Happy 4th! (part 2)

Hello friends. I am back as promised, but a little sooner that I expected. My daughter Leah was with me in my craftroom and saw me creating my card and wanted to play along.

 

My card plays along with two challenges: One Layer Simplicity and PTI's MIM: Masking with Dies (insert gasp). It's been quite a while since I have played along with MIM, so I was excited to try out this technique.

To create my diagonal stripes, I used a stencil that I created with my Silhouette Cameo. I created this stencil waaay back using PTIs Stampers Select white. It is quite sturdy and has been used several times and is in great shape even though it is cardstock. I die cut the medium star from Star Prints and adhered it to my cardstock first, then layered my striped stencil on top using my zig 2 way pen. I sponged on some Enchanted Evening pigment ink. My pad is quite dry so I think it's great to create a subtle effect. I used Pure Poppy for my star image and added my sentiment in Memento Tuxedo black in.

 

Next up is Leah's card.

 

 

 She desparately wanted to make white stars. I had to tell her that it would be hard to add red to her card if she used a dark cardbase and kept it one layer. Since she saw me playing with my sponging and masking, we came up with an idea. We used post it tape to mask off an area so she could create an area to stamp her white stars on. She is such a quick learner and I think she did fabulous sponging on the ink. She used Teeny Star from DeNami in Snow White. Then she inked up Long Solid Rectangle in Pure Poppy to create her flag pole.

 

Thanks for stopping by!



CAS-ual Fridays, Banners and Flags

Happy Friday everyone! I hope you had a good week. Mine has been a bit unusual. A week ago, I started to experience some eye trouble. Conjunctivitis along with another eye issue makes life a bit miserable. I am thankful that I am feeling mostly better, however, it's hard to feel like you have accomplished much of anything when you simply can't see. Sigh. Thanks for listening.

 

So now for the real reason you stopped by. Today I have a card to share with you for this week's CAS-ual Fridays challenge: create a clean and simple project using banners or flags.

 

 

The winner of this week's challenge will win a $25 gift certificate to Ellen Hutson.

 

 

This week's challenge over at Papertrey Ink's Make It Monday is to create a flag border. I think I haven't played along in over a year *gulp*. So I was super excited to combine these challenges. For my card I used my double ended banner die and banner builder die collection. Instead of using patterned paper, I chose to stamp on cardstock. I used Background Basics: Houndstooth, Background Basics: Newsprint, and Boy Basics: Grunge Me on the banners.  The splatter is also from Grunge Me. I added my sentiment from Birthday Basics. The final touch was adding some green graph washi from DeNami Design. Now, I do not own any yellow washi tape, so I created it using a previous Make It Monday: Custom stamped washi tape tutorial. Unfortunately it is not respositional like original washi tape, but it is great to create something when you do not have it in your stash.

 

Well, that's it for me for today. Remember that you have until noon on Thursday to link up and play. I can't wait to see what you create! Literally. Thanks for stopping by!

ColourQ #132 and Make it Monday #61

Well, it's Sunday. Did your weekend go by as fast as mine? Way too fast, in my opinion. Yesterday I shared a card using Besty Veldman's rolled flower technique. It was so much fun, I just had to make another card using them. Today's card is another Mother's Day card using the fabulous colors from this week's ColourQ Challenge. These colors are so bold and pretty, I just had to play along.

Although it is hard to see in the photo, I did use my linen/canvas impression plate on my card base. Did you notice something unusual about my card? My card base is not white! Lately, I have been challenging myself to try new things. You know, get out of my comfort zone. So yes, I am trying to conquer my fear of using colors as my card base. I am also entering this card into this week's Make-it-Monday challenge of making flowers using a non-flower die. Thanks for looking!

Orange and blue...

... go Gators!!! Okay, so I know that it's not football season and the basketball season ended a few weeks ago, but I just had to make a card with these colors for this week's CAS-ual Fridays challenge: Opposites Attract. Even though I bleed true orange and blue, these are my favorite colors that are opposite on the color wheel.

I wanted to tell my sweet blog readers how thankful I am for all of your kind words regarding my new position on the CAS-ual Fridays Facebook Inspiration team. It has really meant a lot to me and I am so excited for this opportunity.

The base of this card may look familiar to you as you have seen it on several of my cards. Sometimes I want to create a little more depth and interest on my CAS cards, so I had layers. I used PTIs linen/canvas impression plate as well for that extra *umph*. I created the flowers using Betsy Veldman's rolled felt flowers. I have been itching to make these beauties for some time now. It just so happens that they fall under this week's Make-it-Monday: making flowers out of non flower dies. Betsy's flowers call for using the negative from your ric rac die. So clever!



PTI February 2012 blog hop

It's that time of the month again. It's Papertrey Ink's February blog hop. This is such a fun time of the month to gain inspiration from many wonderful crafter's. The challenge this month is to create an interactive card.

I admit I struggled on this one. Since I started blogging, I have discovered that I tend to be a CAS gal. It's hard to create an interactive card and keep it CAS, especially when you leave the challenge to the last possible minute. Yes, I didn't start my card until this morning. I wanted to use this week's Make-it-Monday technique again, glittered buttons. Most of you that follow my blog know that I am a huge fan of glitter. The sentiment that I wanted to be interactive is meant to send someone cheer, so I wanted to use bright Spring colors. Although I have had issues with my new Spring Moss premium dye ink changing colors, I opted to use it on my card because it is simply one of my favorite colors.

