globes. Here are the details. Again, all materials are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise specified.

Stamps: Every Little Bit, Occasional Quotes

CS: Wild Wasabi, Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobler, Daffodil Delight

Markers: Wild Wasabi, Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobler, Daffodil Delight, Baja Breeze

Ink: Black

Patterned Paper: Newsprint

Ribbon: Wild Wasabi stitched (ret), twine

random red button, Glossy Accents

Working on another card with a fun color combo.

MTSC87 Cupcake Card with a little sparkle

2010-08-18T11:43:00.000-05:00

I loved the sketch over at Lord Have Mercy blog by Mercy Kerin. This is my entry for that sketch and for the Creative Card Crew Tuesday Sparkle and Shine Challenge. Once again, I turned to my Straight from the Nest Cricut cartridge and made a cupcake as the focal point.

CS: SU Soft Sky, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Rose Red for cherry

Patterned Paper: SU designer paper in same three colors, plaid is an unknown - maybe Fancy Pants or Bo Bunny.

Stickles for sparkle, Ribbon is SU and American Crafts. Tags are punched with SU jewelry tag punch. Button is random.

CMM #23 and MOJO152

2010-08-16T21:59:00.000-05:00

I think I've gone challenge happy. I did one card to suit two challenges today. First for the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog, Challenge Me Monday #23. Challenge was to use Cricut cutouts with an outdoor theme. Second challenge was for the Mojo Monday Sketch Blog. Here is my entry for both.

Most materials are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted.

CS: Old Olive, Natural Ivory, Chocolate Chip, Peach Pizazz; Patterned Paper is SU.

Ovals are from Plantin Schoolbook. Cricut Tree Cutout is from Straight from the Nest cartridge. It was very difficult to get the tree top cut, paper kept ripping no matter the CS weight, pressure or speed. Finally used an Xacto to get this one right, but it took time. A much larger size would have probably cut fine. Stamp: Occasional Quotes; Color Spritzer and stamp ink was Early Espresso, Twill and twine are SU, Gingham is made by BasicBasic (probably an old Michael's purchase). Button is from actual Baby B'Gosh clothing - no idea where I got it as my youngest is 10 years old.

CSCC91 The Movie "Gandhi"

2010-08-15T22:35:00.001-05:00

I get a kick out of the challenge blog over at Cinema Saturday Creative Challenge. This Saturday (Aug 14) they asked cards be inspired by the movie Gandhi and include a quote on them. Behold, in my stash I uncovered a great Gandhi quote from the SU set "Happy Harmony."

Dove from SU's set You & Yours is stamped in Baja Breeze ink on Very Vanilla. Quote is in black on Very Vanilla and matted on the retired Taken with Thyme. A strip of Baja Breeze is behind that and on top of the American Crafts grosgrain ribbon. Patterned Paper is Basic Grey "Cherish" from a few years ago. Copper brads. My dear Cricut with the world's best cartridge "Straight from the Nest" cut the shapes. Can't believe I posted twice today. Hope that happens again soon.

CCMC111 Back to School!

2010-08-15T19:52:00.000-05:00

I found a fun challenge blog called Create with Connie and Mary. I really liked their Back to School challenge and so I participated with heavy emphasis on Stampin' Up! supplies since I am back to being a SU demo. Put this together today. All supplies are Stampin' Up! except for the die cut shape. It was made on my beloved Cricut with the Plantin Schoolbook (what else?) cartridge.
CS: Daffodil Delight, Real Red, Crumb Cake (Kraft), Natural White, Basic Black
Patterned Paper: SU's Newsprint
Stamps: Every Little Bit (bus), Occasional Quotes
Ribbon: Old Olive wide grosgrain, red gingham, hemp thread
Punch is the spiral one from SU, SU Markers

Now I need to get back to work on a card about Gandhi...stay tuned.

Mojo Monday 150

2010-08-02T21:36:00.000-05:00

I actually got a chance to play along with Mojo Monday today and made a card for a colleague that is moving away but also getting promoted. Just grabbed some Bo Bunny, Stampin' Up! and October Afternoon scraps for this. Used SU's Riding Hood Red and So Saffron as the solid CS. Text is from my computer as I had no Goodbye or Adios stamps.

