Hawaii....

Hello everyone! My family is off to Hawaii! I'll return with some cards and submissions to challenges in August. I'm sure I will have much inspiration of all the tropical flowers I expect to see! Thank you!

Everything But the Kitchen Sink Challenge No. 19

Here's my entry for Everything But the Kitchen Sink Challenge No. 19 which is a sketch challenge. This is my anniversary card for my husband. We'll be celebrating next week in Hawaii (with whole family in tow) and it's really the only time of year that I make him a super frilly card. Eight years ago, I made our wedding invitations and it's a shame that Stampin' Up! let go of brocade blue. Still one of my most favorite shades. Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies: Cardstock: Brocade Blue (SU!), Stamper's White (Papertrey), silver (unknown), Stamps: Together Forever (SU!), Damask Collage (B Line), Tiny Tags (SU!), Ink: Craft White (SU!), Brocade Blue (SU!), Embellishments: Ribbon and brads, Tools: tiny tag punch, medium oval punch, and oval scallop punch (all SU!), Tools: heat gun, clear embossing powder, Cuttlebug embossing folder

OTWC Challenge No. 16 Entry No. 3

Here's my third and last entry for Kim Wilson's Off The Wall Craftiness Color Challenge No. 16. It was one of those cards that I had almost completed before realizing I had left out the white! So, I had to go back and improvise! Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:

Cardstock: Sweet Blush (Papertrey)

Ink: Pink Pirouette (SU!), Versamark, Going Gray (SU!)

Stamps: Bella Toile and Vintage Labels (SU!)

Embellishments: Ash paper flowers (Kaiser Craft), Rhinestones (Kaiser Craft), buttons, Sweet Blush ribbon (Papertrey)

Tools: Real Estate Sign punch (EK Success), Large oval punch (SU!), corner rounder punch (SU!), clear embossing powder, heat gun

OTWC Challenge No. 16 Entry No. 2

Here's my second entry for Kim Wilson's Off the Wall Craftiness Color Challenge No. 16. I've been rushing around like a wild person and can't believe how quickly Sunday through Wednesday have flown for me! We're about to embark on our first flight with three-year-old twins...I made these cards earlier this week to participate in challenges, and I'm finally getting them posted, but won't be posting for another week as I won't have access to a computer or stamping materials for that matter! Thanks for being patient, and thanks for stopping by! Supplies:

Cardstock: Silver (unknown), Sweet Blush (Papertrey)

Stamps: Bella Toile (SU!), Four Square (SU!)

Ink: Pink Pirouette and Going Gray (SU!), Versamark

Embellishments: Rhinestones (Kaiser Craft), Ash Paper Flowers (Kaiser Craft), silver ribbon, buttons (Crystalline Buttons)

Tools: sponge, clear embossing powder, 1 1/4 scallop square punch (SU!), five petal punch (SU!), corner rounder punch (SU!), 3 1/2 inch scallop punch (Marvy Uchida)

Embellish Magazine Color Challenge with Ric Rac

Sssshh...not that I expect my cousin and brother-in-law to be reading this blog any time soon, but they have the same birthday and live in different states. So I make them the same card. Some day they will meet and my husband jokingly told me that my cousin will have saved all the cards I've ever made him and my brother-in-law will see them all! As soon as I saw Embellish Magazine's Color Challenge with Ric Rac of turquoise, brown, kraft, and orange, I thought I could make a masculine card with those colors. As I was dying the twill ribbon on the ink pads, and as my finger tips got darker and darker, I thought I was trying to stamp in a Tim Holtz style. What I forgot, nearing the end of this card, was that I had to incorporate ric rac too! Yikes! I learned how to make fake ric-rac with a scallop-edged punch which saved me here! If you get the chance to play, this contest runs through July 29th. Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies: Cardstock: Kraft (Paper Zone), Dusty Durango and Bermuda Bay (SU!) Stamps: Four Square and Print Pattern Background (SU!) Ink: Cool Carribean (SU!), Tangelo (Memento), Versamark, Chocolate Chip (SU!) Embellishments: Twill ribbon Tools: Clear embossing powder, copper embossing powder, sponges, 1 1/4 inch square punch, scallop border punch

