Shiny Things

There's a little bit of wisdom shed by Grandpa in my favorite book, Where the Red Fern Grows, by Wilson Rawls, regarding aluminum foil. He says that raccoons adore anything shiny, that they'll lock their little paws around the item and never let it go. Shiny things are irresistible to me as well and I seem to keep them for a while...I sure like the way my wedding diamond still sparkles in the light...

Everything but the Kitchen Sink has an awesome Around the House Challenge to use Aluminum Foil. While searching for ideas on Google (literally typed in "shiny things") I came across an image of a tool chest. It then popped into my head to use the bolt stamp image which is a perfect go-to stamp for masculine cards. After stamping the image with permanent ink on the foil, I highlighted some of the threads with a white gel pen, cut them out and adhered two direct to the card base and the third to a scratch piece of cardstock which was then adhered with foam adhesive for dimension. Foil offers a different look to a card, but wow, is it ever difficult to photograph!

Supplies Used: Cardstock: (Kraft) Papertrey Ink (White) Georgia Pacific Stamps: (Bolts from You're the Man) Practicing Creativity Designs (Sentiment from Communique) Papertrey Ink Ink: (Jet Black) Stazon Other: (Metal Beads) Mark Richards (White Gel Pen) Signo Aluminum Foil

The Quiet Artist

He awoke quietly and ventured out into the bathroom. There he found an unlimited supply of new and exciting things. He grabbed a bottle from his Mama's drawer, twisted it and pulled out a brush. He began to paint on the white surface of a vanity drawer, dragging the bright red color from one side to the next. His concentration was intense and he didn't make a sound. After some time, he admired his work and decided it was time wake his slumbering Papa to show it off.

I felt similar to what our second son must have in the above situation when I too pulled out some nail polish for the latest household item challenge at Everything but the Kitchen Sink. My palette was a bit more muted however, then his signature bright red color. The polished doily came out with a shabby chic/vintage feel that I absolutely loved. Wanting to expand on that look further, I pulled a chipboard heart for The Shabby Tea Room Challenge-Dear to my Heart, covered it with patterned paper and gave it the same treatment as the doily. I must admit that I had a lot of other "stuff" on the card in my attempts to create a true shabby chic style, but it just wasn't me so I paired my elements down to the basics and created a clean and simple design. I guess I must learn to trust my heart and go with what I feel comfortable with.  **It's a raining morning here today so I wasn't able to photograph properly the shimmer and shine on both the doily and heart that the nail polish created. It really is a nice, soft effect.**

Supplies Used: Cardstock: Very Vanilla (Stampin Up) Tan (Reminisce) Paper: DSP (unknown, from my stash) Stamps: So Many Sayings (Stampin Up) Pigment Ink: Close to Cocoa (Stampin Up) Chalk Ink: Chestnut Roan (Colorbox) Other: Chipboard Heart (Heidi Grace), Pearls (Queen & Co.), Lace Doily (Wilton), Nail Polish

The Clothes Line

She was the master of fort making. She'd take the old quilts and drape them over the clothes line. Then she'd take a few clothes pins and pin more blankets inside the fort in just the right areas to create rooms. We'd had the perfect fortress against the neighborhood boys. She was our leader. We were invincible.
This patterned paper lent itself quite nicely for the linear design of the sketch at Everything But the Kitchen Sink. I thought that the card needed a little extra umph in the bottom corner, so I added a stitched sun, the inspiration coming from the sketch at 365 Cards. I'll be the first to admit that I struggle with the use of patterned paper in card-making and admire all of the wonderful crafters that make it look effortless.

Supplies Used: Cardstock: Marigold Morning (Stampin Up) Patterned Paper: The Boyfriend Line (Cosmo Cricket) Blue from Cottage Power Pallette (Creative Memories) Tools: Scallop Trim Border Punch (Stampin Up) Circle Punch (Creative Memories) Other: Twine, Thread, Brown Journaling Pen (Creative Memories)

Peacock Banners

One of the duties of my day job working with hospital insurance billing is to open mail. Lots and lots of mail. After reading a post from Sideoats & Scribbles a while back, I never realized the beauty in the patterns of security lined envelopes until Lisa pointed it out. Red ones. Blue ones. A ton of black ones.

