Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Bluebirds Revisited

More stuff used!!! Woohoo! 4 items from my scrap, stamped,embossed, just waiting to be used but discarded, "stuff" box!   CAS card I will decided later what sentiment to use on it. 

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Bluebird Thank You

This was for the CAS challenge, but I have a hard time leaving all that blank white space, so I embossed the background, still not happy, then I added chalk, NOW I am happy.  I used 2 pieces from my "stuff" box.  The bread tag and the piece of Melon Mambo.

CARDSTOCK:  Melon Mambo, Natural
STAMPS:  SU Pocket Silhouettes, SU Short and Sweet
INK:  Artichoke, Melon
ACCESSORIES: Twine, CB Embossing folder, chalks, Cricut Cartridge

Monday, January 24, 2011

Bright Silhouette

GRRRR, Our computer crashed and I was going into withdrawal not having a computer.  We had to buy a new one so now I have to learn how to use a new photo program and we had to rearrange the furniture to accomadate the new computer so my photo taking area has changed.  Ugh!!!

I am so not use to using bright colors!  I combined the Sketch Challenge and the TLC (got so behind, but stamped 3 cards in one day) 

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Gift Set

I suddenly remembered that I had the sunflower nesties and I felt the need to use my new Big Shot, lol.  I cut the paper for the flap of the envelope just a teeny weeny bit too small, but I actually like the way it came out.  The center is a daisy cut with the the Cricut and I used a cardstock with a white core so I could sand it and make it pope out.

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Nail Art Inspiration

The Inspiration Challenge at SCS had a really awesome website that shows nailart, so much to draw from it is unbelievable.  I used another one of my scraps from my "stuff" box, the sentiment.  This has been hanging out for so long I am glad I found a place to use it. 

CARDSTOCK:   White, Black, Yoyo Yellow
STAMPS:  Unknown, I got it from a class but I think it is computer generated.
INK:   Black
ACCESSORIES:   Cricut Cart for the daisies, Martha Stewart branch punches, Ribbon, Rhinestones, Fiskars Crimper, SU Window Punch, SU Modern Label Punch.

Friday, January 21, 2011

Gradient Challenge, Testing

I am making two posts today only because I am playing with the paint program trying to create a Watermark.  This card was done for the Free 4 All Challenge and the Ways to Use it Challenge on SCS.
I again used a discarded item from my "Stuff" box.

CARDSTOCK:  White, Yoyo Yellow
STAMPS:  SU Well Scripted
INK:  Versamark, More Mustard, Yoyo Yellow, Marigold morning, Really rust
ACCESSORIES:  Cricut Daisy, White Embossing Powder, Pearls

Queen For The Day Challenge

How fitting is it that the Queen of Everything does the Queen for the day Challenge?  LOL.  It looks like it is a fairly new challenge, this is the first time I have seen it.  I decided I was in the mood to watercolor , not my best effort, but passable.  The flowers look pink but they are actually a plum.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Butterfly Bliss


Hello, hello.   I am still stamping and still using my Wal Mart Colorbok pad of paper!  Isn't it PURTY?  I combined the Sketch Challenge with the Way to Use It challenge.  I love these colors, sigh.  I am again using up a scrap that was sitting on my desk.  I used a Cuttlebug die to cut a green thanks for another card sometime ago.  I was left with the negative image and since it was cut out of a square I thought to myself maybe I can use the negative for a stencil.  This was a better idea I think. 
CARDSTOCK:     Colorbok DP, Melon Mambo, Certainly Celery, White
STAMPS:  Stampendous Butterfly
INK:      Certainly Celery
ACCESSORIES:      Cuttlebug Embossing Border Folder, Rhinestones, CB Thanks Die, Butterflys from my friend Lesley

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Snow snow go away!

I almost didn't do the CAS challenge because it involved snow but I did it anyway.  Simple but nice.  The picture is really bad, but it is hard to photograph white. 