OTWC Challenge No. 16 and CPS No. 176

On Kim Wilson's blog, Off the Wall Craftiness, Kim talks about her memories of her Ken doll's tuxedo. When I was little, if I wasn't playing office, I was playing Barbies, and Barbie and Ken were the head of the household. One time when I was playing with some friends, one of my friends showed me how easy it was to pop Ken's head off to put his clothes on easier and then put his head back on. Well, his head never ever really stayed on after that, so I convinced my parents to get me a second Ken doll (also in the same pink cummerbund, gray and white tuxedo Kim describes), so I had two of those outfits! FYI, we used them for weddings only... This week's Off the Wall Craftiness color challenge is pale pink, gray, and white.

Here's the inspiration photo:

This is the first time I've combined challenges: color and sketch. Here's this week's sketch for CPS No. 176.

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies: Cardstock: silver (unknown), Stamper's Craft White (Papertrey) Stamps: Oval All (SU!), Damask Collage (B Line Designs, LLC), Lined Background (Impress) Ink: Basic Gray, Going Gray, and Pink Pirouette (SU!) Embellishments: ribbon, pearl dew drop, brown rhinestone (Lush!) Tools: sponge, oval scallop punch and five petal punch (SU!), corner rounder punch (Creative Memories)

Kaelin's Birthday and Mojo Monday Week 147

Here's a card for our friend, Kaelin, who turned 14 years old this weekend. I asked Kaelin for her favorite colors before I made her card, and because she gave me four, it was easy to use Mojo Monday's sketch challenge for this week. Thanks, as always, for stopping by! Supplies: Cardstock: Stamper's White (Papertrey), Regal Rose and Certainly Celery (SU!) Paper: Backyard (American Crafts) Stamps: Mixed Messages (Papertrey), Birthday Wishes sentiment (Studio G) Ink: Basic Black (SU!) Embellishments: dewdrops Tools: 1" square punch (Fiskars), 3.5" circle scallop (Marvy Uchida)

The Play Date Cafe PDCC No. 38

I've made this card for this week's The Play Date Cafe Challenge No. 38 challenge: purple, lilac, and lime green. The design team's cards this week has been particularly inspiring! I am fortunate to be a mom of three-year-old twins. Fortunate too, that my son is a regular, daily napper (1-3 hours!). While my daughter isn't, she has found the love of paper crafts at an early age! As soon as he's down for a nap, she'll ask, "Can we go upstairs and play with mommy's toys?" No need to ask me twice! So I made this card with all the assistance a 3 year old can offer! Thanks for stopping by! Supplies: Cardstock: Plum Pudding and Stamper's Crafters White (Papertrey) Designer Paper: New Leaf Text Style 2009 Bitty Dot Basics and Lavender Moon Text Style 2008 Bitty Box Basics (Papertrey) Stamps: Blooming Button Bits and Everyday Button Bits (Papertrey); Lined Paper background (Cornish Heritage Farms) Ink: Versamark, Chocolate Chip (SU!) Embellishments: Grapes and Leaves Dew Drops, brads, buttons (Crystalline buttons), white ribbon (Satin Sensations, Morex Corp.) Tools: corner rounder punch (EK Success), apron lace border punch (Fiskars), spiral notebook punch (SU!)

