Skipping Stones Sketch Challenge

I love the sketch this week at Skipping Stones! It demonstrates how even a very simple layout can lead to so very many different interpretations!

        Mine?  Well, here's a sneak peak!

and my card, "Hangin"...

It's a bit difficult to see my "clothesline" in the photo,

but it shows up much better IRL!

There's a great stamp set up for grabs in this challenge, and I'm all about using my Skipping Stones Stamps!  Love 'em!

While I'm at it, I entered this card in the :
"Anything Goes"Challenge at Card Makin Mamas
"For a Diva" Challenge at Creative Card Crew
"What'eva" Challenge at FabnFunky

First Day!

It took me forever to finish this layout of my grandson's first day of school!  Considering the year has ended and he is now a BIG first grader! 
Anyway, love my Cosmo Cricket papers and used several old collections on these pages. My daughter hated that I put a butterfly on it, but hey, he's 5. I felt as though he was venturing out like a butterfly coming out of its' cocoon. She just doesn't get it. Boys (including my grandson) love butterflies. He liked the layout....

I apologize for the terrible photography. Still using my little Nikon, and hate it. Hoping to be able to post someday that I have a decent Canon for my pictures!

Thanks, Papercutz Challenge for the inspiration to "get 'er done"!  Great banner challenge!

June Cardabilities Reveal!

I love trying new techniques and this month I'm

 experimenting with the pleated flowers with punch edges! So very feminine!

Inside of card:

They worked great with my Verve Leaves and Cricut butterflies!

Thanks for looking today! Please leave a comment !

Entered at:

Paper Sundaes (Vintage or Shabby)

Hero Arts and Embellish toss down the gauntlet!

I love it when two great companies come together and offer fantastic prizes for amazing challenges! Here's one I particularly enjoyed!

The Embellish Color Challenge added the fun of Hero Arts



I used the colors shown and even had more fun using one of my Hero Arts stamps! I love the fun, easy way this card came together!

Tag stamp was made with Hero Arts, Travel Journal Stamp set, and heat embossed in Stampendous Pearl Sapphire. The map was stamped with StampinUp and heat embossed with black.

Try your own hand at joining the challenge to win a cool Hero Arts prize!

Embellish Magazine (Text Color Trend Challange)
Saturday Challenge (Clean and Simple)

Waltzing Mouse Sketch Challenge!

I know...the first thing you're going to think is, "Wow, it's a little chancy to use an American holiday card as an entry into a blog that's based in Australia!" Hey, I think the Outback is as wonderful as any part of the world, the Great Barrier Reef is amazing, and that huge red rock is mind-blowing! It is one of my 5 Top Places I want to go to someday.  But then again, I'm where I am...Phoenix, Arizona, USA.  Not too far from the Grand Canyon, we, too, have beautiful beaches (somewhere, LOL!) and that Mt. Rushmore really impressed me as a youth!  At least I used "Australian Sunrise" as the font!
So without any more excuses, Claire, I have entered my "Happy 4th" card for the sketch challenge this month.
Hope you'll forgive.

I chose to fill my basket with stars! To make the scallops, I simply punched one inch dark blue circles and covered half with the ribbon strip. Now I have to make about a dozen more if I want to send them out in July!

       This photo will be back online after July 13th!
Supplies:
Waltzing Mouse Stamps; Bountiful Baskets Additions
JoAnn's; ribbon
Bazzil cardstock
Creative Imaginations stickers; "Liberty"

As I mentioned above, this card will be entered in the challenge at the
Waltzing Mouse Sketch Challenge, and also
The Paper Variety (Stars)

Woo-hoo!

More Basic Grey!

When you are motivated to go through your old stash of papers, you can really find some diamonds in the rough!
I was plowing through my stacks of various manufacturers and pulled out all of my Basic Grey. I love the Eskimo Kisses papers and they can be used for so many occasions, not just the Holidays!

The little bird delivering the message was cut from
Basic Grey, Lime Rickey

 Cute, eh?