Everything but the Kitchen Sink's latest household challenge is to use envelopes. Off the Wall Craftiness has a lovely peacock image for her color challange of turquoise, lime and black. I pulled out a vast number of the black patterned lined envelopes and created a fresh and funky background for the fun banners. All the pennants in the banners are covered with Glossy Accents for a real flashy shine, just the nature of a peacock! The colors just felt like there should be a celebration somewhere, so I made it into a birthday card for the SRM Sticker Challenge.

Supplies Used: Cardstock: White (Georgia Pacific) Taken with Teal (SU) Stamps: Look Up (Practicing Creativity Designs) Ink: Jet Black (Stazon) Aquamarine, Lime Pastel Chalk (Colorbox) Embellishments: Sticker (SRM Stickers) Teal Twin (May Arts, Practicing Creativity Designs) Black Brad (SU) Other: Glossy Accents (Ranger) Envelopes

Winter Babies

Winter babies require winter hats and I was completely unprepared for the test of winter when my first born arrived to greet -20 degree weather. Thankfully, a kind and wonderful relative brought over the tiniest, most perfect winter stocking cap for him shortly after we arrived home. The hat was white and fit him snug as a bug in a rug. Six years later, I think of him wearing this tiny white hat and know that 1. it would be no bigger than a skull cap 2. it wouldn't be white anymore and 3. the ties would reach under his nose and tickle.

I tried my hand again for the sketch at Everything but the Kitchen Sink, this time taking a more subdued and literal approach. The card base is cut to shape, I added the hand-made pom-pom (the kind that my grandma makes) and cotton (from the Emergency Room visit for the said mentioned boy) to complete the look of the cap. The visible edges of the card and the tag are distressed with ink and some have marker lines for definition and dimension.

Supplies Used: Georgia Pacific Cardstock, Kraft Cardstock from Archer's Paper, Me & My Big Ideas DSP, SU ChitChat Rubon, Colorbox Chalk Ink in Creamy Brown, SU Close to Cocoa Marker, Yarn, Cotton

The Barns

There was the barn where we fed lambs with a bottle and asparagus grew on the outskirts. There was the barn that housed all the veterinarian farm animals on the college campus. There was the barn with the baby calves that licked my hand. There was the barn that housed hogs and on warm days the smell waifs down our road...

This money card holder generated from the sketch challenge at Everything but the Kitchen Sink. I was having a tough time deciding what to do that wasn't done already. On my way home from work I noticed that the ten or so barns along my thirty minute drive all had a similar silhouette as the sketch. The barn is all made by hand, starting with woodgrain stamped on red, distresss inks and scored panels. I am sure I'll be trying this again, as it is really realistic in real life (huh?). The sentiment is my handwriting and there is faux stitching. Not really sure you can go hog wild with $2.00 but it is the only cash in this house. And it came from the boys' piggy bank. Hmm, how appropriate.


Supplies Used: Georgia Pacific White Cardstock, Kraft Cardstock from Archers Paper, SU DSP, CM Red Paper, Woodgrain Silhouettes Clear Stamp Set from Wplus9, You're Dandy Clear Stamp Set from Practicing Creativity Designs, So Punny Stamp Set from SU, Versamark Ink, Colorbox Chalk Ink in Creamy Brown, Ranger Distress Ink in Walnut Stain, SU Close to Cocoa and Chocolate Chip Markers, White Gel Pen by Signo, CM Black Journaling Pen, SU Mat Pack

Riding a Bicycle

This afternoon my oldest and I went to the church parking lot where he worked on stopping while on his bicycle. His previous way to stop was to lean his whole body to one side, fall and skin associated knee. After a considerable amount of time he has since graduated to putting a foot down and...then falling and lightly scratching such sided knee. The things we grown-ups take for granted is infinite.
For this card I started with a digital image of a vintage bicycle, removed the spokes in my editing software and printed it and the sentiment on cream colored cardstock. I took a strand of DMC black floss and threaded the spokes of the tires, as the current challenge at Everything but the Kitchen Sink is to use string- I think it adds a sophisticated and unexpected element. I then distressed the edges, stitched with regular thread the absolutely fabulous silky ribbon and accent line on the base and added some pearl embellishments. Simple but effective?
I chose the sentiment with my son in mind, after our adventure this afternoon, but my father often takes this course in life as well and it has proved to be successful. Cole is a bit too young to appreciate cards so I think this would work for a graduation, or someone starting their career.

