Birthday Fishes!

Have you ever thought about hanging a tag

UPSIDE DOWN? 

I always think of tags as hanging DOWN,

 or off from one side...

 

I wanted the balloon string attached to the tag,

but wanted the tag to "float" UP.

 

Here's what I came "up" with...

 

This is the

Skipping Stones Design

sketch that inspired it all:

 

 

 

Flipped it over, and there you go!

 

Have fun playing!

There are no rules...just things that aren't done as a rule!

This fun little card also entered into the "Birthday" challenge at
By The Cute and Girly blog!

 



Born to shop!

I love vintage and if I can find a way to use it on my cards, I will!

In this case, it's a vintage 50's pattern from October Afternoon.

The sketch challenge at Skipping Stones Designs inpired me to make a

tag and pocket card. 

I used the SSD stamp from the "Sassy Shoes" set.

This card is also entered in the challenge at

Crazy 4 Challenges (Use black cardstock)

Birthdays are like purses...

This week, the challenge at Skipping Stones offered the perfect sketch opportunity!

I think you'll agree that this graphic layout is perfect for this stamp and sentiment!

So very classic!

I had so much fun making this card!

And, as always, my purse and belt are my favorite colors!  Black and RED!

I added the silver accents to put it over the top!

I own a gorgeous bright red purse, but rarely have the nerve to use it.

I guess I have a RED girl on the inside, struggling to get out!

Speaking of the inside:

Enjoy your day!

This card is also entered into the challenge at:

Totally PaperCrafts ( Show a favorite, Favorite Colors- Red & Black!))

Runway Inspired Challenge (reds and black!)

What does this mean?

I saw the sketch challenge at Skipping Stones Design this week and immediately knew what I wanted to do.

I have friends who have NOT had a mammogram in, well,

let's just say a very long time.

Hopefully this card will reach one of them,

and the others (and you know who you are),

will see this post and consider what's at risk here.

I absolutely love this stamp set, Bras Volume 1.

It was my very first Skipping Stone,

and still remains my favorite!

Because I wanted to get to the heart of the problem,

I used a sentiment from another stamp set.

It just brought the message home so well.

I love the way the little stamped hangers popped off the embossed cardstock after I heat embossed them in black. And those bras are so much fun to stamp and color!  I can pretend I'm shopping at Victoria's Secret! I can also pretend I would buy a $60 bra! LOL!

So, no matter who you are reading this,

you are someone's daughter,

maybe someone's mother,

or sister...

Get a mammogram!

You DO matter!

And, go check out the challenge at Skipping Stones Design!

They have the coolest sketches and products!

Supplies:

Stamps: Skipping Stones Designs, "Bras Volume 1"; Verve, "Words of Wisdom"

Papers: Bazzill, Pattern Paper (unknown)

Embossing; Cuttlebug, "Swiss Dots"

Twine: The Twinery

Welcome Santa!

I always hang one of my Christmas wreaths on my front door, along with several others in the windows. This year may pose a bit of a problem since we have so MANY front windows...may just stick to the downstairs windows! LOL!

But this sketch from the Skipping Stones Challenge this week inspired me.  As soon as I saw it, I immediately saw a window and house siding...hmmm...I'm more a home decorator than a card maker perhaps.

So, here's my take on that sketch.  Pretty much resembles my windows...I love hanging my extra ornaments from the top and a big red ribbon holds the wreath.  Multiply that by three windows plus the front door and it makes a nice holiday statement!

The adorable wreath is part of the Skipping Stones "Everyday Blessings" set, which I embossed in deep green and then colored in with Copics.

I used an older stamp from Cornish Heritage Farms, ""Weathered Wood Backgrounder" for the house siding. I love the way the rubber is cut so deeply that the heat embossing brings out all of the detail!

Even though it's a simple card,

I think it's quickly become one of my favorites this year...

Skipping Stones Design Sketch Challenge!

It appears it's the week for tags...at least posting two in one weekend is a record for me! I am much more comfortable when the tag is ATTACHED to the front of a card or 3D project.  Which means this sketch at Skipping Stones was perfect!

And simple enough! As a matter of fact, I purposely chose to leave off a sentiment so that I may use it for one of the many occasions I have coming up.  I have several friends with Fall birthdays, two wedding Anniversaries, and several folks I just plain miss on a regular basis!

This wreath from Skipping Stones is so versatile!

You can color it up with Fall or Christmas colors, and I noticed today, that it has tiny groups of what could be flowers for a Spring or Summer wreath!  

Yes, I'll be inking this one up a lot!

I don't know if you can tell, but the leaves from the same set were embossed in gold onto the punched trim to add just a bit of sparkle.

Also, on a sad note, one of my favorite and very generous Challenge Blogs is going "off the air" and this is their last challenge!
So, this card is being submitted at Easy Craft Projects Challenges.  I will miss checking out all of their cool DT projects and the other entries!

Pretty Woman Revisited!

I love the movie "Pretty Woman", (who doesn't) and whenever I see a dress, shoes, or outfit with red on white or white on red polka dots, I fondly remember that movie.