Entered:

Basic Grey Challenges (Mix and Match)

Movie Magic

I couldn't wait to use my new Graphics45 papers I recently received from a dear friend, plus I have so many older papers that I have been wanting to start utilizing on my cards and layouts.
I started matching up old with new, this with that, and decided that of few pieces of my Basic Grey (Black Tie and Eskimo Kisses!) went perfectly with the new G45 Curtain Call! 
I love the pop of "wine" color with the black and white!

The little gal was "fussy cut" from DCWV's "Lady Couture",

and the "movie reels" are Tim Holtz.

I just love the vintage Hollywood feel of this card.

I stuck to my New Year's resolution, and finished off the inside with a simple bow and bling.

Supplies:
Graphics45; Curtain Call
Basic Grey; Black Tie, Eskimo Kisses
Basic Grey; Bling Diamonds and Copella Brads
Tim Holtz; Sprockets
DCWV; Lady Couture
Zva; Diamond swirl
Stash ribbon
Helmar 450 Adhesive
Momento inks

And in true Hollywood fashion, "Kiss- kiss, Darling".

Entered in challenge:
Basic Grey Challenge, Mix and Match

My Favorite Things Sketch Challenge

There are so many reasons to want to win some MFT goodies, I don't know where to start!   I will not stop trying until I'm successful!  (Ok, just watched the season finale of Seperate Housewives so I'm feeling a bit dramatic!)
This week's sketch was a fairly simple layout, but the possibilities are endless.With the playful banners, it would have been easy to make a cheerful party card, or Springtime cheerfulness. But I have been wanting to use these little cloud dies for a while. With the weather most of the country has been expeiencing it seemed appropriate to address the storms.  Many of us face more personal, gray times, too.  I thought this card would cheer someone  up out there.So...I ventured toward the DARK Side...ok, the dark side with sparkles...hehehe.

.


Supplies used:
My Mind's Eye, "Lost and Found",  Cosmo Cricket "Gretel";  Silver paper, K & Co. "Wedding",MFT Cloud Trio Die cuts;  Nestabilities Labels #6; Bird and Flower stamps, Inkadinkado "Spring Minis, Black Momento Ink, Gray Stampology. 

Hope Everyone enjoys!

It's a Tea Party!!!

                Waltzing Mouse
       is turning TWO on May 21st!
Hard to believe, because I think they are one of the first blog challenge/stamp companies I followed when I first started blogging about two years ago! 

Anywho, Claire has come up with the cutest project challenge in celebration of this wonderful milestone and the prize is unbelievable!  Over $300us in Waltzing Mouse credit to spend in the store however you want!  And all you have to do is follow some simple rules and instructions found here.

I decided to use the tea bag template.  I can always use a small gift bag for those special little things you buy a friend or loved one.

Here is my "All the Above" tea bag gift packag!  I can just see a bracelet, a pair of earrings, or maybe even some special blend teas!

     I had this little stamp that I found in the dollar bins at Michaels, and paired it with the tag stamp from Inkadinkado.  This was so much fun to make, and it goes together fast! The template is so easy!  I actually cut three more out of different papers to decorate and embelish later depending on the occasion.

     I hope everyone has had a wonderful weekend and are rested and ready to get back to work!  I spent today cleaning/reorganizing my scrapbook room, and I'm beat. Time to scrap a bit now that I can locate what I want!

     (Except for my little basket stamp from Waltzing Mouse. 

It is still MIA.

I have scoured this room from top to bottom. I'm still blaming the dog!)

Cardabilities Sketch #31 Reveal

Hope you like it!

Little Yellow Bicycle made this one easy! 

Inside of card:

Go to Cardabilities and enter your own project to win a prize!

Supplies used:

Cardstock; Bazzill

Little Yellow Bicycle; Clear Cuts, Girl

                                      Fabric Favorites, Boy

Divine Twine

Paper; DCWV

Adhesive; Helmar 450                                      

Proudly entered in the challenge at:

Creative Inspirations  (Decorate the Inside of your card!)   



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.