10.10.10...

10.10.10. Now that's just neat. And it also happens to be Courtney's Birthday, the creator of Practicing Creativity Designs and one wonderful woman to design for. She's so sweet, so hip and modern and so professional (oh, and an absolutely wonderful designer too!)!

Happy Birthday Courtney, I hope your day is full of fun and adventure.

This card came together with the colors of the Color Throwdown #113 in mind. I am most proud of the altered antique item! I found a four pack of these shiny, gaudy buttons at a local antique outlet and decided that a bit of spray paint and a pearl would do the trick to make it chic and cool. (But ooh, look at the packaging, so retro and fabulous!)

Before:

After:

  














Supplies Used:
Cardstock: (Vanilla Creme) PTI
Patterned Paper: (Mat Stack 5) DCWV
Ink: (Vintage Photo and Antique Linen Distress) Ranger
Embellishments: (Sweet Branch Rub-on) Crate Paper, Antique Button, Pearl, Bronze and Brown Spray Paint

Birds and the Window

There aren't many birds that weather out the Cold Wisconsin Winters. Perhaps their petite little bodies just don't have enough insulation to handle the negative wind chills and piles of snow. Sometimes it does get lonely out there, when all you see is vast areas of white. My heart fills with hope of spring when I happen to notice that first little brave birdie perching upon the bare branches on the tree out my living room window.

I created this window card by first changing the digital bird file to a monotone color, printing him on colored cardstock and then highlighting him with white colored pencils, a white gel pen and then some distress ink. The bird was purposefully printed on the inside of the card so I could create a window, complete with an acetate panel for the TiffanyDoodles Challenge. I used the colors from Color Throwdown, which reminded me a bit of Christmas. I think my grandma will enjoy this as one of her cards this year...Christmas In July, perfect for the new challenge over at Anjillic Creations! Also, the current Wee Memories Challenge is a Stamp Anything, I really love the look of watermark ink and do not do it often enough. Thank you for everyone who puts on a challenge because it really gives me inspiration and makes me think!

Supplies Used: Cardstock: (River Rock) Stampin Up Digital Image: (Warbler) TiffanyDoodles Stamps: (Woodgrain Silhouettes Additions) Wplus9 Ink: (Antique Linen Distress) Ranger (Versamark) Other: (White Gel Pen) Signo (Labels 8 Nestabilities) Spellbinders, (Certainly Celery Satin Ribbon) Stampin Up, (Rustic Twine) PTI, (Green Rhinestone Brad) Oriental Trading Company, Acetate, Handmade Decorative Pin, Silk Flower, Thread

The Kitchen Table

The tiny restaurant is older than I and not much has changed in the past thirty years. There is no need to change when you offer the likes of homemade chili, tuna verns and rhubarb pie. Pots of flowers greet you at the door (during summer months) and country decor resides inside. There are about fifteen tables at The Kitchen Table and there usually is a wait to be seated. Often times you take the only place available, sharing a table with friendly strangers. The waitress stops by to drop off menus, but you don't need one, you already know what you want to order. The Kitchen Table will forever be my favorite restaurant, do you have a favorite nostalgic eatery?

The idea of this card is a collaboration of challenges, and it feels good to jump outside the box that I'm normally stuck in and like the card I end up with. The layout is based on another awesome sketch at Practicing Creativity Designs, the colors are from Color Throwdown, the cherries are for Cupcards {2 Go}'s Challenge offered by awesome Sarah Martina: create something fun, and fruity! I also used three different patterned papers (yep, really jumped outside the box here!) for the talented Amy and Yvonne's challenge.

Supplies Used: Cardstock: (White) Georgia Pacific Patterned Paper: (Pink Woodgrain) Me & My Big Ideas, (Cherry Pie Blossom) Bo Bunny Press (Green Polka) Unknown Source Stamps: (Large Dots from For the Love of Dots) Practicing Creativity Designs, (Cherries) Studio Calico-thanks Natalie!  (Sentiment from Best Yet) Stampin Up! Ink: Antique Linen, Vintage Photo Distress (Ranger) Regal Rose, Real Red Pigment (Stampin Up!) Ice Blue Chalk (Colorbox) Other: Labels 8 Nestabilitie (Spellbinders) Rustic Twine (PTI) Tools: (Corner Round Punch) Stampin Up!

Wanted: One Outlined Cloud

I had a really fun time making a card with my oldest the other day...but it wasn't without side effects. Mainly, one missing outlined cloud clear acrylic stamp. Oh dear, I fear its been sucked up into the pits of the vacuum and thrown out never to be seen again...I think I've learned my lesson as mentioned by a fellow blogger, let young children only stamp with wood mounted rubber.