This was my second card for the Featured Stamper Challenge and continuing with my resolve to use up the images and things I cut out or stamped or embossing for other projects and never used.  The Swirl Panels have been hanging out awhile and the flower, but the Thinking of you has been hanging out for YEARS! lol.  I am amazed it was still in good enough condition to use!  It is from an old retired SU set Rosevine Wreath.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Motivator and Happiness always

I struggle quite a bit with this card.  I am not good at following sketches.  I always seem to want to change something, but I resisted the urge!  The task was to chose a Sketch, chose the colors, and choose the technique from previous challenges.  I chose the "make your own DP" technique.

CARDSTOCK:  Rich Razzleberry, Always Artichoke, Barely Banana
STAMPS:  Butterfly by Stampendous, Sentiment Hero Arts
INK:  Always Artichoke, Rich Razzleberry, Barely Banana
ACCESSORIES:  Martha Steward Butterfly Punch, Crimper, Deckle Scissors

The card below just kind of fell together, I had the piece of DP, the flower and the image sitting in a box on my desk.  I hand drew the image quite sometime ago.

Monday, January 17, 2011

Rosy Happy Birthday

Yippee!  I used up another image that has been hanging out in a box since forever and a day!  This is for the Featured Stamper Challenge and it was simple a quick.  I used the Happy Birthday that was embossed with a Brass Stencil and I ran the stamp pad over the image several time.  The Embossed swirls are from the CB Owl embossing folder, I just covered up the owl with my image, and of course the flowers are handmade using a hand carved rose image which is then cut out and rolled into a Rose using a quiller.

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Inspiration Challenge

I did the Inspiration Challenge on SCS and here is the result.  Seems a little ho hum to me but can't figure out what is missing. I do love the colors though. I found this purple ribbon that is adhesive backed how great is that?  Sadly, I don't remember exactly where I got it, it has a clearance price so I am guessing Joann's or Michaels.   

CARDSTOCK:  White, Lavendar Lace (really old retired SU CS) Green Galore (also really old SU retired, my last little bit.) white and unknow DP
STAMPS:  SU Natural Beauty, on inked a small portion of the stamp
INK: Lavendar Lace, blue, green galore 
ACCESSORIES:  Circle Punch, Ribbon, Heart punch, Rhinestone, Deckle scissors.

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Just Because

I was so inspired by Lisa's bright colorful card the other day, and coincidently had just purchased a new Colorbok pad at Wal Mart that had these really pretty papers!  Simple yet so much fun.
CARDSTOCK: White, Marigold Morning, Colorbok DP
STAMPS:  Heartfelt thanks, Hero Arts HB
INK:  Black, Marigold Morning, Certainly Celery
ACCESSORIES:  Spellbinders Scallop and Circle Nesties, SU Certainly Celery Ribbon, Rhinestones from Wal Mart
 The card below was done for an SCS Challenge to use Pink, purple and hearts.  I remembered seeing a fancy heart on my Cricut Botanical Cartridge and this is the result.
CARDSTOCK:  Pink Pirouette, Almost Amethyst, White
INK:  3 different shades of green
ACCESSORIES:  Cricut Botanicals Cartridge, CB Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, Scor-Pal, Pearls, Fringer, Quiller, Scallop scissors

Friday, January 14, 2011

Ribbon Organization

Can anybody say RIBBON?  I use to store my ribbon on dowels on the wall, but I got tired of dropping the dowels whenever I wanted to take a spool off, so I put them into boxes. 

I was in Joann's one day and I spotted these ART bins for half off and thought they would be perfect for some of my 12x12 papers, so I bought two, they worked really well for my paper.  I then discovered they have grooves on the bottom of them which made them PERFECT for holding the ribbon spools in place.  So I tried it out.  Wunderbar!!! Except for the really tall SU spools that the grosgrain ribbon is on and for those I bought another bin at Wal Mart which is a little taller but has no grooves.  Oh well, you can't win them all.

I numbered each bin, then I cut a small bit of ribbon. I used labels folded over onto themselves to attach to the bit of ribbon,  punched a hole in the label, numbered it, and stuck it on  rings that my good friend Marcine had given me.


I put all four rings onto another ring and hung it with my scissors right next to my desk within easy reach, now I don't have to paw through each bin, I just decide what ribbon I want to use, go get the bin it is in and I am ready to go!!!Did I mention that I went back to Joann's and they still had those bins at 1/2 off?  How great is that, so I bought 3 more.