Image Before String:

Image With String:

Supplies Used: Cream Cardstock from Georgia Pacific, Black Textured Cardstock, Digital file from keepdesigning.com, SU More Mustard Ink, May Arts Ribbon from Practicing Creativity Designs, DMC Embroidery Floss, Queen & Co. Pearls in Nightfall, Thread, Foam Adhesive

Charlie Brown's Spring Day

When in doubt for titles for your post, ask your husband (or wife, or significant other). I should clarify, ask your husband what he would nicely name your card. So Charlie Brown's Spring Day it is. (Perhaps you'll get a laugh like I did) I think possibly because of the solid bold colors and black lines? I suppose I shouldn't even begin to guess. Anywho, this card came together for the latest Everything but the Kitchen Sink's Sketch Challenge. I thought of a quaint little ground landscape, so I went with it. I even used more of the gigantic twig leftover from a previous post, after coloring it with a sharpie to stay consistent with the color scheme. The clouds were masked, stamped and embossed, then outlined to keep the design cohesive. I stretched my limits on this one--I used a ton of different textures and I don't think I've ever created such a card with this kind of style.



{I wanted to also say thank you to all my visitors, followers and subscribers to my blog! I can't believe I made it to over 10,000 hits yesterday- an accomplishment that seemed unreachable when I started this as a way to share my creations. I never in my life imagined that this blog would bring into my life so many wonderful people. Thank you! I sincerely appreciate your peeks and your comments.}

Supplies Used: Georgia Pacific White Cardstock, Blue Cardstock from Recollections, You're Dandy Stamp Set from Practicing Creativity Designs, SU Rubons from the Chit Chat Collection, Heidi Grace Embossed Chipboard, SU Polka Dots Texture Plate, CM Black Journal Pen, Signo White Gel Pen, Fiskars Corner Rounder, Versamark Ink, SU White Embossing Powder, Sharpie Marker, Twig

Hang In There!

Funny how a challenge and the weather can get you to spring clean your house. I decided to empty our drawers and pleaded with my husband to get rid of a red sweatshirt that he's had before we were married (no worries-no sentimental value attached!) so I could hand cut it up into a heart. Then I found some 180 count white sheets in our laundry room that I bought shortly after I was married (we tried them once and believe me, I've never bought anything under 280 count now). So here's my second creation for Everything but the Kitchen Sink Challenge. The search for these two colors of course came from another challenge, the Color Cue, and I added the turquoise accents. The layout is from 2S4Y. However, I did have the idea of using a hanger before I started cleaning, and the elements all came together.
I've also noticed that I have a couple of trends in my cards now: I guess I keep doing them because I think they work, or I like it and think it's cool {overhanging elements, a peek of scallop edge, sewing...} I'd be curious to know, do you all have "trends" and do you think you need to get out of them or just work with it?

Supplies Used: Fabric (sweatshirt and sheet), SU Kraft and Tempting Turquoise Cardstock, SU Stamp Set, Colorbox Chalkd Ink in Chestnut Road, CM Circle Cutting System, Fiskars Scallop Border Punch, Mini Hanger, Thread

A Little Birdie...

A little birdie told me to keep trying to push myself, keep creating, and do it for me. I like to spend some time after the kiddos go to bed just creating, it helps me to unwind, it's my stress relief. Sometimes they go to bed so good, other nights I hardly have time. I take what I can get!

The basis of this card started from wanting to use the clouds from the You're Dandy stamp set, as they were feeling a bit neglected. I found some blue fabric (please forgive me I have no idea what kind, any takers?) and tried a few things, as I knew I also wanted to have a go at Everything but the Kitchen Sink's latest challenge. White craft ink worked fine, but I wanted something brighter, with a bit more dimension. I then got out my acrylic paints, the cheap kind, and there you have it-fluffy, white, dimensional clouds. After I had a backdrop setting, my first instinct was to create a butterfly but then I realized that I've been using butterflies perhaps a bit too often, and what if I wanted to make this a gender neutral card? That led me to Google Image Search, where I found, drew and hand cut the black silhouette of the little birdie sitting in a tree, way high up in the sky. I added the green ruffled ribbon (not so much a gender neutral anymore, but at least I used green!) for a pop of color and to somewhat ground the card. The base of the card is cut a bit skinny, so that the fabric could overhand to show off the natural fraying at the end. Well, thanks for taking this journey with me. Creating this card was a good experience: I tried some new stuff and new techniques, and I let my own creativity be seen, I think.