This card was created for a colleague who is fortunate to retire with her husband at a very early age. She's a hard worker and is very quiet, so I wanted my card to reflect her nature. I used the colors from Color Throwdown and the sketch from Card Patterns. I tried my hand too on a tip from the latest Creating Keepsakes Magazine, (the green tiles) but I think it would be best suited for a larger format. The sentiment and balloon are purposefully popped up in the center for dimension, I was hoping for a fleeting, blowing look. All the edges are distressed including the balloon and the paper pieced stripe. I would think that hot air balloon rides can be relaxing, only if you aren't afraid of heights.

Supplies Used: Cream Cardstock from The Paper Company, DSP from CTMH, CM and SU, Look Up Stamp Set from Practicing Creativity Designs, Congrats Stamp Set from SU, Colorbox Chalk Ink in Chestnut Roan and Creamy Brown, Green Grosgrain Ribbon from Offray, SU Pewter Brads, SU Linen Thread, Fiskars Scallop Border Punch

Caterpillar & Butterfly Birthdays

Someone else in this crafty world must have paired this image and sentiment together, but I've got to tell you, I haven't seen it yet so I thought I was a clever little one when I created this card! Does that ever happy to you? I used the current Mojo Monday sketch and kept it pretty clean and simple. Also pulled out the Crimper Tool (gasp!) which hasn't seen light in months-I thought it replicated the little fuzzies on the caterpillar/inchworm/bug image.



This next card is for the ladies featuring a variety of dry embossing, and using colors from the latest challenge at Color Throwdown. The butterflies are sponged with their respective colors and stitched to the card. My mini Janome must have had some thread issues, but I love the textured results. The green grass/borders have been sanded lightly.

Both these cards are for the birthday portion of Moxie Fab's Olympics of Stamping.

**If you've made it this far, this is my second post for today and I invite you to scroll down to look at my little monster card.**

Supplies Used on Caterpillar Birthday Card: GP White Cardstock, Rust and Gold Cardstock from Recollections, Cloud 9 DSP, SU On Your Birthday,Bugs & Kisses and ABC Aplpha Lower Stamp Sets, SU Baja Breeze and Sahara Sand Ink, CM Circle Cutting System, Fiskars Crimper and Scallop Border Punch, SU Pewter Brad

Supplies Used on Butterfly Birthday Card: SU Very Vanilla, Ruby Red and Not Quite Navy Cardstock, Bazill Basic Textured Cardstock, SU Ruby Red and Not Quite Navy Ink, SU On Your Birthday Stamp Set, SU Butterfly Embossing Plate, Swiss Dots Cuttlebug Folder, Fiskars Scallop Border Punch, Thread

Watercolor Thanks

The closet in my old room at my parent's house had a lot of treasures, I also found a piece of watercolor paper just waiting to be used. I guess I knew when I saved it that it would be used someday, but I certainly never thought it would end up in a card. Funny how life turns out sometimes. This thank you card uses clear acrylic stamps, ink and a Mini Mister to create the watercolor flower effect. The colors are based from the latest challenge at Color Throwdown, and the anniversary sketch from CardPatterns. I attempted to do something a bit different by cutting the base of the card smaller and letting the four stripes overhang to complete the typical card size. I guess it is good to always try something new, eh? Whether or not you try it again is to be determined...

Supplies Used: Watercolor Paper, SU DSP, SU Chocolate Chip Cardstock, CTMH Treasure Life Stamp Set, SU Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Chocolate Chip and Old Olive Ink, SU ChitChat Rubons, Making Memories Hardware, Fiskars Scallop Border Punch, Sponge Daubers

Shabby Chic Treasury...

Back in college I worked in the library Preservation Department at North Carolina State University repairing old (and ancient) books. It was my most favorite job to date...And here I am, ripping those treasuries apart. But I had to, I had to try out Dawn's Flower Technique after I was inspired by a handcrafted flower from the Etsy Inspired Challenge spotlight shop Sweetie Pie Tutus! Really loved how the color graduated from the outside to in. Such an easy and quick embellishment to make, and "A Little Treasury of Modern Poetry", discarded by someone and picked up by me, came in quite handy. I attempted to conquer the colors from Color Throwdown and was inspired by the sketch at CPS. I say inspired because I had intended this card to be a bit more clean and simple, but I'm kind of liking the way it turned out. The flowers were punched from two sizes of circles, sponged with blue and purple inks and adhered with a rhinestone brad. The stems and leaves were stitched as well as a portion of the band behind the flowers. I also sponged the back panel with blue and purple. Thank you to Virginia for giving me the push to try out something I've never done before (and I think I will try them again). I know that I need to give my Janome Sew Mini a break, but sewing is so much fun-must be my mom coming out in me! (grin)

Supplies Used: SU Brocade Blue (didn't purchase the Baja Breeze) and Very Vanilla Cardstock, SU Elegant Eggplant and Brocade Blue Ink, SU Sincere Salutations Stamp Set, CM Circle Punches, Rhinestone Brads, Fiskars Scallop Edge Border Punch, Sponge Daubers, Green Thread

Paisley Love

I had an absolutely wonderful day. I was able to spend it doing crafty things with my cousin and her new baby girl. I had so much fun chatting with someone over the age of three, a girl and in person! In the seven and a half hours I spent with them I made two cards, and this one was one of them-I was also able to remember why I love scrapbooking and stamping again-to be able to share my creations with others and love what I am creating. It was a good day for my stamping mojo and my sanity. The colors used were based off the latest Color Throwdown Challenge, as well as for the Flourish Challenge to "feel the love".