So I based my card off of a previous design seen here. Thanks for stopping by!

For a dear friend

Today I have a card to share for a dear friend of mine. Although I have been under the weather since Tuesday, nothing compares to what she has endured. My friend, Gina, was diagnosed with breast cancer last year. You can read more about her story here. She is currently in Texas participating in a clinical trial. I made her this card to send her way. These colors are some of my favorites. I am submitting it for 2 challenges: Play Date Cafe and Make-it-Mondays: glittered buttons. I love you, Gina! Keep on fighting, girl!!!!

Baby Blue...Orangesicle...Basil

 

love you

I hope you are having a fabulous weekend. Today's card takes part in several challenges.

The first is for Make-it-Monday. I chose to do glitter strips with score tape.  I never did participate since this was pre-blog days. I added it to some color blocks that are in this week's ColourQ Challenge.

I finished off my card with some chipboard hearts that I made using old cereal boxes that I learned from another Make-it-Monday that I had a blast participating in. This week's CAS-ual Fridays Challenge is to create a project using chipboard.

My hearts were die cut using Heart Prints. I glued together 4 layers using Glossy Accents. I covered the smaller one in glue and added Martha Stewart coarse glitter. Thanks for looking!

Misty, misty

Hello blog friends!

I tried my hand at Make-it-Monday #15: Make your own spray mist. I have really wanted to try this for some time. Well, actually I would rather buy some mists, but making my own was rather simple. I decided that I would mist up the wrapping paper that I used for the birthday presents for the parties we will attend this weekend. I put a few good drops of Hawaiin Shores reinker into my Ranger mister and added a little bit of water. I am satisfied with how it turned out, however, I do prefer a more saturated look. I will definitely try this again with my acrylic paints to see the difference.

Here is a close up.

A wormy birthday

My daughter has been invited to two birthday parties this weekend. I whipped up two identical cards and tags for these little boys. I tell ya, if you don't have this Create a Critter cartridge in your arsenal, you should seriously consider buying it. I have loved making cards for all of her friends. I've made some others here, here, here, and here. Love 'em!!! They all have the basic design as if the critter was sitting on the ground, but slightly different. I used a Make-it-Monday technique of ribbon pleating that I had participated in previously and had so much fun with it.

So, if you happen to be a mommy of one of these boys and a follower of my blog, I am sorry that the surprise may be ruined before the big day. Hope you like them as much as I do.

Another one...

Today's card is another one for this week's  Make-it-Monday. I created another sympathy card at the request of my sister for the same family that I made yesterday's card. I don't usually share too much personal stuff here on the blog since it is mainly for crafts. But I am asking you to join me in prayer for this family. Frank Sanders is an amazing man who was diagnosed almost a year ago with pancreatic cancer. He just published an autobiography From Silver to Gold to share how God has worked in his life.  My family has been truly blessed by him.

A difficult thing

 This week's Make-it-Monday is 2011 a la carte. If there were any challenges that we might've missed out on during 2011 and didn't get to try, this is our chance.

I decided that I would make a card that is tough for most card makers, a sympathy card. Nobody really wants to have a bunch of these in their stash. It puts a lump in your throat. These kinds of cards don't get tossed by most. You see, I still have all of the cards given to me when my mother and grandmother passed away.

I used PTI's Botanical Silhouettes. You have seen this card design here, classic and simple. I have really fallen in love with this set. So versatile, really. I used Ocean Tides ink. I haven't used this in a while. Over the last few months, I have learned that my style tends towards bright colors. So glad that I brought it out. Ocean Tides is really a great color to have in your stash.

My prayers go out to the recepient of this card. My heart is heavy because I know that it will be removed from my stash of cards sooner than later. Sigh.

2011 Year in Review

If you are looking for Pages with Papertrey, scroll down.

I've decided that I would join my blog friends for a Year in Review. The only problem is that I started blogging in September. So, I decided that I would share my 12 favorite creations from the last few months. These are in blog post order.

Hubby's birthday card

Make-it-Monday birthday

Make-it-Monday birthday

Valentine's Day

PTI September blog hop

 

PTI November blog hop

CAS-ual birthday

Make-it-Monday birthday

Make-it-Monday and CAS-ual birthday

ColourQ Christmas

Play Date Cafe and CAS-ual birthday

December PTI blog hop plus more

Join us for a Year in Review!

 

Christmas cup tag

Yesterday I had a coworker ask me my opinion regarding a gift she bought for her family for Christmas. It is an online store credit and she had bought an espresso cup and was going to place a card inside explaining the gift. I offered to make a tag for her to attach to the handle of the espresso cup. So I whipped one up for her last night using this week's Make-it-Monday technique. Using the folded tag will allow her some room to write the information regarding the online gift.

I used my pinking shears to cut the Pure Poppy saddle stitch ribbon. Three different die cuts were pieces that were not used on previous projects. I love it when things come together like that!

Make-it-Monday #46, folded tag

It's been a while since I've participated in a Make-it-Monday challenge. This week's challenge was to use any die and make a folded tag. I decided to created a matching tag for this card. I used Botanical Silhouettes for the image and distressed the edges using Antique Linen and my blending tool. I opted to use my rectangular nestie to mimic the card. The inside was stamped with 2008 Holiday Tag Collection.