Hello Sunshine

 
For some reason they never wake easy. I poke, I prod, I move limbs. They are like bumps on a log. Every now and then, though, I throw open the curtains and state quite loudly "hello sunshine!". If I'm lucky, they'll slowly open one eye, then the other, and then they mutter...Mutter about it being too bright, but alas, they are awake and moving! Mission accomplished!

All Things Unity is having a Style Challenge. I grabbed the only Unity Set I had and went to work, trying to come up with a graphic, non cute-sy design that doesn't focus on the frog in the set. I first clear embossed the clouds on kraft paper and then colored the exposed areas with ink. I've never tried this technique before and quite like it. Suites my clean and graphic style. I'll be giving this to someone as a get well or thinking about you card...someday.

Ooh, and did you see the blog candy offered up by The Button Junkie, SherryAnn? Find out about it here, it's amazing.

Supplies Used: 
Cardstock: (Kraft) Papertrey Ink
Stamp: (Cloud from Leap for Life) Unity, (Rays from You're Dandy) Practicing Creativity Designs
Ink: (More Mustard, Summer Sun, Rose Red, Cameo Coral, Night of Navy, Tempting Turquoise, Ballet Blue Pigment) Stampin' Up (Watermark) Versamark
Other: (Sentiment Sticker) SRM Stickers

Hey Friend

When your down and troubled / And you need a helping hand / And nothing, whoa nothing is going right...Winter, spring, summer, or fall, / All you have to do is call / And I'll be there, yeah, yeah, yeah. / You've got a freind.  (Lyrics from You've Got a Friend sung by James Taylor)

A clean and simple card created for the Aspiring To Create Challenge where we were to use a photo as inspiration as well as a supply or tool that you own but have not used before. A while back I found a tracing wheel at a local thrift store to create the faux stitching technique and can't believe I hadn't tried it out until now. So much fun! (By the way, Teri Anderson's tutorial is here!)The polka circles were stamped with the polka hexagon from Schlosser Design's Hexagon-A-Thon set and simply punched out. Love that these stamps can take on a different look and even shape.

***If you are up to a challenge or need some inspiration, try out the challenge I issued on Yvonne's blog! Copy your blog post's link into the comments field for a chance to win a $10 gift certificate to Limelight Papercrafts!***

Supplies Used:
Cardstock: (White) Georgia Pacific
Stamps, clear: (Sentiment from Key to my Heart) Practicing Creativity Designs, (Polka Hexagon from Hexagon-A-Thon) Schlosser Designs, (Butterfly from Woodgrain Silhouettes) Wplus9
Ink: (Antique Linen Distress) Ranger, (Teal Chalk) Colorbox, (Onyx Black) Versafine
Other: (Pink Acrylic Paint) Apple Barrell
Tools: (Circle Punch) Creative Memories, Tracing Wheel

Guest Designer Contest!

I'm thrilled to be the Guest Designer over at the uber talented Yvonne's blog Do More with Less. Yvonne is so inspiring- I love the layers and complexities she creates in her projects, her bold and well chosen color schemes and wow,the way she rocks the mists! Please mosey on over to Yvonne's blog for details about a little challenge I'm hosting for her and my readers! I'd love to see your new creations using the grid technique and am offering a prize of a $10 gift certificate to LimeLIGHT Papercrafts to one random participant! (LimeLIGHT Papercrafts is one of the best online crafty stores of mine, is owned by an awesome designer and super sweet lady, Mandy, whose blog can be found here. She offers a weekly sketch challenge that is one of my favorites.)

Here's a quick tutorial on how I create stamped background paper with a grid design. 

Start with the basic tools and your favorite stamp that you'd like to use for a background. For this technique, I try to use one that it a bit smaller and not so busy as to be distracting. This card uses the cute Thanks Stamp included with a purchase from Lawn Fawn (which are available at LimeLIGHT Papercrafts)!

Measure your stamp. Transfer the width and height to the paper by creating a grid with light pencil lines. My spaces ended up being 1 1/4" x 3/4"

Stamp your image repeatedly within the squares.

Trim and adhere your card. This technique works especially well with a circular image and a single stamp color as well (as seen in my card here).