Amanda's Graduation Card

It's hard for me to believe that Amanda has just graduated high school. I'm in awe of this as her mom is the one who really got me re-interested in stamping almost six years ago. Amanda was just a teenager! When I'm crunched for stamping time (as was the case here) my creativity usually flies out the window, so I end up going through stamping catalogs and magazines or I go to SCS for inspiration. One of my favorite things to do right before I buy a stamp set, or once I've just received it, is go there to see what people have made with it. ***This has been edited: I've attempted to link to Teresa Y. Kline's blog, but apparently her post went missing as I was about to post mine (I'm hoping she's being published!). Here's a link to her inspirational blog. She used Papertrey's Mini Scrapbook Series Library Ledger stamp set. WOW! I printed out the photo of the card, cut it out, and folded it up in the Library Ledger stamp case just waiting to case her card. She makes it look really easy to make such a beautiful card! Me? Not so much! I had a hard time lining up my stamps, and then stamped my sentiments, and then rearranged them, already had dimensionals on it, and here came my crooked lined card! But I thank Teresa for her fantastic card, and KUDOS to Teresa for sharing it on SCS! Thanks for stopping by! Supplies: Cardstock: Hibiscus Burst (Papertrey) Designer Paper: Hibiscus Burst Text Style 2009 Bitty Dot Basics (Papertrey) and Basic Grey Stamps: Mixed Messages and Mini Scrapbook Series: Library Ledger (Papertrey) Ink: Certainly Celery (SU!) Embellishments: Island Blossom Dew Drops, ribbon (unknown) Tools: three flower punch (SU!)

Thank you The Play Date Cafe

Hi there! I just wanted to say thank you to the Play Date Cafe design members and my cream in our coffee recognition for their last challenge. So much fun! I can't wait to play again! This is such a supportive and positive blog. I'm glad to have participated. I have printed out quite a few photos of the Provence pottery to keep me inspired for a long time...

The Play Date Cafe PDCC No. 37

You're Invited to Tea This card is for this week's The Play Date Cafe Challenge #37. It's been a long time since I've been able to play for one of these challenges, and then it happened that this week was extra challenging! This beautiful photo is so open to interpretation. I went to the photo's website for the photo credit and spent time dreaming about the beautiful French pottery there. Wow! Then I went for an absolutely literal interpretation of that photo! I got out my scor-pal, made bead board using every 1/2 inch mark, and then chalk inked them with creamy brown. Then came the lemon tart cardstock, the certainly celery, and pure poppy. I figured out instead of sewing the button flowers on, I'd just put some brads through them - so ridiculously easy I thought why haven't I done this sooner? I used SU's white craft ink on the tea cups and tea pot and then heat embossed with two layers of UTEE. I thought that made them look more ceramic - at least in real life! Thanks for stopping by! Supplies: Cardstock: Certainly Celery and Wild Wasabi (SU!), Lemon Tart, Pure Poppy, and Stamper's White (PTI) Stamps: Tea for Two & Tea for Two Additions, Everyday Button Bits Ink: Basic Black and Craft Whisper White (SU!), Creamy Brown Chalk (Colorbox) Embellishments: black brads (unknown), buttons (Crystalline Buttons), red ribbon Tools: teapot and teacup dies (PTI), UTEE (Suze Weinberg)

Mojo Monday 146 Sketch Challenge

 Here's my entry for this week's Mojo Monday No. 146 Sketch Challenge. It's been awhile since I've participated in a Mojo Monday sketch. Frankly, they intimidate me with all their layers and because I don't own most die-cut shapes, I feel pretty limited. So, I almost always reach for patterned paper. That's the case here. I visited a store about an hour away and found Cosmo Cricket's Earth Love stickers and loved them - such a unique color combination for babies. Most recently I found the coordinating papers that go with the set. This card uses the Earth Love line with "elements", "repeat", and "rethink." Really cute! The recycled theme made me want to use the kraft paper to go along with this.  Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:

Cardstock: Kraft (Paper Zone)

Embellishments: Patterned Paper (Cosmo Cricket: Earth Love (elements, repeat, and rethink), mowed grass dew drops, very vanilla taffeta ribbon (SU!)

Tools: corner rounder punch, Glossy Accents (to adhere dew drops), square scallop punch (SU!) 