While browsing through an old issue of Papercrafts the other day,

I came across the pattern for a shoe.

Not just any shoe, but this fabulous heel. 

So I grabbed my DCWV paper and decided to go VINTAGE!

First I constructed the adorable shoe!

IF I were younger, and IF I were so inclined to dress up enough to wear heels,

this is the shoe I would want to wear!

Rather "Jimmy Choo" looking, don't you agree?

The bow I made months ago and it was just waiting for the perfect project!

I needed a card to go with the adorable little 3D gift, so I decided to go with a
SQUARE card this time.

I love my new Cricut cartridge, "Art Philosophy", which is only available through your Close To My Heart representatives.  It cost a bit more than others, but comes with

three terrific stamps sets, and many of the shapes we all really love. 

No, I'm not a  CTMH rep, nor do I get any kickback,

but I can direct you to a very sweet gal if you need one!

I was able to  cut out the black outline frame in seconds on my Cricut!

Sorry, but because of there being more than one object to focus on

and my camera SUCKING,

I wasn't able to get a really clear picture.

Here's the inside of the card:

My fingers aren't working very well today (even WITH the Lyrica) and I slipped and fumbled with the shoe stamp, so you'll see a bit of a blur on the card.

Yes, it always happens when you have your entire project almost finished!

Supplies:

Papers; DCWV, "Lady Couture" Stack

Stamps; Skipping Stones Designs, "Shoes"

Twine; On-A-Cord from Hobby Lobby

This cute card/gift set will be entered into the challenges at:

Simon Says Stamps (More than one fold)

The Pink Elephant (Vintage)
Do You Stack Up? (Texture)

Paper Sundaes (Finishing Touches)

Falling Leaves....

This card is simple, yes. But I wish you could see the glittery shine on those leaves!

I just couldn't get the light right so that you could see the glimmer!

The leaves were stamped and hand cut, then spritzed with Glimmer Mist. 

They are so sparkly IRL!   I curled the edges to look more real.

The red trim is machine stitched onto the card,

along with the stitching to add a bit of drama.

Supplies Used:
Stamps (Leaves and sentiment), Skipping Stones, "Everyday Blessings"
Nestabilities: Labels Nine
Tattered Angels, "Jingle Bells Glimmer Mist"

Entered in the sketch challenge at Skipping Stones Designs

And at the DYSU- DoYouStackUp Challenge Blog!

(Texture)

Great friends....

For a gal who I've known for almost 30 years....

I black heat-embossed the stamped background pattern behind the shoes...

...a little Stickles and rhinestones made the poms "pop"!  And the shoes were stamped on and the circles cut from SEI glitter paper.  The DCWV Mod-Retro pattern paper was perfect for two old friends!

I used the sketch from Skipping Stones Designs this week:

To old times...

Skipping Stones- Down to the wire!

I was cruising through my emails and going back through my favorite blog spots and found the Skipping Stones challenge that I had missed while on vacation!  Well, with only a few hours to go, I had to sit down and put together a card.  Now what to do....hmmm...

I have a dear friend who loves dragonflies.  I will save this card for her for when she needs a comforting word.
The Skipping Stones #89 sketch is:

I changed it up so that the frame-in-frames weren't mere squares.  I used a mat from the DCWV stack, Immortal Love. 
Check out the challenge and their wonderful stamps! Love them!  They are also celebrating the tail end of their Blog for Boobies.  Great cause and a sale!

Enjoy!

I will make this brief. I had a crown pop off my molar this weekend and had to go get it temporarily "glued" back in this morning.... my jaw is a bit sore.  I go back Thursday for my new bridgework...fun.
This is the sketch from Skipping Stones that prompted this card:

And my take, including the NEWSPAPER and COLOR challenges below:

I love the way the thick, textured yarn and the BOLD, heat embossed Tim Holtz sentiment looks against the delicate Skipping Stones butterfly stamps!

Ok, 'nuff said...my tummy's not feeling the best!  Better try and eat something.

Supplies:
Paper: Scenic Route; Stamps, Skipping Stones and Tim Holtz; Stock yarns and ribbon; Helmar 450 adhesive.

Challenges:
Skipping Stones Design (Sketch #65)
Embellish! (Color)
Simon Says Stamps (Newpaper pattern)

Thanks for looking and have a great week! 

A beacon of comfort...

     That's what a very close, dear friend of mine offered up even if she wasn't completely aware of how huge her generosity was!  When the temperature here in Phoenix hit 118, she insisted I fly out to Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin for a visit.  She and her husband have semi-retired there from St. Louis and have an absolutely beautiful home only a few miles from Lake Michigan on the East, and not much further from the Green Bay on the West, in scenic Door County.   It was a comfortable 75-80 degrees and breezy the whole time I was there. It was lighthouse and winery tours, visiting big boats, and lounging on a beach that was almost our own private little oasis.
     So, when I returned home and saw that the challenge for "Embellish It" was Nautical and had the perfect colors, I knew I needed to get right on that Thank You card!