I would love to see what you come up using my version of the stamped grid background technique-please post to your blog and copy the link in the comments fields on Yvonne's blog!

Many Thanks to Yvonne for having me as a quest designer on her blog today!

Supplies Used: Cardstock: (White) Georgia Pacific (Bashful Blue) SU Stamps: (Thanks) Lawn Fawn Ink: (Old Olive, Tempting Turquoise, Bashful Blue Pigment) SU Other: (Rubons) Making Memories, Staples

Building Blocks

Can you watch a baby discover the joys of stacking items over and over again? I think about the skills that they are developing with just a few objects and am simply amazed. I think most of our fine motor skills were developed with the simple building block, and that today, as adults, we still can learn from building blocks.

This card features Hexagon-A-Thon from Schlosser Designs and a bit of Divine Twine available at the uber talented Ryann Marin's Etsy Store. Love it. (Hint: It also is a predecessor to some fun things that will be available right here on my blog very soon!)

Supplies Used: Cardstock: (Kraft, Cream) PTI Clear Stamps: (Hexagons from Hexagon-A-Thon) Schlosser Designs, (Sentiments from Chatterbox) Practicing Creativity Designs Ink: (Pink Chalk) Colorbox (Versamark) (Antique Linen Distress) Ranger Other: (White Embossing Powder) SU, (Green Bakers Twine) Divine Twine

Tinkering

He could officially count himself as one of the retired folks. He worked hard all his life. He punched the time clock day after day, gave it his all. He was ready to relax... he had a whole garage full of wonders awaiting his attention.

Another quick post for me-this was a card I made with the Gallery Idol Challenge in mind (use items from garage). I loved the results that the dry embossing achieved but passed it over because the overall design was just a bit too busy for my liking. This was the day that I trusted myself and submitted what I liked.


A quick thank you too, for all your kind words. Still working things out but I'll be back to visit all of you soon.


Supplies Used: Cardstock: Cream (Georgia Pacific) Really Rust and More Mustard (Stampin Up), Stamps: Communique and Mega Mixed Messages (PTI), Distress Ink: Walnut Stain (Ranger) Pigment Ink: Onyx Black (Versafine) Really Rust (Stampin Up),  Tools: Cuttlebug Embossing Machine, Nails, Washers Other: Masking Tape, Sandpaper, Thread

Hey All

Hey all! Wow, long time no post for me. I think there will be couple more days like that. Going through a bit of a rough patch! I hope to catch up in a few days and thanks for "sticking with me"! Just a quick one layer card that seems to be appropriate right now.

Supplies Used: Cardstock: (Very Vanilla) SU Digital Image: (Bandaid) Busy Beauties Boutique Ink: (Barely Banana, Pretty in Pink Pigment) SU Other: Glossy Accents

Enjoying the Hexagon

Search "hexagon" on Google and you end up with a yield of about 6,990,000 results 0.39 seconds. This little shape is truly amazing, and worthy of that many entries on the world wide web. Throw in some awesomely trendy patterns such as wood grain, and its this clean and simple cardmaker's dream stamp.

This one layer card created for the Happily Ever Challenged Challenge consists of three stamps: the woodgrain hexagon from Schlosser Designs stamped in a row in two different colors-sides touching, the outline hexagon from the same set stamped to overlap, and a simple sentiment. I scored a line at the top and bottom for a bit of visual interest. This design allows you to switch up the patterns and colors for a completely different kind of card. For instance, switch to the hexagon polka dotted stamp and stamp in light greens and purples, add a touch of light brown and you have a baby or little girl's birthday card.

Supplies Used: 
Masculine Enjoy: Cardstock: (Kraft) Stampin'Up! Stamps: (Hexagon-A-Thon) Schlosser Designs (sentiment from Mega Mixed Messages) PTI Ink: (Lime Green, Citrus Chalk) Colorbox (Onyx Black) Versafine
Baby Celebrate: Cardstock: (Very Vanilla) Stampin'Up! Stamps: (Hexagon-A-Thon) Schlosser Designs (sentiment from Mega Mixed Messages) PTI Ink: (Lavender Lace, Sage Shadow Pigment) Stampin'Up! (Antique Linen Distress) Ranger

Bring Back the Butterflies!