OTWC No. 15 Entry No. 3

Visit Kim Wilson's website to see this current challenge, OTWC No. 15 Teal, Tangerine, and choice of white, cream, or black. Entry No. 3 I've had Everyday Button Bits (Papertrey) for awhile now and since I don't have much orange cardstock (my tangerine cardstock for my other two previous cards came from a variety pack) and no tangerine ribbon, I was somewhat limited. Then I thought of my buttons. These are as close to tangerine as I have. The teal ribbon is fabulous. I was surprised by how good of quality it was. This card is a 4.25 x 4.25 square. Thanks for stopping by! Cardstock: Stamper's White (Papertrey) Stamps: Everyday Button Bits and Library Ledger(Papertrey) Ink: Basic Black (SU!) Embellishments: buttons (Crystalline buttons), ribbon (Satin Sensations, Morex Corp.) Tools: none

OTWC No. 15 Entry No. 2

Visit Kim Wilson's website to see this current challenge, OTWC No. 15 Teal, Tangerine, and choice of white, cream, or black. Entry No. 2 I used cardstock scraps of Hawaiian Shores, Stamper's Craft White, and Orange Zest (all Papertrey). My three-year-old daughter was "stamping" with what she calls "Mommy's toys" next to me as I made the flower, and she wanted pieces of papers to cut. She inspired me to make this card because she was lining up strips of paper. Thanks for stopping by! Cardstock: Hawaiian Shores, Orange Zest, and Stamper's White (Papertrey) Stamps: Thinking of You sentiment from Tea for Two Additions (Papertrey) Ink: Tangelo (Memento) Embellishments: brad Tools: five petal punch(SU!)

Off the Wall Craftiness Challenge No. 15

Please visit Kim Wilson's website for this week's challenge: Off the Wall Craftiness Color Challenge No. 15: Teal, Tangerine, and White, Cream, or Black Entry No. 1 Having just found Kim's blog and challenge, this was a quick turn around for me to go from navy, white, and raspberry fizz. When I saw the inspiration photo I was amazed that I liked this color combination! Orange is one of my least favorite colors. However, my three-year-old son always chooses orange so it's beginning to grown on me. I have to admit, when I went to go shop at Target today, I made a bee-line for the Paper Zone next door primarily for an orange ink pad! I didn't own one until today! When I was there, I also found Colorbox has beginner washable and stackable ink pads called My First Colorbox (perfect for my daughter and the start of what I hope is just the beginning of her paper crafting habit!) This is Memento's Tangelo ink used here. I love that name! After doing some Google research, I found out the Tangelo is a hybrid fruit. I had no idea! Supplies: Cardstock: Hawaiian Shores and Stamper's White (Papertrey) Stamps: Bella Toile background (SU!) and Butterfly from Great Friend (SU!) Ink: Tangelo (Memento) Embellishments: heart brads (unknown) Tools: corner rounder punch (EK Success) and curvy label punch (SU!)

Matt and Christina's Wedding Card

Our family has been invited to a wedding this weekend, and here's the card I made for the couple. Their wedding invitation used hydrangeas and I wanted to use a bashful blue (SU!) or spring rain (PTI) blue but I didn't have any ribbon, and I needed some to finish this card off. It seems these days, I can't finish a card without ribbon! I hope they like this card. Thanks for stopping by! Supplies: Cardstock: Baja Breeze and Certainly Celery (SU!); Stamper's White (PTI) Stamps: sentiment from Together Forever and Friendly Words wheel (SU!); Damask Collage (B Line Designs, LLC) Ink: Certainly Celery and Craft Whisper White (SU!) Embellishments: Heart brads (unknown), silver brads (Making Memories), Baja Breeze ribbon (SU!) Tools: curvy label punch (SU!), hydrangea punch (Martha Stewart)

