Ur 1

Happy Monday, all!

I know it's been awfully quiet around here. Sorry about that. :( The hubs and I just started a new eating regimen and it's taken a couple of weeks to get adjusted to. All is great and we've steadily lost poundage! woot! :)

Today's card is a fun one. I created this a month ago, I believe, for a dear friend of mine. She has a friend whose little one was turning one! Birthday cards are so much fun to make. I especially enjoyed making this one, since I tried a pack of dimensional stickers for the first time. Will definitely be incorporating more of these fun things in the future. :)

 

Forgive the dark photo.. I definitely need higher watt daylight bulbs. But, isn't that cake just awesome??? Love it!

Hope you enjoy this and have a great week ahead!! :)

CS: PTI Lemon Tart, New Leaf

PP: DCWV Sweet Matstack

Other: Spellbinders Label 4, K&Company Confetti Cake Grand Adhesions, Me&MyBigIdeas Alpha Chips

I am Glam! (ha!)

Happy Friday!!

So excited!!!!!!! to share that my card from yesterday's post was recognized by Friday MashUp's Design Team member Lesley Croghan! I am beyond ecstatic. wee!!! :)

(Click here for Lesley's post.)

Creating cards have become such a blessing to me. It keeps me sane *and* causes episodes of insanity at the same time. (You all know what I mean, right?? **paper! yummy paper!!** {insert shriek here} HA!) Truly though, being able to create and express one's creativity and then have that creation enjoyed by others is simple happiness to me. But then having it applauded on top of that is just... it absolutely warms my heart. It's a real gift.

So, to Lesley and the fab ladies at Friday MashUp: THANK YOU.   {shriek!}

PS. Don't miss out on the fun over at Friday MashUp! Check them out!

This week's challenge is SUPER fun! :)

Be yourself...

Morning, all! 

Can you believe it's September?!? acckkk! This means I'll soon get to create my most favorite: Christmas cards!! Trees and trimmings, reds and golds.. Nativity, angels, reindeer!! wee!!! Before I get *too* excited, let me get on with today's card. ;-)

I was reading through my blog roll and came upon a new-to-me challenge blog. Discovering new blogs is such a treat! I enjoyed the challenges on this newly discovered blog that I spent a good half of the morning reading through the pages. Much inspired by the DT, I decided to join in on the fun and create a card following Friday MashUp's Challenge #21 - Bossy and Sketchy!

The challenge is to create a card using the sketch and to add a dry embossed element. Hence, the name "Bossy and Sketchy." FUN, yea? :) I also took inspiration from Color Throwdown #157. Those color ladies sure know how to challenge! It took me a good 15 minutes to get my mind around combining blue, burgundy and... *gasp!* LIME green. After a few rough sketches, (I draw up the sketch and add elements on paper first. It saves me from wasting supplies. Yep, lesson learned. hehe) I decided on using patterned paper with all the beautiful shades and butterflies to boot! (I looooovvvvvvve butterflies!)

I busted out my Cuttlebug Script folder for the bottom strip. Don'cha just love that texture? :) The color challenge has us use a burgundy color. I swear that sentiment is a dark red. It's showing up bright red on my monitor. booo!

As you see on the left panel, I chose to cut out the large butterfly's wings (just the wings) to make it pop out from the rest of the butterflies on the paper. This was inspired by the sentiment. BE YOURSELF! Love that!

Anyway, that'll be it for now. I hope you all have a great Thursday. Stay yourself and be happy!!!! yay! :)

CS: PTI Enchanted Evening, Kraft, Spring Moss
PP: K&Company Amy Butler Söla Mat Pad, K&Company Susan Winget Botanical Mat Pad
Stamp: Fiskars Forever Friends Quotes
Ink: Memento Rhubarb Stalk
Other: Cuttlebug Script folder, Recollections pearls

Just because...

Happy Sunday!

Late post today. Had a comfy lazy day with the hubs, catching up on some Netflix. Tonight's card is inspired by Taylored Expressions Sketch #145 and is also my take on Stampin' Royalty's Challenge #86, which is So. Much. Fun! Glitter and rhinestones and sparkles! What could be more fun?!

I took out one of my fave matstacks from DCWV and cut out a few glittered flowers. I also took this really cute bejeweled bird.. Isn't he perfect for the challenge?! wee! :) To complete the theme, I added rhinestones on both sides of the sentiment.

