Thank You

I needed a Thank You card, so today was the purr-fect time to make a card . . . because Delightful Inspiration {from the heart} has a "Free Stamp of the Month Challenge." The digital stamp this month is "Cat's Out of the Bag." You can check out the challenge by clicking here.

 

 

I made these delightful daffodils for the front of the card.  I'm not sure if it makes the card look too busy, but it does brighten it up.

 

I've seen other cards with "clouds" on the colored images and I thought it added a "finished look" to the image.  So I checked out various YouTube videos and TA-DA ~ this is my very first attempt at CLOUDS. I'm rather proud of them, at least for a first timer {smile}.

 

 

I finished off the inside with matching paper, cardstock and added a sentiment (from MFTStamps).

 

 

Delightful Inspiration {from the heart} is also having a sketch challenge this week. So I based this card off their sketch so I could enter that challenge also:

 

 

I'm also entering the following challenges:

  > Clearly i Stamp Challenges #6: Thank You

  >  Inky Impressions Challenge: Animals

  >  Delicious Doodles #51: Anything Floral

 

Keep Crafting,

 

Happy Thanksgiving

   I was still in a "Fall" mood today after making a Halloween card yesterday. So I thought I would get a head start on my Thanksgiving cards.

 

I had recently bought a Swirl embossing folder by Darice. Perfect time to use it since Artistic Inspirations' challenge this week is "Swirls/Anything Goes."  I found some swirl paper in my stash and I also used a swirly flourish embossing folder on the leaves.  A few strategically placed die cut flourishes around the leaves, a computer generated sentiment and organza ribbon and bow finish off the card.

 

I had a few extra leaves punched (I had originally planned to put them on the front, but decided 2 leaves looked less busy than 3 or 4). Rather than waste them, I added them to the inside. You can see the DP better on the inside (I didn't realize I had covered most of it up on the front with the leaves).

 

 

For some reason, leaves and swirls just seem to go together . . . or at least it works for this card.  Happy Fall to everyone ~ it will be here sooner than you think {smile}.

I'm also entering this card in the following Challenges:
  > Oldie But a Goodie Challenge: Embossing (my leaf punch and ribbon are over 1 year old; the DP is at least 5 years old).
  > Cuttlebug Mania: Anything Goes (Dies: I used Spellbinders Ribbon Tag Trio Two for the label and Die-namics Flourish; I used Darice Swirls Embossing Folder)
  > Craft-Dee Bowz: Anything Goes + Handmade Bow
  > Created With Love Challenges #55: Anything Goes
  > Kaboodle Doodle Challenges #186: Season of Fall or Fall Colors
   > Sketch N Stash: Sketch Challenge #120: New item-swirl embossing folder; old items-DP, leaf punch and ribbon . . . I tend to hoard my ribbon and DP's rather than use them like I should.

Keep Crafting,

 

Happy Halloween

   So I'm getting ready to head out the door and I realize that I didn't post my card for today's challenge at Crafty Creations. The theme this week is: Use a Number.  So, with Halloween around the corner . . . that's what inspired me.

 

I thought this little Fuzzer the Monster digi stamp from Meljens we adorable for a Halloween card.  I gave him sparkly green warts to go with his green horns and fangs.

 

 

I added a sentiment to the inside and carried the color/paper scheme to the inside as well.

 

 

Pop over to the Crafty Creations Challenges blog and see what my other DT mates have put together for you this week.

Other products used:
  Trick or Treat: Birds Cards
  Brown DP on front: Doodle Pantry, Country Flavors Pack
  Other 2 DP: Barely Mine Designs
  Twine: The Twinery
  Tag punch: Stampin' Up!
  Memento Inks
  Ribbon & button  from stash
  Copics
  Ivory, orange & brown cardstock

I'm entering this card in the following challenge:
  > Kaboodle Doodle Challenges: Season of Fall or Fall Colors (Halloween is in the Fall)

Keep Crafting,

 

Christmas Card Challenges #39-Use Punches

   Another week has come and gone and since it's Sunday, well that means it's time for another challenge. Grab your paper crafting items and join us at Christmas Card Challenges where the theme this week is:  Use Punches.

