Hip Hip Hooray!

We're back - Blogger's back online!

I've been waiting "patiently" for a long time to post my card for the
Waltzing Mouse sketch challenge!  Maybe not so very patiently.  Been pretty much complaining to anyone who'll listen!
Here goes!

I have been admiring all the cute stamps that look like my old childhood toy, the Spirograph.  Then I remembered having these old Colorbok die cuts. They have pretty much the same look and it was a way to rid myself of a little more of my stash. 
I was able to use my Waltzing Mouse "Bountiful Baskets Additions" stamp again, this time with just the contents and birthday sentiment. (No, I still haven't found my lost favorite basket stamp from that set!  I seriously think now the dog ate it! )
The doily was die cut (My Favorite Things die) from DCWV's "Cirtus" paper pack, and the dotted ribbon is Fiskars.
The inside stamped sentiment is an old one from CTMH, "Youthful Heart".

I love the way this simple little card came out!  I plan to use it for a friend who's birthday is in late December.  I think it has that Christmas holiday look without being too over the top.

Here is the little culprit I think MAY have carried off my tiny stamp!  She's not usually eating things like that, but I HAVE found her with little pieces of my cut paper or a sticker stuck on her nose....hmmm.....

LIZZY

Hope you are all happy to be back to bloggin'!

Vintage Beauty!

For those of you who also love the gorgeous works of Sarah Martina Parker and
Ashley Cannon Newell, you will also adore Lenet Mos. Her style is so soft and sweet!   Check her out!
And while you're there, still time to "follow" her blog and maybe win some ribbon!


I know I'm going to be watching Lenet closely! 

National Scrapbook Day Announcement!

So many Giveaways and Hops going on this weekend, too bad some of us will have to spend most of it driving to and from family's houses, or spending it WITH them....just kidding! Love the kids, love the parents...but why this weekend!???  LOL!

Erin, over at DCWV Diary is having a big prize giveaway! Lots of great papers, glue and ribbons! Check it out! 

Happy Mother's Day!

I started out thinking I was going to make a card for my Mom, and then I decided to make an altered birdhouse this year! She loves the outdoor ones and I thought bringing a bit of whimsy into her family room would be fun!  She has gone through so very much these last few months, with hip replacement surgery and my Dad not being in the best of health. Thanks, Mom, for all the times you were there for me.

Sketch I had drawn for my card - turned 3D birdhouse.

My fave Skipping Stones Butterfly stamp!

The stamped and punched butterflies were moved from the front of a card, to the sides and roof of the house...  nothing is ever written in stone with me!

Supplies used:
Paper, K & Co.; Nestabilities Labels Nine; Unity "Because of You" stamps; Verve, "Bloom and Grow" leaf stamps; Martha Stewart , "All Over the Page Butterfly" stamp; Prima flower;  Delta Crackle paint; Zva rhinestones applied with I-Rock tool; Helmar 450 Adhesive.

Challenges entered:
City Crafter (Color Challenge)
Creative Card Crew (Mom)
Kaboodle Doodle (Something with a "B"- bling, butterflies, birdhouse, birdcage...)
Shabby Tea Room (Sweet Dreams #60)
Skipping Stones Design (My own sketch)
Flourishes (Word to your Mom)

To every mother out there, have a wonderful Mother's Day!

Cardabilities Sketch #30 Reveal!

Here we are already at the end of April! I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter. It's hard to believe that Summer will be here before we know it! For some of you, I understand the weather is still cold.  I will be so envious of you come July-August when we are sweltering in 110 degrees, unable to leave the house until the sun goes down!!

Well, here is Sketch #30 that we at Cardabilities had the pleasure of working with!  What a fun layout!

And a little peek at my card....

A bit more....

And finally the finished project...

I couldn't resist using a little nest with Spring here and all we see in our trees are birds' nests...everywhere.   Problem being is that I worry about each and every one until the little bird hatches and flys away!

Bazzill cardstock

Paper Doily

DCWV paper - Vintage Collage

Wings Stamp - Hampton Arts

Nestabilities - Label 9

Sentiment - Stampendous

Recollections - flowers

Straw hat for bird's nest - Tree House Studios

   (Painted brown, covered with green moss, glued with Helmar's 450)

Robin's eggs - pinto beans painted with Delta "Pale Blue" acrylics.

