Off the Wall Craftiness No. 19 Challenge

This is a beautiful color combo - I could make cards with these colors over and over again. This is my first entry I've made for Kim Wilson's Off the Wall Craftiness No. 19 Challenge. This one is simple, but it's just so cheery! Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:

Paper: Pretty in Pink (SU!), Stamper's Select White (Papertrey), Text Style 2009 Bitty Dot Basics (Papertrey), Lemon Tart (Papertrey), ? In Color Brown (SU!)

Ink: Rouge Chalk Color Box (Clearsnap)

Embellishments: Lemon Tart Twill Ribbon (Papertrey), Antique White Hodgepodge (SU!)

Tools: 1 1/4 inch circle punch, 1 3/8 circle punch (both EK Success), scallop punch (SU!), mat pack (SU!)

Mojo Monday Challenge 150

My daughter and I were browsing the Pottery Barn Kids catalog the other day and of course, she wants everything. She's three! I loved the Coco Dots nursery set with these colors. Here's my entry for the Mojo Monday Challenge 150. Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:

Paper: Aqua Mist, Text Style 2008 Bitty Box Basics, and Text Style 2009 Bitty Dot Basics (Papertrey), White, Certainly Celery (SU!)

Stamps: Lovely Labels and Canvas (SU!)

Ink: Rouge Chalk Colorbox (Clearsnap) and Certainly Celery (SU!)

Embellishments: Buttons (Crystalline Buttons), Dark Chocolate Ribbon (Papertrey)

Tools: Fancy Flower Punch (SU!), 1 inch circle, 1 3/8 inch circle and 1 1/4 inchcircle punches (EK Success), corner rounder (EK Success)

Embellish Magazine's Birds Color Challenge

This week has been long, so I was overjoyed when my husband and I planned some "Mommy" time so I could come upstairs and play! Especially as we're not sure how this evening will go with night two of no paci's (my usual stamping time).

Here's my entry for Embellish Magazine's Birds Color Challenge. Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:

Paper: White (Papertrey), Chocolate Chip and Old Olive (SU!)

Stamps: Friends 24-7 and Bella Toile (SU!), Blooming Button Bits (Papertrey)

Ink: Chocolate Chip (SU!), Chestnut ? Chalk Colorbox (Clearsnap), and Rouge Chalk Colorbox (Clearsnap)

Tools: Textile Embossing Folder (Cuttlebug), Apron Lace punch (Fiskars), sponge

Embellishments: Seam-binding ribbon (Memriemare Etsy shop), fancy petal punch (SU!), button, Grass dewdrops

OTWC No. 18....I'm a winner!

After what has felt like a very long day, one of my little ones is still asking for a paci (it was our official give up the paci day) as I type this. I was so surprised and thrilled to see MY name on Kim Wilson's blog, Off the Wall Craftiness No. 18 Challenge Winner. It was this card, for my yiayia, that won.

Now check out the prize - (smile, smile, smile!) which, knowing how much I love to make flowers, is fantastic! Thanks Kim for a great challenge and Birds of a Feather Etsy shop for the prize! Thanks for stopping by!

Everything But the Kitchen Sink Challenge 20: Buttons

I love, love, love buttons (as in, I bought $50 worth once I got all of Papertrey's Everyday Button Bits, Blooming Buttons Bits, and Holiday Button Bits), so when I saw Everything But the Kitchen Sink's Challenge 20: Buttons, I knew I had to participate! I noticed a cute card on Kim Wilson's Blog for her Off the Wall Craftiness challenge and found Ayana's Creations. Wow, wow, wow. She inspired me to make this card with her rhinestone tree and button tree! The problem for me was I don't own any tree stamps, and I had to improvise. So, I free-handed a simple trunk, put it through the paper crimper, sponged it, and then dumped a whole lot of green buttons on top. It looks more time-consuming than it actually was. I used a whole lot of glue dots! The bigger buttons have 3D glue-dots underneath which helped the little ones stick around it. Thanks for stopping by! Hope you get to play - contest ends Sunday! Supplies: Embellishments: Buttons (Crystalline Buttons), Twine Tools: 1 1/4 circle punch, paper crimper, clear-embossing powder Stamps: Blooming Bits (Papertrey) and Be Happy (SU!) Paper: Soft Sky (SU!), Kraft (misc.), Vintage Cream (Papertrey) Ink: Old Olive (SU!), Rouge chalk ink (Colorbox)

The Play Date Cafe Colour Splash PDCC No. 40 Entry No. 2

Here's my second entry for the Play Date Cafe's Colour Challenge PDCC No. 40 this week. I brought out too oldie sets for this card - Best Blossoms (2006) and Too Terrific Tags (2006). Thank you for stopping by!

Supplies:

Cardstock: Black (Papertrey), White (Papertrey) Bright White (Sundance Felt) It's got a fantastic texture. (I've been using my Papertrey's White a little too freely and at the rate I'm going, I'll be out before I can even get a shipment to my house!)