 

  I have more punches than I probably need, especially since a lot of my punches are duplicates of Spellbinders and Die-namics Dies I have.  However, this challenge was to "Use Punches,” so I put away my dies and ONLY used punches.  Nine (yes, 9) of them to be exact.  I could have used a few more, but I didn’t want the card to appear too busy LOL.

 

All the punches and items I used on this card are listed at the end of this post.

 

I finished the inside of the card also . . . I had a little extra time and I really like how it ties the whole card together.  Besides, the sentiment I used has a 2^nd part to it and I wanted to use it.

 

I’m slowly whittling away at my Christmas Cards. By the time Christmas comes, I may have enough ready to send out.  Are you getting your stash of Christmas Cards made also?  Take a peak at what the other Design Team members have created (click here) and maybe one of us will inspire you to make a Christmas Card this week.

Punches used:

  Eyelet Edger - Stampi’ Up! (front and inside)
  Scalloped Edger - Stampin’ Up! (front and inside)
  Scalloped Oval - Stampin’ Up! (inside)
  Oval - Stampin’ Up! (inside)
  Scalloped 3” Circle - EK Success (front and inside)
  2-3/4” Circle - Fiskars (front and inside)
  Christmas Tree Large - EK Success (front)
  For Sale Sign - EK Success (front: punch for Merry Christmas sentiment)
  Large Corner - ? (there’s no name on it)

DSP: Holly Berry Bouquet - Stampin’ Up!

Solid Cardstock, green, brown, red & white: Darice
Sentiment: Petite Pairs - Stampin’ Up!
Pearl Brad - The Paper Studio
Jim Holtz Distress Inks-Barn Door & Peeled Paint
Memento Dye Inks-Bamboo Leaves & Rhubarb Stalk
Studio G Glitter Glue
Satin Ribbon from stash

I'm entering this card in the following Challenge:
   > Craft-Dee Bowz: Anything Goes + Handmade Bow
   > Crafty Hazelnut's Christmast Challenge Extra
   > Christmas Stampin' All Year Long #30: Sweet Photo Inspiration (I used the colors, red & green) from the photo)

Keep Crafting,

 

Thinking of You

   Today is one of those "good news - bad news" kinda days.  The good news is I've been able to spend time in my Craft Room creating cards. The bad news is I HAD to spend time in my Craft Room because over the past several days, we were notified that 6 dear friends have major health issues. So while I'm thrilled to be able to "craft" again, it's really sad to realize why I'm making these cards and who will eventually receive them.

    A while back I discovered that if I take one of my metal die-cuts and use it with my embossing pad, rather than cutting out the shape, I get a rather unique embossed image (see my original post here).  So I decided to do the same thing with my oval dies this week to create a "frame" around my stamped image.

     Using one of the Spellbinders Ovals, I cut a small oval and used the negative to use as a "mask." Then I sponged the background using Memento Sky Blue, Lulu Lavender, Angel Pink, Cantelope and Bamboo Leaves. I then stamped the image (Waving Wheat by Stampabilities) using Memento Rich Cocoa.

 

    I used the next two larger size oval dies to emboss the "frame" image. Then used the next die up from them to cut the oval shape.  Perhaps there is an easier way, or different order, to do all this, but this worked for me at the time.  I'm going to make a couple more cards similar to this and I'll take pictures so you can see how the embossing/shape comes together. I think it adds such a simple elegance to the card. 

 

    I added organza ribbon and bow for accent.  I left off a sentiment only because I want to write a personal note inside.

 

   *** BTW, if you're taking my card class this Thursday, I've created a "bow-maker" for each person so you can easily make bows like the one on this card.  And, NO, you won't be making this card, but YES, you will be making a bow for a different card {smile}

 

    I'm entering this card in Cuttlebug Mania's Challenge: Anything Goes - Dry Embossing  (I used my Spellbinders' Oval Dies to do the embossing and to cut out the oval).