WT304 Black Twine

The Challenge the other day was to use Twine.  This totally did not come out how I envisioned it but what the hey, at least something was created. 
CARDSTOCK:  Crushed Curry and Black
STAMPS:  TAC Happy Birthday, Stampendouse Marble Texture Cube
INK:  Clear Versamark
ACCESSORIES:  Black Twine, Black Embossing Powder.

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Sketch Butterflies

I love Butterflies!  This Colorbok paper from Wal Mart is really so pretty.  The fun thing is that I am using it and not hoarding!  Yay for me!

CARDSTOCK:  SU Certainly Celery, Colorbok DP, White
STAMPS:  Stampendous Thinking of you
INK:  Versamark, Blue, Celery
ACCESSORIES:  Martha Stewart Butterfly Punch, SU Ribbon, SU Mat Pack, Piercing tool, Rhinestones , Black Embossing Powder.I did two cards for the Sketch challenge.  This one is based on a Pillowcase I saw on a TV show. 
Cardstock:  Sage Shadow, Pink Pirouette and White
Stamps:   SU Noteworthy and SU Whimsical Words
Ink:  Sage Shadow
Accessories:  Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, Scallop Scissors to make the flower with, Martha Steward Petal Punch for the little Flowers and Seed Pearls for the Centers.  Oh and Martha Stewart Branch Punch.

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

More challenge cards

The Color Challenge called for Red, gray, and white.  I just happened to buy this Colorbok DP at Wal Mart that same day, rather nice I think.  The hardest part was gathering the ribbon and glueing the other ribbon to it, now I know to gather it first, glue it to the CS, THEN glue the ribbon onto that, much easier.  I hand stitched it then pulled the thread to gather it, for those of you who don't sew, lol.



CARDSTOCK:  White, DP
STAMPS:  Stampendous HB
INK:  Gray
ACCESSORIES:  SU Gray Taffeta Ribbon, Red Ribbon, Pearls, handmade flower, Scallop Scissors.
  
The Sunflower Card was made for the Try a New Technique challenge using Stickles.  It has been so long since I used a large BG stamp, it was a tiny bit difficult to stamp.

CARDSTOCK:  Kraft, Artichoke, White
STAMPS:  Celebrate (?)  SU Cheesecloth BG , Penny Black Sunflower
INK:  Artichoke, yellow, brown
ACCESSORIES:  Yellow and Brown Stickles,Piercing tool



Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Kissing Technique

This card is so not what I envisioned when I started the "Kissing" Challenge on SCS!  I realized that out of over 1500 stamps, most of them are detailed and they aren't any good for the "kissing" technique.  I had to make do with what I had.  I love this Happy Birthday frame and have to remember to use it more often!

Monday, January 10, 2011

FS204 Featured Stamper Challenge

Good Morning every one.  I am asking everyone to say prayers for my DH.  We will be going in today for an MRI to check that the tumor in his head has not grown since his last radiation treatment.  The wait is the hard part, once this day is over we shall know if the treatment was successful.  All honor and glory to the Lord, whatever the outcome He will take us through it.

Now, on to more mundane things like the challenge card for the Featured Stamper on SCS.  I wanted to add to my stash of masculine card so I decided to go with more masculine colors.

Cardstock :    Kraft, Night of Navy and White
Stamps:  Hero Arts Sentiment, Stampa Rosa (Magenta?)
Ink:  Night of Navy, brown
Accessories:  Button & twine
 The next card was not a challenge card but it was a CASE, I change the color from Yellow to Bermuda Bay.

Cardstock:  White
Stamps:  Acrylic ( I never keep the name once I put them into a CD case) Sentiment is TAC
Ink:  Versamark, Bermuda Bay, White acrylic paint.
Assessories:  Ribbon

Sunday, January 9, 2011

CAS99 Wild Wasabi

I did almost all the challenges last week, at least I did one each day, which is super considering the most I ever did before was 2 in a week!!!

I had a hard time with these colors.  I am not crazy about Chocolate Chip but I stuck with my white base card for this as it is a CAS challenge card.  Not crazy about it but hopefully the recipient will appreciate the effort that went into creating it!