Baby Paint Can Gift

2010-07-29T22:41:00.000-05:00

One gift I love to make for parents-to-be is a paint can. By that I mean I like to decorate a clean, empty paint can (a few bucks at the local home improvement store), fill it with fun items and add a great poem that tells how to use the can as a place to store memories. I have a dear old friend who just gave birth to twin boys. In the 90's we shared an office and had a great time together as colleagues and office mates. These are her first children and I am so excited for her. I decorated this can using October Afternoon Ducks in a Row collection (stripes, blue pattern, and ducks). The beige paper I ran through my printer - it is K & Co. Hopscotch Girl Lined Flat Paper. The dark gray is Stampin' Up's Basic Gray CS, Twill is SU's also. Duck cut outs are a digital stamp called "Plopping Down" by Eline Pellinkhof on Squigglefly.com. I hand colored them with my Prismacolor pencils. I still have some work to do to get my lightbox to perform the way I want it to.

Here is the original SCS post that has the poem and many other great ideas for paint cans

SCS Link to Baby poem

Thank you note cards included in the can are using SU's retired Cool Caribbean, Summer Sun CS, SU retired set Riveting, and October Afternoon paper in the same line.

Covered a small brown spiral I got at Michael's with the same items. Hand cut the duck and butterfly (thank heavens for those reader glasses).

A inexpensive 4 x 6" photo holder with a cover made from same paper as above and "Kate" rub-on letters from American Crafts.

Two Father's Day cards

2010-06-20T13:46:00.000-05:00

Made a father's day card for my dad (left) and my husband (right). Left: Kraft CS from SU, Newsprint DSP from SU, striped paper misc, die cut tree from Cricut Straight from the Nest, Ribbon from SU, Choc chip and Sage Shadow CS from SU; Right: Have a Donut stamp set from Hero Arts, Black Memento ink, Chestnut Roan Chalk ink from Colorbox, Prismacolor Pencils, Stickles, October Afternoon text paper, Green cs is misc, Kraft from SU. Ribbon from SU (taffeta in Espresso).

Mojo 143

2010-06-16T11:13:00.000-05:00

Made this card for Mojo 143 and I'll send it to a friend for her birthday.

Cardstock: Blue Bayou (retired), River Rock, Very Vanilla, Bashful Blue, Pumpkin Pie
Die cut owl - Cricut Straight from the Nest; and scallop circle and circle: Cricut Accent Essentials
Patterned Paper: Pumpkin Pie DSP, SU Newsprint
Ribbon: SU Blue Bayou

A Friendly Meljen Mouse

2010-06-15T22:27:00.000-05:00

I have been enjoying producing some framed pieces lately and I loved this digital stamp of "Mushroom Mouse" from Meljen's Designs. I wanted to make something special for a little girl turning 10 - a close friend of my daughter's and a neighbor. Saw this stamp and had to have it. All coloring is with Prismacolor Pencils and Gamsol. Here are the details:
Cardstock: All SU - Whisper White, Pacific Point (just behind image), Taken with Teal, Peach Parfait, Very Vanilla (text)
Patterned Paper: Making Memories Ledger Text (background), Fancy Pants - Daily Grind collection (mushroom cap popped out), October Afternoon is all remaining
Butterfly punch is Marvy Uchida, Big scallop using Cricut, Ribbon, buttons - Misc.

PPA 46

2010-06-11T20:13:00.001-05:00

I finally got my hot little hands on some Crushed Curry and Bermuda Bay thanks to another demo friend of mine. Had plenty of the Soft Suede already. I created this for the PPA 46 challenge. Flower image is from SU Organic Grace. I colored it with my Prismacolor Pencils. Brads are from Making Memories. Punch is Fiskars. My starter kit and my first order of new paper arrive on Monday - yowza! I can hardly wait.

Mojo 142

2010-06-08T10:56:00.000-05:00

I finally got my Mojo on for this challenge. I am determined to build a lightbox today so I can make my cards not look so flat when I photograph them. I took this out to my front porch to shoot it in the cloudy weather we're having. Worked well enough.
Cardstock: Bazzill Rain (skyline), Bazzill Berry Splash, Blush Blossom, SU WW for digital stamp, Baha Breeze for card, Tangerine Tango
Patterned Paper: Cosmo Cricket's Girl Friday
Cricut: Plantin Schoolbook (skyline)
Digital Stamp: Mo Manning's Super Duper Girl, Autumn Leaves (Shine)
Punch: 1 3/4" circle, Fiskars Threading Water
Prima flower, misc bling

Shadowbox for a friend

2010-06-06T23:12:00.000-05:00

I recently made a framed scrapbook page for a friend. She's been a BFF for 26 years, ever since we met on the first day of college as roommates. She has been fighting Stage 3 breast cancer for about 14 months now and doing remarkably well - she has a true fighting spirit. I was intimidated making something that I wanted to be so special, but this is what I came up with (indeed, she cried when I gave it to her).