I hope this card makes you smile. Be sure to check the goddesses out here and of course, check out TE too!

 



CS: PTI Lemon Tart
PP: DCWV Citrus matstack
Stamp: Inkadinkado Gemstone Birds, StudioG sentiment
Ink: Stazon Timber Brown
Other: Michael's grosgrain ribbon, Spellbinders Label Die 1, Recollections rhinestones

Good friends...

Hellooo!

Happy Hump Day! ;) It's a nice warm afternoon here in the west coast of Florida. I have new craft blogs to peruse and enjoy while sipping medium roast coffee with NCIS reruns in the background and my lil bugger, Stewie keeping me company. It's a good day. :)

Today's card is my take on CAS-ual Friday's Challenge No. 16. This is my second entry and I look forward to joining their challenges every week. I absolutely love clean and simple designs, yet most times, it's a challenge for me to accomplish. You see, I love supplies!! So I have a tendency to want to use most of them on one card. I hope I am not alone in this. ... Am I??? :-/

Anyway, this week's challenge is all about embossing: dry, heat set, folders. I figured I'd use all three methods and still keep it clean and simple. Talk about a challenge, eh?! I also tried a new-to-me technique for using dies for creating embossed frames. I followed this easy-to-follow tutorial by Ms Laura. Don'cha just love learning stuff?? wee!

To keep the design clean, I used a TON of restraint and subtlety. ;) You'll see folder embossing on the smaller pink flower, heat set embossing on the sentiment and of course, dry embossed framing the focal point. Whew! I must say, I'm proud of myself. lol

I hope you enjoy this card as much as I enjoyed creating it. Oh, and isn't that sentiment so true? Turning 30 just this past weekend, I have been blessed with a small group of wonderful ladies that I can absolutely, truly count on. Yay for awesome friends!

That's about it for now. I hope this makes you smile.. Have a great day! :)
 



CS: PTI Berry Sorbet
Stamp: Fiskars Friends Forever Quotes
Ink: Memento Rhubarb Stalk, VersaMark
Tools: Spellbinders Label 4 die, Prima flowers, Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder, Recollections pearl, Stampedous clear embossing powder

His and mine are the same...

Happy Tuesday everyone!

I hope everyone is having a great week so far. The weekend sure did fly by! I celebrated my 30th this weekend... had a really nice dinner with the hubs, went to see a movie (which, unfortunately was a dud - but enjoyed the time together) and had a couple of really enjoyable meals out. Yes. We love to eat. HA! ;)

Along with celebrating my birthday, we also had to have all four tires and the alternator replaced on our Jeep. Fun. Stuff. It really set us off track with our savings, but all of it's necessary and so we simply need to get back on track! I am truly grateful that the hubs really enjoys his work, which provides more than enough for us. We are simply blessed.

With all that gratefulness in mind, I put this simple card together, inspired by Just Us Girls Challenge No. 98. {It's been a good while since I joined in on the fun with the "Girls." I've missed the great fun and inspiration there! Be sure to check them out. :) }

Although I adore patterned paper, floral and distressed ones like this kinda intimidate me. I just don't know how to work them at times! So, I kept it clean and let the colors be the main thing.

Oh, and how about that sentiment?! I just absolutely love it! I think it describes how most of us feel about that important person in our lives. :)

Have a great rest of the week and thanks for stopping by! Leave a comment, I love reading them. :)




CS: PTI Dark Chocolate, Pure Poppy, yellow piece from Michael's paper pack
PP: from an old stash
Stamp: Fiskars Lasting Love Quotes
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa
Other: green grosgrain ribbon from Michael's

"Folded" Love...

Hello everyone! Happy Friday!

Earlier today, Kristina (KWernerDesign) added a new video for the "Focus Fridays" series. It was such an awesome tutorial that I *had* to try it! You can check out the vid tutorial here.

For her card, Kristina used Martha Stewart's All Over The Page Punch. While it certainly makes punching out a shape much easier, I thought a regular punch could also do the trick, albeit a little... well, tricky. ;)

I used the MS Royal Butterfly Punch and after a couple of test punches on scrap cardstock, I figured out where the score line had to be to create the perfect punch.

After punching one side with half of the butterfly, simply flip and punch the other. I found it was helpful to draw tick marks to align the edges of the wing and body.