Here's a peek....

I cut a small window out of the front and framed it in this adorable Click-Art life preserver.  Then I stamped the lighthouse image onto the inside of the card.  I had completely forgotten that I had purchased this Stampin' Up set at a yard sale while visiting another good friend in Tucson recently.

The background paper was run through my crimper and inked to resemble a weathered, tin wall.  I love the texture of it IRL. 

The cute little heat embossed anchor is one of the MANY Snag 'Em stamps I've acquired, not sure how or when I would ever use them.

I was so thrilled to see so many various kinds of lighthouses and get the chance to see a part of America that I've never ventured to before.  It is my hope that my gratitude shows in this card.

Inside sentiment:

Sorry about the poor quality of the photos, but I realize now how difficult it is to photograph a card that has a cut-out opening and still make it stand level and upright. I assure you that it is...LOL. 

Skipping Stones Design sketch used:

The stamp from Skipping Stones was the simple little "Thank You" on the front. It was important to find just the right sentiment, and this one seemed to fit the bill! 

All I had to do was bend it a bit to accent the curve!

Supplies:

Tools:  Fiskars crimper; Creative Memories Circle Cutter, Marvy Heat Tool

Click-Art Life Preserver Image;  Lighthouse stamp and sentiment, "Stampin' Up;

"Thank You" sentiment, Skipping Stones Designs, "Birthday Purses";

White cord, Hancock Fabrics; Helmar 450 Adhesive

Entered into challenges at:

Embellish It, Nautical/Color Trends Challenge

Skipping Stones, Sketch Challenge 

The Crazy Challenge, "Summer" theme

Simon Says, "Anything Goes"

Trendy Girl!

I absolutely love the vintage products out there, and that includes the wonderful tweed patterns and retro patent leather look!

The sketch I used was from Skipping Stones Design, as were the stamps on this card!  Aren't they fantastic!  Love that sentiment!

I heat embossed a large surface with clear on bright red textured Bazzill cardstock, then stamped the purse image onto that. Then I stamped the image again and heat embossed the black bow. Fussy cutting that little begger was fun!  LOL!

The red belt was done the same way.  It looks exactly like patent leather!

The sketch:

Don't you love that purse and belt?  I want one IRL!

Inside sentiment:

Sorry, it didn't show up very well in the photo,

but the little gold designer label is SOOO cute!

This card was so much fun to make. I was up till after midnight working on it, and then Blogger went out and I couldn't post...Yikes! 

I laid awake forever worrying about the cards for today!

Supplies used:

Paper: DCWV, Lady Couture

Stamps;  Skipping Stones Designs

Bow; Offray

Ribbon; JoAnn's

Ink; StazOn

Embossing powder;  Stampendous!



Sometimes a "Sista" just needs a shoulder...

In this case, it is actually my sister.  She is having some medical tests run just to eliminate anything serious, so we are all keeping a positive attitude. At the same time, it is easy to allow yourself to get depressed and feel sorry even before anything is known...  I just want her to know I'm here for her, whatever the outcome (which I'm sure will be fine)

I refrained from using bling or pearls, since she does not like either on her clothes or cards!  But I thought the vintage laces and buttons would add a certain element of time having passed....lots of time...lol!
I actually" repurposed" a greeting card I had received from a friend.  Shhh - don't tell.
I love the layers of colors with the cepia photo!  These two girls could have been us, they look so much like the "Garber girls". I hope this brings a little smile ot her face over the next few days while she waits to hear from the dr.

The sketch I used for inspiration was from Skipping Stone Designs.

Various laces, ribbons, papers and embellishments were used, most from my stash pile.  The main item used was the sentiment stamp "To Cheer You" from

 the Skipping Stones set "Always Here".

Please keep your fingers crossed. I would really love to win Heartsong!

Sketch Challenge:  Skipping Stones Designs

Enjoy the Journey!

The Hero Arts blog had a wonderful tutorial regarding watercoloring with Distress Paints. I have never tried actually "painting" with them... spritzing, stamping, and antiquing with them, yes...but to actually use a brush to paint an image, no.  So, I decided to go one step further, and try to make a stained glass effect on vellum with them. It worked pretty well!

Here's the Skipping Stones sketch for this week!

Skipping Stones also makes the perfect dragonfly image for me to practice with!  I stamped onto vellum with Staz-On and let it dry thoroughly. Then I simply applied a tiny bit of Distress Ink to the wings, and took my finger and spread it around a bit.  ( Yes, my fingers are 3 shades of reds, blues, and greens now!)  But I really like the effect! Oh, and I also spritzed the final result with the tiniest amount of gold Glimmer Mist.
   It made the wings curl just slightly, and added the delicate look to the wings of the dragonfly.

Join Hero Arts for their monthly challenges! 

 I am going to be entering this one for sure!

Supplies:
Cardstock; Bazzill
Paper: DCWV, Doodlin'
Stamps:  Skipping Stones,  and Hero Arts (Travel Journal)
Distress Inks; Tim Holtz
French Velvet ribbon