Cardstock: SU Morning Marigold, Very Vanilla, Pumpkin Pie, Core d'nations teal CS
Ink: SU Sahara Sand, Old Olive, Morning Marigold
Ribbon: Misc. (sewed 2 together)
Patterned paper: Bo Bunny
Flowers by Prisma
Butterflies: large by Quickutz, smaller are paper punches by EK Success and Marvy
Other punches: Fiskars Threading Water, SU's spiral notebook punch
Stamps: SU Simply Said, SU French Script, plus misc. small typewriter alphabet

Hoot Hoot Hooray!

2010-06-02T23:00:00.002-05:00

School let out last Friday and I made several teacher gifts (one of my favorite things to do). This year I went to Wal-mart and found some bright colored water bottles. My favorite ones were teal with a bright green. I used that color scheme and made tags with my Cricut. Using the Accent Essentials I made a square teal scalloped frame. I backed that with SU designer paper in the retired Soft Sky color. Then, using my all-time favorite Cricut cartridge "Straight from the Nest" (and you have to buy it straight from HSN), I cut these colorful owls, dry embossed them with a swiss-dot texture folder, and edged with chocolate chip SU ink. The text says "hoot hoot hooray! It's summertime!" which I simply printed from my PC. I popped up some of the words and the owl. Now if I could figure out how to photograph my crafts so they will show some dimension, I'd be set.

Ferris Bueller....Oh Yeah!!

2010-05-29T21:09:00.000-05:00

So today's Cinema Saturday Challenge was to do a card inspired by the oh-so-funny movie "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" (1986). First, I fell in love with the notion of this weekly card challenge. It truly pushes creativity in all kinds of directions. My biggest memory from the movie was the music that played over the end credits and the end scenes. It was the song "Oh Yeah" by Yello (no, my memory is NOT this good as to remember the band, I got it off IMdb.com.) sung in that super-deep voice. So, this is what I made my card about.

Here are the ingredients I used: Base cardstock was SU's Tangerine Tango I think, Patterned paper is from Cosmo Cricket's Snorkel package (edged with Walnut distress ink). Letters are cut from Cricut cartridge Simply Sweet and then holes punched with 1/16" and 1/8" hole punches. Font is "SNF Sophia" from the Internet printed on SU vanilla CS, Chipboard arrows and stars are from the Lucky You line sold at Joanne's. Random buttons and ribbon. Hole punch is the spiral bound punch that Stampin' Up! sells (one of my faves). Go enter this challenge. It's so fun!!

A name frame featuring Super Duper Girl

2010-05-28T22:56:00.000-05:00

I got an idea on Monday about doing a name frame for a carpool pal of ours whose birthday was this past Wednesday. It pretty much came together how I thought it would. Image is Super Duper Girl by Mo Manning, colored with Gamsol and Prismacolored pencils (my new addictive crafting activity) and cut very carefully. Frame holds an 8x10" mat covered with paper by - hmmm...can't remember right now. Used ink on the edges and added stitching before gluing on mat. Background was simply printed on plain white cardstock using the Typewriter font in MS Word. Letters are cut from Bazzill and Stampin' Up! paper using Cricut Simply Sweet cartridge. Flowers are Prisma and dotted ribbon is Melon Mambo from SU! Rub on letters on glass are Ned Jr. Minimarks by American Crafts.

Who, What, Where, When

2010-05-27T22:24:00.001-05:00

My name is Janet and I am a long-time paper crafter. I have been crafting in one form or another ever since Miss Ellen taught me how to *walk* with a pair of scissors, instead of run, in Kindergarten. Eleven years ago I was introduced to scrapbooking and fell in love with it. Seven years ago I discovered rubber stamping and yep, you guessed it -- fell in love with it too.
Recently I have taken up coloring with Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils.
I live in north Austin, TX with my husband, two daughters, two dachshunds, and more goldfish and koi than we can count in our backyard pond.
This blog is primarily about sharing scrapbooking, stamping, paper crafting, and gift making.