Recently I shared a wonderful visit to the zoo with my boys, my sister and my mother. At the end of the long day, when the boys were worn out and we were getting cranky, we meandered to one last exhibit-the butterfly exhibit. We entered a screened enclosure painted like a monarch caterpillar and all around us flew thousands of butterflies. Big ones, small ones, colorful ones, monochromatic ones. So pretty, so wonderful. Even the boys were amazed, and that was something considering they had just seen it all!

A very talented card designer and I were just corresponding that we have missed butterflies around on the blogs. And we've decided to Bring Back the Butterflies! Easy to do, since the latest challenge from Wee Memories is to incorporate a butterfly. Simon Says Stamp & Show is also having a challenge for Things with Wings! I've created mine using some acetate, Glimmer Mist and Glossy Accents. Still trying to work out the glitches with the mist and I thank you for partaking in the journey with me.

***CAS-Tastic Wednesday Challenges has decided to take a Back to School Break with the hopes to be back up and running at the end of September.***

Supplies Used: Cardstock: (White) Georgia Pacific (Green) Recollections Stamps: (Thank You) Heidi Grace Ink: (Charcoal Gray Chalk) Colorbox (Tempting Turquoise Pigment) Stampin'Up!  Other: (Butterfly Die) Stampin'Up! (Dragonfly and HoneyDew Glimmer Mist) Tattered Angels-available at Practicing Creativity Designs (Rhinestones) Michaels (Glossy Accents) Ranger  (Notebook Paper) (Acetate)

Decorative Tapes

I've got a few younger cousins that are just about at the marrying stage and this card would be for one of them. Lots of patterns that are fresh, funky and fun. Not a lot of fuss, to the point.

The colors for this card came from the inspiration photo collection at the Off the Wall Craftiness Challenge.

I've been loving decorative tapes lately. Actually, a few things I've used lately that I thought I'd share quickly with you, if you are interested in knowing.
1. Decorative Tapes: Straight lines every time, no adhesive required. Bold or petite patterns.
2. Glimmer Mists: Love the effect. Still working hard at mastering it. A bit of a mess but cool results.
3. Rustic Twine: Love the color. Love the thickness. Not too crazy about the little hairy things all over it.
4. Ranger Craft Mat: This thing is what they say it is. You can ink, heat, glue, drool on it if you want too. Anything wipes off.
5. Antique Linen Distress Ink: Possibly thee best distress color-not too light, not to dark.
6. Uniball Signo White Gel Pen: Hands down the best white pen. Nice thick coverage. Not too thick of a line. Need about ten more of these.
7. Birds: Digital birds, stamped birds. Graphic birds. Realistic birds. Just anything birds. I think they are cool.

Supplies Used: Cardstock: (White) Georgia Pacific Patterned Paper: (Green Hills from Earth Love Collection) Cosmo Cricket (Pink Polka Dots from Just Chillin Girls Collection) Making Memories Stamps: (Mega Mixed Messages) PTI Ink: (Antique Linen, Vintage Photo Distress) Ranger Other: (Striped Decorative Tape) 7Gypsies Tools: (Labels 4 Nestabilities) Spellbinders (Cirlce Punch) McGill

A Set of Owls

So now I can finally post that it is Amy's Birthday and I'm sending her some well wishes today! (I screwed up with my pre-posting yesterday, ugh!)  Happy Birthday Miss Amy!

 

Amy Tsuruta was one of the first designers I followed when I started my blogging journey. She's got such a kind soul and has left encouraging comments for me time and time again, and I can't thank her enough! Amy caught my attention with her use of patterned paper, and she still amazes me to this day of the wonders she creates-both in cards and scrapbook layouts. Fabulous eye for patterns, colors, sewing, embellishments, the list goes on! Pop on over to her blog Tsuruta Designs and wish her well today!

 

Still trying out and practicing with the new Glimmer Mists that I purchased from Practicing Creativity Designs. I decided to make two owl birthday cards because, well, I still wanted to surprise Amy (the surprise being which one is actually sent to her!). The pink card was inspired by this pendant at Cathy Walter's Etsy Shop for the Etsy Inspired Challenge.