Off the Wall Craftiness Challenge no. 14 Entry No. 3

Here's my third entry for Kim's Off the Wall Craftiness Challenge No. 14. These three cards were inspired by Kim's Off the Wall Craftiness blog and challenge. The color challenge is Enchanted Evening, Raspberry Fizz, and white or cream. I used cream on all three of these cards. I LOVE using new supplies! The background stamp and teapot die are new. Entry No. 3 Supplies: Cardstock: Enchanted Evening, Raspberry Fizz, and Vintage Cream (all Papertrey) Stamps: Damask Collage (B Line Designs, LLC), Tea for Two and Tea for Two Additions (Papertrey) Ink: Buckaroo Blue (SU!) Embellishments: Enchanted Evening and Raspberry Fizz buttons (Papertrey), Enchanted Evening ribbon (Papertrey), Very Vanilla Tafetta ribbon (SU!) Tools: Large Flower Punch (SU!), teapot die (Papertrey), Scallop Punch (SU!), Flower Punch (SU!)

Off the Wall Craftiness Challenge no. 14 Entry No. 2

Here's my second entry. These three cards were inspired by Kim's Off the Wall Craftiness blog and challenge. The color challenge is Enchanted Evening, Raspberry Fizz, and white or cream. I used cream on all three of these cards. I LOVE using new supplies! The background stamp is new. Entry No. 2 Supplies: Cardstock: Enchanted Evening, Raspberry Fizz, and Vintage Cream (all Papertrey) Stamps: Damask Collage (B Line Designs, LLC), Tea for Two and Tea for Two Additions (Papertrey) Ink: Buckaroo Blue (SU!) Embellishments: Enchanted Evening and Raspberry Fizz buttons (Papertrey), Enchanted Evening ribbon (Papertrey), Very Vanilla Tafetta ribbon (SU!) Tools: Large Flower Punch (SU!), teapot die (Papertrey), Scallop Punch (SU!), Flower Punch (SU!)

Off the Wall Craftiness Challenge no. 14 Entry No. 1

It feels so good to have accomplished a challenge in what feels like a very long time! I'm not sure how I came across this blog, but Kim is wonderfully talented and on top of it, she has a weekly challenge! This is my first time participating! We're allowed three entries, so they're somewhat similiar. Thanks for stopping by! The color challenge is Enchanted Evening, Raspberry Fizz, and white or cream. I used cream on all three of these cards. I LOVE using new supplies! The background stamp is new. Entry No. 1 Supplies: Cardstock: Enchanted Evening, Raspberry Fizz, and Vintage Cream (all Papertrey) Stamps: Damask Collage (B Line Designs, LLC), Tea for Two and Tea for Two Additions (Papertrey) Ink: Buckaroo Blue (SU!) Embellishments: Enchanted Evening and Raspberry Fizz buttons (Papertrey), Enchanted Evening ribbon (Papertrey), Very Vanilla Tafetta ribbon (SU!) Tools: Large Flower Punch (SU!), teapot die (Papertrey), Scallop Punch (SU!), Flower Punch (SU!)

Finally!

Rusty. That's the only way I can describe it. Busy too! I've had to play catch-up on a lot of cards I've made (since April) and haven't posted. So here's the rundown...the first card is my sister's birthday card. I didn't have her gift card at the time I took this picture, so I used a Costco cash card. I made this card following pg. 77 from Paper Craft's Go to Sketches. Fabulous issue that inspired me a lot! Supplies: Cardstock: Baja Breeze (SU!) Designer Paper: Baja Breeze Variety Pack (SU!) Stamps: Office Accoutrement (SU!), lined background (Impress) Ink: Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White Craft, and Chocolate Chip marker (all SU!) Embellishments: Pearl Dew Drops, Baja Breeze stitched ribbon Tools: 1" circle punch

The next three all follow the same sketch on pg. 109(again from the Paper Craft's Go to Sketches) for Mother's Day for my mom, sister, and mother-in-law. The next card followed the Mother's Day format and I made it for one of my husband's co-workers. That was until I found out her favorite colors are lavender and green. I didn't get a picture taken of her card.