 

 

I'm also entering this card in the following challenges:

   >  Artistic Inspirations: CAS (Clean & Simple)

   >  House of Cards: Classic and Elegant

   > Craft-Dee Bowz: Anything Goes + Handmade Bow

 

Other products used: 

    Tan, brown and ivory cardstock

    Organza Ribbon

    Cuttlebug Machine

 

Keep Crafting,

 

Is it Sunday already?

  This week has sure flown by. It might have had something to do with hubby having surgery (and I'm doing just about everything around the house since he can't see very well right now), trying to get ready for a card class next week (18 gals) and working all day Saturday (his shift and part of mine). Throw my schedule off kilter . . . and I don't know which end is up.

   So, I'm a bit late with my post for today's challenge at Christmas Card Challenges. The theme this week is:

create a holiday or Christmas card using a non-traditional Christmas image 

I gotta say, I don't think I could get any more non-traditional than this . . .

 

The sentiment is computer printed and my own, but I'm sure someone in blog or digi land has created something like it before.  At first glance I thought the digital paper looked like party hats, but they are actually mini trees with a star at the top. You can see it better in the photo below.

 

 

I colored the fishes red and added some sparkle . . . after all, they are "Christmas" fishes.  I paper pieced the bandana bibs using the same digi paper that I used on the inside. That's the nice advantage of using digital paper; I could decrease the size of the plaid so it fit better on the bandana.  I also added some thread "hair" to the tallest bird, since the printed hair was chopped off when I die-cut the image (yup, great planning on my part, right? LOL).

 

 

I finished the inside and added two more Christmas fishies to tie it all together.

 

 

   Now, hopefully I can remember where everything came from that I used (I made this card a couple weeks ago anticipating a hectic week this week).

   > Bird/Fish image:  Hambo Stamps

   > Inside sentiment: Doodle Pantry Holiday Greetings set

   > Digi papers (front and inside):  Bugaboo

   > Grosgrain and organza ribbon from stash

   > Purple, blue, white cardstock from stash

   > Spellbinders Labels Two die

   > Copics and Studio G glitter glue

 

 

Be sure to stop by the Christmas Card Challenges blog and see what my fellow Design Teammates have whipped up for your inspiration this week.

 

Keep Crafting,

 

  

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

  > ABC Christmas Challenge: P is for . . . (purple and plaid)

  > Card Crafter's Circle: #88-Winged Things (the birds have wings, albeit they are strange characters)

  > Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra

  > Delicious Doodles Challenge: #49Christmas in August

  > The Hobby House Challenge: #3-Christmas

  > Sketch Saturday: #272 (I flipped the sketch upside down)

  > Stamping with the Dragon: Christmas in August

 

Crafty Creations Challenges #235: Make Two

   I was so busy today getting the post ready for Crafty Creations (I'm hosting the challenge this week) that I almost forgot to post my cards on my own blog.

  Unfortunately I have to head off to bed soon. Dear hubby is having surgery tomorrow (Wed) and I have to get up early so this will be a short post.

   The challenge this week is to Make Two.  Two of anything (as long as it's "crafty"). And they don't have to be identical, but they should have a similar theme, color, style, etc.  Stamp Fairy is sponsoring us this week (if you remember, that's the first digital stamp prize that I won and I fell in love with their images and sentiments).

 

I used a Stamp Fairy image called Lenny Ice Cream -- you can check it out here.

 

 

I used the same papers for both cards, but swapped the outside and center square DPs on each card. 

 

 

I also used pink as an accent color on one card and yellow as the accent on the other. 

 

Here's a closeup of both cards. I added glossy accents to the glass, although I think it looks better in person than in the photos.  No inside photos this week, as I didn't have time to finish off the inside and get photos done in time. But everything is cut and ready to go.