I have the great honor to be on the Schlosser Design Team with with Amy, as well as Laurel, who is having some awesome blog candy right now!

Supplies Used Pink Owl: Cardstock: (Very Vanilla) SU Stamps: (Mega Mixed Messages) PTI (Woodgrain Background) SU (Owl Digital Stamp) Hero Arts Ink: (Chestnut Roan Chalk) Colorbox (Rose Red Pigment) SU Other: (Sugar Maple Glimmer Mist) Tattered Angels (Blender Pens) SU (Brown Rhinestones)

Supplies Used Blue Owl: Cardstock: (White) Georgia Pacific Stamps: (Sentiment from Chatterbox) Practicing Creativity Designs (Owl Digital Stamp) Hero Arts Ink: (Charcoal Gray Chalk) Colorbox (Certainly Celery Pigment) SU Other: (Dragonfly Glimmer Mist) Tattered Angels (Blender Pens) SU (Blue Rhinestones) (Colored Pencils) Prisma (Yarn and Thread recycled from packaging at Lawn Fawn) Tools: (Corner Round Punch) SU

Rays of Sunshine

Rays of sunshine can take on many forms. Like my little boys, my husband, my family. Like new puppies, or a nice gesture by a complete stranger, a comment left on my blog or forgiveness for an honest mistake. It can be a hug from a grandparent, or a good meal shared over raspberry lemonade with a good friend. What's your ray of sunshine?

Just a quick card using two Practicing Creativity Design sets-You're Dandy and The Whole Cycle. I created a mini field of flowers with the tire and spoke stamps, and used the wagon wheel for the stems.

Supplies Used: Cardstock: (Lime Green) Recollections (White) Georgia Pacific Stamps: (The Whole Cycle, You're Dandy) Practicing Creativity Designs (Hello from Mega Mixed Messages) PTI Ink: (Blue, Purple, Green Chalk Ink) Colorbox Ribbon: (Black Twill) May Arts (which can be purchased at the Practicing Creativity Designs store too!) Other: (Black Marker) Pilot, Thread Tool: (Corner Round Punch) Fiskars

Bluebirds

Bluebirds. Peace consumes me when I see the bright glint of their blue wings flirting with the sunlight or when I am privy to see the couple sharing an afternoon rest on a telephone pole together. Yes, bluebirds are very special to me indeed. I rather think of them as my guardian angels.

The inspiration picture at The Shabby Tea Room Challenge inspired me to pull out my new Glimmer Mists that I had purchased from Practicing Creativity Designs and I also wanted to try out this bluebird image from TiffanyDoodles. I really enjoyed the colors of the bird house and rather going with the house, I went with the bird. After printing the bird image, I sprayed it with the mist, colored him and cut him out. I adhered him onto a panel that had a bit less misting and finished the card with ribbon that had also been altered with the glimmer mist.


Supplies Used: Cardstock: (White) Georgia Pacific (So Saffron) SU Stamps: (Mega Mixed Messages) PTI (Bluebird 3 Digital Stamp) TiffanyDoodles Ink: (Tea Dye Distress) Ranger Other: (Dragonfly, HoneyDew Glimmer Mist) Tattered Angels (White Satin Ribbon) Offray (Rustic Twine) PTI (Colored Pencils) Prisma

Jazzy Ornaments

Decorating the tree was always an exciting event when I was little. We always had a live tree (why oh why don't I do that now?) and it would take a bit of time to fill it full of decorations. Not the matchy-matchy ones but ones that had meaning. The best ones were saved for last and they were the beaded icicles, as we called them. We'd hang them by the little colorful lights and they would make the whole tree glimmer and shine.

Silver embossing adds a lot to a card but dang, it is hard to photograph. Let's overlook that part shall we? This card is based off the sketch and colors at Jazzy Paper Designs, in which Schlosser Designs is sponsoring! For this clean and graphic card, I started by stamping the smallest of the hexagons from Hexagon-A-Thon by Schlosser Designs with watermark ink and then silver embossed them. After punching holes in both the ornaments and card base, I strung them with red thread.