Supplies for Michelle's Mother's Day card: Cardstock: Pink Pirouette and Chocolate Chip(SU!), Vintage Cream (Papertrey) Stamps: Bella Toile and Fundamental Phrases (SU!) Ink: Chocolate Chip (SU!) Embellishments: Dark Chocolate ribbon (Papertrey), brown button & twine (Artco) Tools: Scallop Oval punch, medium oval punch, large five petal punch (all SU!)

Supplies for Mom's Mother's Day card: Cardstock: Enchanted Evening and Vintage Cream (Papertrey) Stamps: Bella Toile (SU!) and Tea for Two (Papertrey) Ink: Buckaroo Blue (SU!) Embellishments: Enchanted Evening ribbon (Papertrey), cream button and twine (Artco) Tools: large five petal punch (SU!)

*I made a set of four gift cards (they're 3 x 3 inches) for my mom. My mom tends to buy or have me buy stamp sets and I keep them at my house for one day when she'll want to use them. This is Papertrey's Tea for Two set that I showed her, but I bought it for "her" for Mother's Day. I made this ring of cards so she could see all the different images. I got the Tea for Two Additions set for her for her birthday, and I'll do the same thing, but also add the dies that go with the teapot, tea cup, and tea label.

Supplies for Sonia's Mother's Day card: Cardstock: Rich Razzleberry (SU!), Vintage Cream (Papertrey) Stamps: Bella Toile and Fundamental Phrases (SU!) Ink: Rich Razzleberry Embellishments: Dark Chocolate ribbon (Papertrey); dark chocolate button and twine (Artco) Tools: scallop oval punch, medium oval punch, and large five petal punch (all SU!)

Supplies for Birthday card: *I watched Ashley Cannon Newell's ribbon tutorial to learn how to do ribbon like this. This was my first try! Cardstock: Enchanted Evening and Vintage Cream (Papertrey) Stamps: Happy Birthday from Warmest Regards(SU!) Ink: Buckaroo Blue Embellishments: Rhinestones (Kaisercraft), Enchanted Evening ribbon (Papertrey) Tools: scallop oval punch This card is for my friend Stephanie and the best stamping friend a girl could ever ask for. This is a belated birthday card and I have to admit, it's very intimidating to stamp a card for someone who you always stamp with! We started our blogs together and have neglected them together too!

Supplies: Cardstock: Pink Pirouette (SU!), Raspberry Fizz and Stamper's Craft White (Papertrey) Stamps: Friendly Words Wheel (SU!), Itty Bitty Bits (SU!), sentiment from Great Friend (SU!), Every Occasion Mini Flip Flops Clear Stamps by Hot Fudge Studio (Hampton Arts) Ink: Pink Pirouette and Basic Black (SU!) Embellishments: Designer Paper (Lush!), Very Vanilla brad (SU!), button (Artco), pearl (Kaisercraft), ribbon (Artco), Bitty buttons (SU!) Tools: mat pack (SU!), five petal punch (SU!), scallop edged border (SU!), scallop, circle punch (SU!), unknown Fiskars punch, real estate sign punch (Fiskars), sponge, Itty bitty shape punches (SU!), white embroidery floss

This card was supposed to be for last week's Play Date Cafe challenge with red, pink, and white. That was until I found out (three hours too late) that the deadline was Tuesday night and not Thursday night. Rusty I tell you - I knew that! That seriously killed my mojo, but I was determined to get something stamped for a challenge! Supplies: Cardstock: Riding Hood Red (SU!) Stamps: Tea for Two (Papertrey), Dots and Flowers background (Hero Arts), and Damask Collage (B Line Designs, LLC) Ink: Riding Hood Red Embellishments: pink ribbon, Raspberry Fizz and Poppy buttons (Papertrey) Tools: teapot die (Papertrey)