Saturday, January 8, 2011

CAS challenge and Black & White Challege


I am so pleased to be doing the challenges on SCS.  I also looked at the Clean and Simple blog and did the last challenge there.  I have found that as a result of doing these challenges I have been able to do my cards much more quickly.  It has really made me feel so much more creative, which I guess is the object of the exercise, hmmmm?  I promise to change up my colors in the next days from Pink and the black and white card below is a start. 

The butterfly image is an old Stampa Rosa stamp I purchased in the 90's when I first started stamping and it is still my favorite butterfly.  I stamped the image in Versamark and heat embossed it with black embossing powder so that it would really pop.  I also painted the butterfly wings with Pearl White Pearl EX to make them pop, and it looks sooooo much better in real life.  I then crumpled the cardstock and flattened it out again then passed my black stamp pad over the whole piece and especially around the edges. The whole process took me just a few minutes.


Friday, January 7, 2011

Yellow/Blue Birthday.

I am trying to build a stash of cards and since I have a LARGE family, my new hope this year is to actually mail some out.  I always make them.  In fact I still have the one I made for my Mom in June but never mailed.  So. Get. Them. MAILED. is my motto this year.

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Bear Note

I ran across some stickers when I was looking for something else, isn't that always the case?  I was thinking to use them for my envelopes only but then I thought I could just make a CAS card and this is the result.  Took only 10 minutes and I would never have believed I could do a card that fast!  Too Kewl!


Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Ruffled newsprint flower

This is another card sparked by an image seen on Splitcoast.  I loved a flower I saw and this is the result.  I have been in a Ruby Red mode lately so I am going to have to look to use other colors.


Cardstock:  Natural, DP (unknown)  Ruby Red
Stamps: SU retired Feathered Friends, only the sentiment portion
Ink:   Ruby Red
Accessories:  SU round scallop punch, SU Scallop Edge punch, corner rounder punch, Dew Drops, brad,  


Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Sunflower

I saw a card on Splitcoast and I loved the image, so spoiled child that I am I just had to have it right (no comments from you pinkerbella)? So this is from my NEW Cricut Cartridge Botanicals.  I decided that the end product is a little too dark for my taste but I really like the image and will try again with a lighter background.  Do you think it is masculine even though there are flowers?  Let me know?
Cardstock/paper:  Kraft, black, computer generated BG writing on cream paper.
Stamps:    NONE, horrors
Ink:  Tim Hotz Distress Vintage Photp and Antique Linen, Old Olive, Yellow,
Assessories:  Cricut Botanicals cart, Cricut George Cart for the Ovals, Provo Craft Die Thanks, CB Swiss Dots embossing folder, Brown flower soft

Monday, January 3, 2011

Pink blossoms

I can't believe how fast this card came together once all the pieces came close to each other.  lol. I know the image looks like it is black but it is a really brown and a really dark chocolate brown for the middle strip. It really looks much nicer IRL!

Cardstock:  SU Pink Pirouette, White and a beautiful brown from who knows where.  I really wish I knew where I got it because I want some more.
Stamps: SU Eastern Blooms, an Acrylic Hello
Ink:  Brown
Accessories:  Cricut to cut the oval, Piercing tool, SU deckle edge Scissors, Blosssom punch, CB embossing folder (you can barely see it but it really adds to the card) Pink flower soft for the center.

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Simple Birthday

I have been busy uploading cards that I did quite some time ago. I realized the reason I had never uploaded them here or at Splitcoast Stamper was because it kept telling me the photos were too big.  I resolved that problem by adjusting my camera, but the cards lived in limbo until I realized I could upload them here.  It takes a lot longer than the new format but oh well.  Hope anyone who is looking enjoys these.  Thanks for looking!

Saturday, January 1, 2011

New toy, Pillow Box Die

HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone!

I have a bunch of new toys that I received for Christmas.  A new electric Big Shot and a new Pillow Box Die are among them.  Love the ease of the BS, would be a breeze if I had to do multiples of these for any reason.  I made the card quite some time ago and gave it to a friend but I never posted it so I decided since I used the same DP and cardstock it would be good to post them together.