                        (Dabbed with a touch of Stickles)

Blue Crystals - Zva

Stickpins - Handmade

Recently, I have decided that the inside's of all of my cards should be finished with a bit of something!

Please, go check out the other cards from the Cardabilities Design Team and enter one of your own for a chance to win a prize!

Spring Basket!

This week's sketch challenge at Waltzing Mouse is to include Embossing. 

 I love embossing on my Co-ordinations cardstock so this was a fun challenge...until....

Well, long story short, I'm sure you've all started scrapping and "LOST" a stamp, or sticker, or embellie that just absolutely HAD to go on your project. That's what happened to me tonight. I had my materials all laid out (of course, my materials from my last two projects are still all over my table) and I went to use the Waltzing Mouse clear acrylic stamp that was perfect for this card, and couldn't find it anywhere! It wasn't stuck to the bottom of my mat. It wasn't on the carpet that I could find after crawling around for 20 minutes feeling with my hands. It wasn't in the trash can where it could have easily fallen off the edge of the table. No...after 40 minutes of searching the entire room, it was LOST.  So, I used the other basket. Not the one I originally wanted, but a basket none the less.

This is from the one and only stamp set I have from Waltzing Mouse and I seriously have a crush on the Vintage Labels stamp set.  I was determined to get this card made in time to submit to the challenge this week!  Well, I love the western sets, too, and then there's Afternoon Tea...but if I had to pick just one...oh, nuts...that will be another challenge all of its' own!

Supplies used:

Bountiful Baskets, Waltzing Mouse Stamps

Co'ordinations cardstock

Quik Cutz, Diamonds and Dots embossing folder

My Favorite Things, Doily Die

Silk Flowers, JoAnn's

Sentiment, Imaginisce Rub-on

Well, I'm off to search yet again for that evasive little stamp!  



April Showers...

I have relatives and friends back in Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, and Wisconsin who have been experiencing horrendous weather.  My hometown, Granite City, Illinois, was hit by more tornados last week and many homes were lost or badly damaged.  Fortunately, my own aunts and cousin's homes were not affected.  But it must seem to them that the storms will never end. 

I have one Aunt who has been sleeping in her basement due to the fact that the storms usually occur after dark.  Poor thing....  I would be scared all alone when the winds are reaching 80 mph and higher, too! 

                 So, enough background info!
I made some quick cards to send out with the promise that the storms will end and Spring will bring the flowers!

I just received this Verve set of stamps the other day and was dying to ink them up! They work so well with heat embossing, and the dies are so easy to use! 

There is also a great tutorial about Line Framing on Papertrey's blog.  Not as easy to get it perfectly straight as one would think!  Thanks, Nichole!

And the leaf ribbon takes the ink so well, you can darken it to match your layout! (See version 2)

Version 2 , with inked leaf ribbon  added....

I love the way the leaf ribbon works with the stamped leaves, but not with this sketch.  I'm liking the simpler version more. 

This card will be entered in several challenges:

Verve Stamps - April Showers Bring May Flowers

Papertrey Ink, {capture the moment} - Line Frame Card

I would love to win some of those delicious PTI stamps !!!

Thanks, Sassafras!

When I opened the Sassafras challenge blog this month and saw the sketch layout for April, I knew it was the encouragement I needed to finish my co-ordinating second page of the pages I had started in March!  Sometimes I prefer that to an actual two-page layout, where the page flows across the two pages with connecting elements.

My layout for April

My two layouts.

Special Friendships!

I like to keep a stash of "friendship cards" just to send out in those moments when I want to remind someone just how much I appreciate my connection with them. 
First, I found this wonderfully, simple sketch at Get Sketchy, and HAD to join the fun!

Flipped it sideways.....

And even though the camera doesn't do the colors justice, anyone familiar with the the Cosmo Cricket,  "Dutch Girl" paper I used for the background knows it is very greenish.  Wierd, eh? Also, the dark cocoa brown cardstock looks rather greenish... I guess if I weren't so lazy, I'd change out of  my jammies and go outside for a picture!  LOL!