Stamps: Best Blossoms and Too Terrific Tags (SU!), Lined Background Stamp (Impress) Ink: Basic Black (SU!) and Wild Wasabi (SU!) Embellishments: Black Ribbon (Satin Sensations, Morex Corp.), eyelet, twine, ribbon Tools: tag punch, five petal punch (both SU!), corner rounder punch (EK Success), sponge

The Play Date Cafe Colour Splash PDCC No. 40 Entry No. 1

I've made two cards for the Play Date Cafe's Colour Challenge PDCC No. 40 this week. Here's my first entry. Initially when I began making this card, I masked a rectangular section in the middle of a white based card and sponged it black and then placed the flowers on it, which really reminded me of a coffin. So it still does. If this reminds you of a coffin, please comment so I won't send this card out to anyone! I would never intend to do that! Thank you for stopping by!

Supplies:

Cardstock: Bright White (Sundance Felt) It's got a fantastic texture. (I've been using my Papertrey's White a little too freely and at the rate I'm going, I'll be out before I can even get a shipment to my house!)

Stamps: Friends 24-7 (SU!), Too Terrific Tags (SU!), Print Pattern (SU!)

Ink: Basic Black (SU!) and Wild Wasabi (SU!)

Embellishments: Ribbon (Satin Sensations, Morex Corp.), eyelet

Tools: tag punch, watercolor pen

OTWC Challenge No. 18 Entry No. 3

Here's my last entry for Kim Wilson's Off the Wall Craftiness Color Challenge No. 18. I tried to remember a sketch in my head for this card just as I was about to fall asleep. Sketching out cards for me never works. I'm such a sloppy drawer that the card inevitably always ends up different than the sketch I've drawn. When I was in high school I shopped at The Bon Marche (known as The Bon and The Cube) but now it's Macy's. I loved FOSSIL handbags, and then loved their watches, and little did I know that they had jewelry until last week. My husband and I ate dinner out for our anniversary and did some shopping. Having a Macy's attached to a hotel is a very dangerous thing! I fell in love with a FOSSIL necklace. I would show it to you if I could, but it's not on their website. Had I known how difficult it would be to find the other necklaces, I would have picked them up too. This necklace inspired this card. The other inspiration for this card is Dawn McVey of Papertrey's Design Team. I read her blog on a daily basis and she frequently uses vintage book print on her cards. She picked hers up at a thrift shop, which is hard to come by in a large city like mine. I have Goodwill and Value Village. This book was published in 1919 by L.M. Montgomery (the author of Anne of Green Gables) and is called Rainbow Valley. After I bought this book, it has sat on a shelf just staring at me. I don't want to tear the pages out! I feel guilty! I don't know how Dawn does it, and I think I'm going to have to e-mail her and ask her when all this CHA stuff settles down. Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies: Stamps: Friends 24-7(SU!), Sweet Spot (SU!) Paper: White and Enchanted Evening(Papertrey), vintage book print Ink: Inky Blue (Vivid!) and Dandelion (Dew Drop Memento) Embellishments: Spring Blossom Dew Drops, Twine Tools: Three Petal Punch (SU!)

OTWC Challenge No. 18 Entry No. 2

In Sunday's paper, I read an article from "Savvy Seniors" that talked about devices that translate hand-written letters into e-mails and emails into typed letters for non-techie grandparents to keep in touch with family members. I thought of my Yiayia (Greek for grandmother) and wanted to make this card for her. This is my second entry for Kim Wilson's Off the Wall Craftiness Color Challenge No. 18.

I had forgotten why this navy blue ink pad was so hidden. On this card alone, I made three navy blue smudges that I had to discreetly cover up! When Vivid! says "Inky Blue" they really mean it! Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies: Stamps: Friends 24-7(SU!), sentiment from Blooming Button Bits (Papertrey) Cardstock: White(Papertrey) Ink: Inky Blue (Vivid!) and Dandelion (Dew Drop Memento) Embellishments: Lemon Tart Ribbon (Papertrey) and Enchanted Evening buttons (Papertrey)

OTWC Challenge No. 18

Hawaii was beautiful! If only I could capture the degrees of ocean blues. I didn't know it was possible to feel jet-lagged after a three-hour time difference. Add in the fact I haven't made a card in a week and a half, and my mojo seems to be suffering! I'm so happy to be participating in a challenge again! This card, which I'll be sending as a "Thinking of You" card, is for Kim Wilson's Off the Wall Craftiness Color Challenge No. 18 of pale yellow, blue, and white. Beautiful colors together!

Supplies: Stamps: Trés Chic background stamp (SU!), Polka Dot Posies (SU!) Cardstock: Lemon Tart and White(Papertrey) Ink: Inky Blue (Vivid!) Embellishments: Ribbon (misc.) and Lemon Tart buttons (Papertrey)

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!)