I added patterned paper on the inside of the card so it peeked through the butterfly, as though it had colorful dotted wings! weee! :) I also used the handy Stamp-a-ma-jig to achieve perfect placement for the sentiment on all the flaps.

 

That's it for now! Sorry about the blurry photos. Still learning how to capture clear photos.. Having to "direct" the hubs (that's him up there holding the card up) was an experience! LOL

I hope you have a wonderful weekend! Thanks for stopping by!

 



CS: PTI Pure Poppy
PP: DCWV Citrus Matstack
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Stamp: Fiskars Lasting Love Quotes
Other: Spellbinders Label 4 die, Recollection pearls, MS butterfly punch

Cherish...

Happy Tuesday!

As I write this post, I can hear thunder and the sky is turning a cozy shade of gray.. The rain'll start to pour any minute now. I actually enjoy rainy days. It puts me in such a contemplative mood...

Today, I am more and more aware of the fact that I am turning thirty in a few days. I am all sorts of emotions. Happy. Excited. Amused. Amazed. I think, more than anything, I am thankful. Thankful for having good people around me. Thankful for each and every opportunity. Thankful for this body, this mind (both of which I have committed to taking much better care of).

Inspired by these thoughts, I created a card following sketch number 144 at Taylored Expressions. Be sure to join the fun -- a prize awaits one lucky blogger! :)

I just love the different patterns on these papers! And the flocking adds amazing texture.

I hope this puts a smile on your face! :) Thanks for stopping by.




CS: PTI Smokey Shadow
PP: DCWV La Creme Matstack
Stamp: Fiskars Lasting Love Quotes
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Tools: Spellbinders square and circle dies, Martha Stewart butterfly punch, Recollections pearls

Many, many thanks...

Happy Sunday, everyone!

Had a pretty busy morning -- went grocery shopping, made a return and a stop at Home Depot. The hubs was nice enough to remember that I needed something called a plumber's gasket. No, I am not trying to learn the intricacies of plumbing. Believe it or not, I use it for embossing. Yes, embossing.

I'm pretty sure this piece of info is nothing new to most crafters, but allow me to share :) ... Also called a rubber gasket (see red piece in the photo), it's an effective and inexpensive substitute to the tan embossing mats used for the Cuttlebug (die cutting and embossing machine). The tan mat typically runs between $9-$12. I got two sheets for just over $4.50. I say, SCORE! hehe

Anyway, I recently discovered a challenge blog and I am absolutely loving it! CAS-ual Fridays is a weekly challenge blog dedicated to CAS: Clean and Simple designs. I love it! Love it, love it. Clean lines, straight forward design = happy sigh. ;)

So to end this lovely weekend, I hope you enjoy my take on CAS-ual Fridays Challenge CFC15.

Geez, that photo's massive! hahaha. But don'cha just love that cherry blossom??

"Many, many thanks" for stopping by!! Have a great week ahead! :)
 




CS: PTI Raspberry Fizz, Dark Chocolate and Spring Moss
Stamps: Hero Arts (sentiment), Rubber Stampede (cherry blossom)
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa
Other: Martha Stewart rose quartz glitter, Elmer's craft bond

You are Special..

Helloooooo!

Guess who's back? :) ... After an 18 (yes, eighteen!) month hiatus, my creative mojo is back! {woot!} Much as I wanted to create, other things needed my full attention. The dust has settled... and I have been blessed to be able to participate, create and share with you again.

I may not have picked up a stamp or sliced into some yummy paper the past year and a half, but I have continued to follow my favorite ladies.. Lurking, ooh-ing and aah-ing at their beautiful creations! Such amazing talent out there! I love learning from them. :)

Today, allow me to share a card I made, drawing inspiration from Stampin' Royalty's Challenge No. 84. I joined in on the fun back in 2010, and it was such a surprise when the goddesses chose one of my cards. Be sure to check the blog as their challenges are great fun!

That'll be it for me today. Thanks for stopping by. Leave a comment, if you'd like. (I love reading them.) Have a great weekend!! :)





CS: PTI kraft
PP: DCWV Citrus Matstack
Stamp: Hero Arts (sentiment)
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa
Tools: Spellbinders Label 4 die, Fiskars corner rounder, Recollections pearls