Also, anyone know how to use Adobe Photoshop CS to add the vignette blurried effect to the edges of the cards?  I knew when I had an older version of AP, but can't find it now!

Quickly, used were TLC Studio, "Sewing" rubber stamps, Cocoa Brown Bazzill cardstock, and Bazzill buttons.


Challenges this card is entered in:
Get Sketchy (Sketch used)
InStyle Stamps (Color Challenge)
Saturday Challenge (Stitching)
Crafty Creations (paper piecing)

Cardabilities Sketch #29 Reveal!

I am so proud to be able to post this, my very first, card for Cardabilities! Since being chosen to be on the Design Team, I have been floating on air! It is a very huge deal for me to be able to share my ideas and be a part of such a great team.  Thanks, Karan, again for this opportunity! 

And, not to delay any longer, here is the wonderful sketch for this challenge!

I love the linear look of it!

And here is my card!  I seldom get out my Copics anymore, so thought I'd polish up on my coloring skills by blending some cut-out stamped butterflies onto the card.  And, for whatever reason, I can't get enough newsprint paper! I am drawn to the vintage feel of it.

Popped up the sentiment and the butterflies, and added just a bit of  Gun Metal Stickles to the wings for sparkle!

Inside of card:

Thank you for looking, and please, add your own project to the challenge over at Cardabilities!
Also, Cardabilities now has their very own Gallery! Please check out all the wonderful creations!

Second Post for today:

              Grand Canyon in the Winter



I just wanted to post a short bit about my recent trip to the Grand Canyon.

I had never ventured north to the Canyon before June, so it seemed like a wonderful idea!

My longtime friend from high school had never been, so we planned a much needed "Girl's Vacation"!

First let me start by saying NEVER go to the Grand Canyon before Mid-May.  Apparently, that is when all of the repairs are made to the damaged roads from the winter snow and ice.

Also, I would suggest NOT staying in the "Village".  Little has been done to accomodate the number of people who now visit the park.  There is limited parking for the few restaurants available, and the shuttle system basically stinks!  We heard so many complaints from others who found it to be totally confusing and unorganized. By the middle of our second day, we finally had the whole thing somewhat figured out!

God help the non-English speaking foreign travelers!

Beautiful Eye Candy!

But while my friend was here, she gave me the most amazing bracelet!

She is making these by linking jump rings in a Byzantine Chain Maille  fashion. I love the fact that mine is both gold and silver. I wear both, so it works great. I asked if she would mind my passing on such a great product.  Here you go!

 $22 which includes postage.

It is hand-made with almost 200 individual jump rings, all of which are silver plated.  These can be ordered in all silver, all gold, or a mix.
Most importantly, these are made to fit!  Anyone interested can email Claudia here and get the details!

Not only am I impressed by the time she takes to do this, but I get dizzy

after 5 minutes of trying to make something so detailed!

Thanks, Claudia!  You're the best!

Hang In There!

Here's my card made for Skipping Stones sketch challenge #70!

I have loved these papers from Cosmo Cricket for a long time, but never quite knew what I would use them for. Most of my layouts are for boys. I'm really branching out with my card making!

I layered several of the patterns from the Cosmo Cricket, "Hey Sugar" collection, added the punched edge, and am absolutely in love with the little wire hangers!   The sentiment from Skipping Stones, Bras, Volume #1, was stamped repeatedly on the squares, and simple cream twine added. 

I made this card to enter in the sketch challenge at Skipping Stones. 
Yes, my wish list for their marvelous stamps continues! 
Check them out!

TWO!

The little guy I babysat for from the time he was 3 months old is turning 2 in a few weeks and I get to see him this Friday!  "Mom" is going for her follow-up ultrasound and we'll see if he's going to have a brother or a sister! How fun!  The best part is that I'll get to spend a morning with him! He is so adorable!
And since he's learning to recognize and count his numbers, I wanted to include elements that he can read on the card!  I am constantly bragging to anyone who will listen how he can identify all the letters of the alphabet!

I know it's not the BEST card I've ever made, but I believe that we often loose track of who the recipient is.  I wanted to make a card that Noah would like.  
The papers are Martha Stewart; Dr. Seuss alpha's and images, Fiskars scallop; EK Success punch;  sentiment by TPC Studio; and buttons from Bazzill.