Supplies Used: Cardstock: (White) Georgia Pacific Stamps: (Hexagon-A-Thon) Schlosser Designs, (Joy from Mega Mixed Messages) Ink: (Versamark), (Onyx Black) Versafine PTI Other: (Silver Embossing Powder) SU, Thread

The Baby Ensemble

Sigh. There's just something about tricycles that make me think of babies, and makes me smile so. I instantly fell in love with the nostalgic tricycle image from The Whole Cycle and the combination of the two sentiments within Chatterbox are a perfect match. Whimsical dots from For the Love of Dots (a previous release from Practicing Creativity Designs) were added to both elements for dimension, and the color scheme reinforces my take on nostagia-the ensemble takes on an aged, vintage vibe. I think it would be most fun to use pink or blue tissue to specify the gender.

The Whole Cycle and Chatterbox will be available tonight at midnight (August 5th) along with some fabulous fabric tapes that Courtney now carries at Practicing Creativity Designs! Thank you for taking this journey with me as I help to release these two fabulous sets, I hope you've had fun. Please take a minute to check out the blogs of Dana, Paulina and Courtney for more creative ideas using the new releases!

***You can find my CAS-Tastic Wednesday post here.***

Supplies Used: Cardstock: (Very Vanilla) SU Stamps: (The Whole Cycle, Chatterbox, For the Love of Dots) Practicing Creativity Designs Ink: (Antique Linen, Vintage Photo Distress) Ranger Other: (Chocolate Chip Grosgrain Ribbon) SU (Rustic Twine) PTI (Vintage Hardware) Making Memories, Kraft Gift Bag Tools: (Blender Pens) SU (Tag Corner Punch) SU

December Birthdays

It's my opinion that persons born in the last month of the year have it rough. (My little boy was welcomed into this world one day before Christmas). Here are a few things I've learned:  Wrap birthday presents in birthday wrapping paper and Christmas presents in holiday paper. It's important to have a birthday cake on the 24th and sing happy birthday, no matter how busy you are this day. My most favorite holiday song will forever be Happy Birthday.

 

When I saw this gorgeous pointsettia image from Jane's Doodles, our awesome sponser this week for the CAS-Tastic Wednesday Challenge, I knew I was going to create a birthday card. Something special for those December birthday people. Super simple to create-I just printed it twice in colored ink, added filler color lightly with blender pens, cut and layered and added some gems in the center.

This weeks challenge is to be inspired by a card from one of the design team members:
Angie
Deb
Maylee
Agata
You won't want to miss this challenge, as Jane has offered up some of her digital images and a set of her handmade buttons to one random participant!

***Please check my other post today featuring an altered item using the newest sets from Practicing Creativity Designs! They are being released tomorrow, August 5th!***

Supplies Used: Cardstock: (Very Vanilla) SU Stamps: (Mega Mixed Messages) PTI Digital Image: Pointsettia (Jane's Doodles) Ink: (Cranberry Crisp Pigment) SU Other: (Rhinestones) Tools: (Blender Pens) SU, (Corner Round Punch) Fiskars

Chatterboxes (& a Chance to Win!)

Chatterboxes. Yep, I've got two. Built right in and no way to pause them or turn down the volume. They say the funniest and most insightful things! Sometimes you can make them run longer by giving them sugar, and the only way to turn them off is when they go to bed. Yep, two little Chatterboxes, my two little boys. Sorry, these chatterboxes are not for sale, as I love my chatterboxes to pieces.

Chatterbox. Perfect name for the second stamp set being released this month by Practicing Creativity Designs! This stamp set has a ton of modern and classy large words and even more small supplement words. Trust me, this set fills a lot of gaps in the stamping world and you can mix and match and never get bored!

The first card shows a bit of the fun side that this set has to offer. This second card shows how the larger words are quite elegant and can stand alone. (The colors are inspired by the Off the Wall Craftiness Challenge-I had to play this week, loving the colors!)

Please head on over to Dana's and Paulina's blogs for more eye candy, and then stop by Courtney's where she has a super great video and for a chance to win it!