Supplies Used: SU Paisley Background, SU Regal Rose and Really Rust Watercolor Crayons and Markers, SU Chocolate Chip and Really Rust Cardstock (sorry, no Dusty Durango on hand), SU Chocolate Chip Grosgrain Ribbon, SU Hodgepodge Hardware, SU Rubons, Fiskar's Corner Rounder Punch, Mini Mister

The Thing About Challenges...

Sometimes you feel as though you got it and sometimes you don't. This gift card holder started out with a good idea, no, a great idea (why not think big?!), in my head but for some reason I couldn't really get it to work on paper. But nevertheless, it was fun to create it for the Color Throwdown Challenge. This site is one of the more challenging that I like to participate in as the colors they showcase together are usually out of my comfort zone. So I guess that is why they call it a challenge, right?
Here's the Goods: SU Real Red Gift Card Holder, Various Unknown DSP, Cool Caribbean Cardstock, Snowflake embellishments, Blue Gem, SU Corner Rounder Punch, SU Circle Punch, Creative Memories Circle Punch, SU Chitchat Rubons

Pink Butterfly

From Me To You...the stamping resources available to anyone is so amazing, and it is wonderful to be able to try new ideas. While browsing SCS, I saw the swirly antennae idea, but can't find the original card to link back to. {so if by some chance the original "originator" is out there reading this, thank you!} This card is for the latest Color Throwdown challenge. The sketch is pretty clean and simple and the wings could be folded down if it was going to be sent in the mail.

Here's the Goods: SU Butterfly Die, Martha Stewart Butterfly Punch, Black mat board, Pink Cardstock, American Crafts DSP, SU So Many Sayings stamp set, Creative Impressions Spiral clip spray painted black, SU Basic Black ink.

Distressed Throwdown

So I'm home today because the little one is under the weather. He's got a cough and fever and they won't let him in daycare. But you wouldn't guess that, because I can't get him to rest for the life of me...(At least he sat still enough for the picture, poor little guy his nose is all red and his cheeks pink) Anyway, I thought I would use today to wrap some gifts and get some cards done. This card was created using the Color Throwdown #71 colors this week: olive, red, pink, and a brown or cream and the sketch from Stamping 411. I was also challenged by my friend to try out the Distress Embossing Powder. I used Old Olive ink to stamp the vine and then used the distress embossing powder in Walnut on top. This stuff is...unusual to say the least, but I went with the old time feel for my other elements. I tried to distress the rain dots by coloring underneath before adhering and the other elements are distressed with the Walnut Stain distress ink.
Here's the Goods: Cream, Red and Pink cardstock, Baroque Motifs and Best Yet SU sets, Old Olive and Cameo Coral SU Ink, Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Walnut Stain, Tim Holtz Distress Embossing Powder in Walnut, Fiskars Rain Dots in Pink and Red

Woodgrain Birthday

Here's my attempt at M's Sketch#4. I also used the colors from Color Throwdown #70 (Elegant Eggplant, Old Olive, Dusty Durango) and also my attempt at another masculine card. Not so sure what I think about the overall look of the card, but sometimes you have mojo and sometimes you don't-I think mine ran off somewhere and I need to find it again.
Here's the Goods: Elegant Eggplant, Old Olive and Really Rust (substituted for the Dusty Durango) SU Cardstock and ink, Black Brads, Plate from Sizzix, Purple Twine, Birthday Best and Woodgrain SU stamps

Throwdown Baby Thanks

Trying my hand at the Color Throwdown Challenge using Bordering Blue, Rich Razzleberry (substituted by Rose Red) and Elegant Eggplant. I LOVE this challenge and the ladies there do such a great job. I didn't know if these colors would work for a baby card, but I really needed some more to add to my gift-I think it turned out ok, a nice gender neutral card. The stamps are from Mindy's Zoo (thanks Erin!) and the Heidi Grace Thank You Set.

Owl Thank You

I had won a random drawing for Splitcoast Stamper's Inspiration Challenge and was sent this funny owl stamp in the mail. The colors are for the Color Throwdown Challenge #64 found here http://colorthrowdown.blogspot.com/ The colors were Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip (or black) and Sahara Sand.