                                   My little guy - Noah.

I will be entering this card in the sketch challenge at Walting Mouse.

Cardabilities Sketch Challenge #27

This week at Cardabilities, we have yet another great sketch from
Karan Gerber!

Maybe it's just me, I immediately thought "Turn it on it's side, and it's a domino!"  I have been drawn to my red and black papers (ever since I bought the DCWV, "Immortal Love" paper pack.  So I started looking there and ended up with this!

The paper I ended up using was Pink Paislee, Twilight collection; Bazzill white cardstock; twine from Kraft Outlet; Dritz thread; and Helmar 450 adhesive. 

It's difficult to see in the picture, but the white cardstock was embossed with my Cuttlebug folder, Swiss Dots.  It made a very subtle, but nice addition.

I like the symplicity of this card. It doesn't have glitter, lace, ribbon, or even a fancy border...but it has a romantic look none-the-less. I don't think it would scare most men away!  (wink, wink)

Check out the challegne this week and join in!  See you there!

This card also meets the challenge requirements for:

Cuttlebug Spot Challenge (Twine)

Bo Bunny Blings It On!

The challenge at Bo Bunny this week is to use Bo Bunny papers and to add bling to your project! I have also been dying to use this image from Kraftin' Kimmie. With all the home projects we have scheduled over the next month, and friends who are renovating their own homes, I thought what a good idea for a Spring "housewarming" gift card!

Let's clean, paint, and decorate our way into Spring!

Bo Bunny papers used: Popsicle collection; Stickles; and acrylic paints. The corner paint "spills" really sparkle!  Sorry they are not so sparkly in the picture. I also used my Creative Memories circle cutter for the first time in a while!

The sketch I used was from Stamptacular Sunday.  I took some liberty with the corner pieces, but I think the paint really works!  Their sketches are so unique!

This card will also be entered in the challenge at
Kraftin'Kimmie (Anything Goes)

你 好 (HELLO)

To see how to enter to win a
Spellbinders Grand Calibur, scroll down to bottom of this post....

My card today is for the challenge at Imaginisce. 
The sketch is:
                      

and the requirements were :
3 Papers
3 Colors
3 Embellies

I loved this Imaginisce paper as soon as I saw it, but had no idea what I would use it for! This will make a perfect little "Chinese greeting" to someone, perhaps next Chinese New Year?

I think the little panda is adorable, and found the Chinese translation for "hello" online (what can't you find on the internet?)


I used papers from the Wild Things Collection, and the Cricut cut Flower, Life is a Beach; leaf ribbon; and an Imaginisce crystal. 
HELLO - Simply said.

For those hoping to win one the new Grand Calibur Die Cut machines from Spellbinders, go to FaveCraft, see the details, and enter daily!

Happy Happy Koi Card!

A very special friend is having a birthday tomorrow, and I knew I had to make a very special card.  She has a beautiful koi pond in her yard and this is one of her passions. It is such a relaxing, calm part of their yard where you can watch the fish for hours and hear little but the trickling water fall.
Knowing how much she enjoys her koi, I put together this card with a fish brooch attached so that it could be removed and used again and again.

I had spotted on the SEI Scrapbookaholic by Abby's Blog that March 3rd was "I Want You To Be Happy" Day and I can't imagine anyone I would want to be happier on her birthday and every day than this dear friend.

SEI, "Moonrise" paper; gold ribbon; Spellbinders Nestibilities, Labels 4; fish brooch.  These papers reminded me of asian water lilies.

I assembled the card, with the last step being applying a large foam dot covered with a circle cut from the gold pattern paper. I then pushed the brooch through to attach it temporarily to the front of the card. 
This makes for a very sweet and easy reusable gift with your card!

This card will also be entered in the challenges at:
KaboodleDoodle (Birthday)
Paper Sundaes (Keep it Simple)
ScrapFit (Glitter and Glam)
Simon Says (Anything Goes)
Woodware Clear Stamps (Spring is coming!)
Secret CrafterSaturday (Flowers for Mum)
One Stop Craft Challenge (Clean and Simple)
CraftyCatzWeeklyChallenge (Yellow and Green)