 

Be sure to head on over to Crafty Creations Challenges (click here) to see what my Design Teamies have created for you this week. I hope you join along and . . . Make Two. 

 

Keep Crafting,

Heather

 



Christmas Card Challenges # 37

   I can't believe another week is starting. I'm not sure where last week went. Today's post will be short . . . I'm heading off to a pool party soon and I know I won't have time to write it when I get back.

 

   We have another challenge for you this week at Christmas Card Challenges.
This week's theme is:
 

Evergreen (trees)

 

Here's my card . . . hopefully it will inspire you to get busy making those Christmas cards (and while you're at it, why not join us and link up your creation).  The days are flying by SO fast and before you know it, Christmas will be here.

 

 

I stamped the tree (Stampin' Up!) on vellum and colored it on the back side with Copics and Sharpies. I also added some "snow" using a white gel pen (to the back side).  I cut an oval in the ivory cardstock then die cut a scalloped oval in the dark green cardstock (both Spellbinders dies).  I placed the vellum in between the two to hide the edges.

 

 

Here's what it looks like on the inside. I stamped the  "Merry Christmas" sentiment in white on dark green cardstock and framed it with a scalloped oval in ivory.  I had to place the dark green behind the tree image in order for the "snow" to show up better when the card was closed.

 

Please visit the other Design Team members blogs to see how they came up with their inspriational cards for you this week.

Alanna

Anne C

Heather-ME

Jenn

Jovita

Karen

Margo

Monica

Sabrina

I'm entering this card in the following challenge:
  >  Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra
  > Craft-Dee Bowz: Anything Goes + Handmade Bow

 Keep Crafting,

Heather



Crafty Creations Challenge #234

   Crafty Creations Challenge this week is to Use Texture.  That can mean SO many different things, that I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with. Bugaboo Stamps is sponsoring the prize this week.  I absolutely LOVE their stamps, so even though it wasn't my "required" week to create an inspriation card, I just had to join in on the fun.

 

   The digi stamp is from Bugaboo Stamps -- Gus Birthday Rocker.  I also used the sentiment that goes along with it (I split the sentiment and put part of it on the front and the rest on the inside).  I added Glossy Accents to the balloon and the glasses. I printed an extra balloon, cut it out and popped it up.  The off-white and red burlap is my texture.

 

 

Here's the inside . . . and the rest of the sentiment.

 

 

I hope you visit Crafty Creations and see what the other Design Team Members have created.  Better yet, get out your "texture" and link up your own creations.  There's a great prize for the randomly selected winner.

 

 

Keep Crafting,

Christmas Card Challenge # 36

   It's the first Sunday of the month, so that means it's a prize week at

Christmas Card Challenges. 

And we have a sketch (shown at the end of this post) for you to use this week. Here's my card, based on the sketch.

 

I thought I would do a "cutesy" Christmas card this week. . . mainly because I bought these adorable digistamps from Scrappers Delight called "Little Snow Angels."  They came lightly pre-colored, so I added highlights and enhanced some of the colors using my Copics.

 

 

The round sentiment is a FREE digistamp by Stamp Fairy called "Lennie Christmas Scenes." And the beautiful Christmas Wishes DP is also a FREEBIE from Barely Mine Designs (Christmas August Freebie).

 

 

The sentiment on the inside is a digistamp from Doodle Pantry.  I received it for FREE, along with 15 other sentiments, in the Holiday Greetings Set because I entered Doodle Pantry's July Challenge.

 

 

Here's the sketch for the Christmas Card Challenge. I can't wait to see all the beautiful Christmas Cards made for the challenge this week. Click HERE to see what the other Design Team Members have created for your inspiration.

 

 

Note:  Check out some of the sites I've mentioned above and maybe you'll snatch a few freebies for yourself. **Just hover your mouse over the name and when you get the little hand, click.

 

I'm entering this card in the following Challenges:

  > The Hobby House Challenge: Christmas

  > Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra

 

Keep Crafting,