Seriously Card: Supplies Used: Cardstock: (White) Georgia Pacific (So Saffron) Stampin' Up! Patterned Paper: (Pink Polka, Orange Damask from Just Chillin Girls Collection) Making Memories (Yellow Berries and Argyle from Sweet Pea DSP) Stampin' Up! (Green Grass from Earth Love) Cosmo Cricket Stamps: (Chatterbox) Practicing Creativity Designs Ink: (So Saffron Pigment) Stampin' Up! Other: (Rustic Twine) PTI (Pewter Eyelet) Stampin' Up! (Pink Epoxy Heart) Cloud 9 Tools: (Labels 8 Nestabilities) Spellbinders
Congratulations Card: Supplies Used: Cardstock: (White) Georgia Pacific (So Saffron) SU Patterned Paper: (Mat Stack 5) DCWV Stamps: (Chatterbox) Practicing Creativity Designs (Roses in Bloom) Waltzingmouse Stamps Ink: (So Saffron, Bashful Blue Pigment) SU Tools: (Scallop Trim Border Punch) SU, (Colored Pencils) Prisma Color (White Gel Pen) Uniball by Signo

Check (x 3)

Hello Day Two! (of Practicing Creativity Design's Stamp Sets Release)

Check All That Apply:
_ I like to get the most out of your stamps sets
_ I like to focus one stamp and transform it into something different, totally unexpected
_ I like to create your own patterned paper

I've checked them all because they are a few of my card making goals. Being able to do all of these is tons of fun, quite easy and quick with the newest release from Practicing Creativity Designs, seriously. For the background on this card, I used just two stamps (the outlined circle and the starburst/spokes) of The Whole Cylce, some ink and a solid sheet of plain white cardstock. To achieve the look, I started by turning the outlined circle stamp over and stamped with the backside and then with a different colored ink I stamped on the correct side. Then I stamped the spokes and gently sponged the lightest color of ink over the entire piece. As a final touch, I highlighted the center of each spoke with a dot of white gel pen.

I invite you to see what the other fabulous design team members have created with this set:
Dana
Paulina
and Courtney as well, who has even more details for you!


Supplies Used: Cardstock: (White) Georgia Pacific Stamps: (The Whole Cycle, You're the Man, You're Dandy) Practicing Creativity Designs Ink: (Barely Banana, Certainly Celery, Apricot Appeal) Stampin' Up! Other: (Apricot Grosgrain Ribbon) Offray, (White Gel Pen) Uniball by Signo, Thread Tools: (Circle Cutting System) Creative Memories

Practicing Creativity!

I remember visiting Courtney's blog when I first started this card making adventure and being seriously inspired by her designs and kind soul. And then oh my! She started her very own stamp company and I have loved every single one of her releases! There are many reasons for me to adore her high quality, wonderfully designed and interactive stamp sets. I am filled with great pride to now be a part of her design team! Me? Yes, Me! (And no, we aren't related...)

Today I have a wee bit of a clue for you regarding the August release. Look carefully at the picture and then hop on over to the other Practicing Creativity's Design Team member's blogs of the talented Dana and Paulina for clues in their pictures. Finally, stop on over at Courtney's blog and place your guess on what the really awesome new release is all about for a chance to win it! Fun right? So, without further ado, here's my picture and following is a new quick and simple card I've created using my all time favorite PCD set, You're Dandy. (Although this new release might top that!...) The front of the card is cut a bit shorter than the back so that the front rests on the sun. I was really inspired by this card from Paulina.

Supplies Used: Cardstock: (White) Georgia Pacific (Barely Banana) Stampin' Up! (Kraft) Papertrey Ink Stamps: (Rays from You're Dandy) Practicing Creativity Designs (Sentiment from Mega Mixed Messages) Papertrey Ink Ink: (Antique Linen Distress) Ranger (Fresh Snow Craft) Papertrey Ink (French Blue, Ice Blue Chalk) Clearsnap Other: (Rustic Twine) Papertrey Ink (Colored Pencils) Prisma Color Tools: (Circle Punch), (Paper Piercing Kit) Stampin' Up!