Supplies Used: SU Whisper White Cardstock, Black Screen Print Paper, Blue Fabric, SU Old Olive Satin Ribbon, Practicing Creativity You're Dandy Stamp Set, SU Congrats Stamp Set, White Acrylic Paint, Stazon Ink in Black, SU Corner Rounder Punch, Black Thread

Keep Your Faith

The sketch challenge over at Everything but the Kitchen Sink inspired me to create a card featuring the four seasons. I wanted to keep true to the sketch...simple, clean. But also because of the sentiment, I wanted to create a soft, calm and serene feeling as well for the recipient. I started by choosing four patterned paper designs that reminded me of the seasons and then stamped them with the tree image and distressed the edges with the same chalk ink. I added the linen thread on the top of the card for a bit of added interest, and the texture and color of it reminded me of the wood from the trees. Is it ok to really really like your own cards? Because I absolutely adore this card, it gives me goosebumps.

Supplies Used: SU Sweet Pea DSP and Kraft Cardstock, SU Three Trees Stamp Set, Colorbox Chalk Ink in Creamy Brown, Linen Thread, CM Square Punch

Hello Chip!

Chip might be my new best friend, chipboard that is! Everything but the Kitchen Sink gals' latest challenge is to use box tops, and in this card I used tops from the generic Cheerios cereal, Captain Crunch with Berries cereal (because the box is yellow and not red!) and lastly, ummm, some case tops from my hubby's beverage of choice. Each box top had its own unique blend of bright colors and patterns and therefore I decided this would be a "modern" card and my VERY first circle card, based on the sketch at 2S4Y! The talented Sarah Martina from the design team inspired me to try my hand at the non-linear world. There is a whole lotta texture in this card and it first started from the indented circle rings caused by thee said beverage of choice on the box. I added some additional circle elements with the black rings and the clear embossed dots. I balanced out the off center butterfly by the three red chipboard dots. Funny thing is that the card really smells of Sharpie Marker, because that is what was used to color the naked chipboard letters and the white floss (I suppose I could have waited until tomorrow to purchase some black floss, but you know how it is when the ball gets a rollin'!)

Supplies Used: White Cardstock, Box Tops, SU Butterfly Die, Fiskars Chipboard Letters, Embroidery Floss, Creative Memories Circle Punches and Circle Cutting System, SU 1/2 in. Circle Punch, 1/8 inch Hole Punch, Foam Adhesive, SU Fun with Shapes Stamp Set, SU Spunky Spots Large Wheel, VersaMark and Black Stazon Ink, Clear Embossing Powder

Together Forever

My children are so very lucky to still have parents that are together, both sets of grandparents that have been married thirty years plus, and two sets of great-grandparents that have been together forever. It is my dream that when they each meet the lovely woman of their choice that they will still have all of us happily together as examples to live by.

This card came together from the Caardvarks Red Heart Challenge as well as the sketch from Everything But the Kitchen Sink. My hope was to create a detailed yet subtle textured panel background with thread so that the heart (colored with prisma pencils) could pop and be the focal point. The sentiment was strategically computer generated and printed before sewing the panels. The ribbon was pleated, sewed, cut down and then glued to a full width panel of ribbon. There are three red gems on the kraft cardstock and then one placed on the heart.

Supplies Used: SU Kraft Cardstock, CTMH All My Love Stamp Set, SU White Craft Ink, Prisma Colors, Signo White Gel Pen, Gems, White Ribbon, Thread

You & Me

You & Me. We were meant to Be. You & Me.

Here's another shot at my own challenge to use the Christmas Wrapping Paper from this card look completely different on another card. I cut strips of the paper so the lines are at different angles, folded them lengthwise for dimension and sewed them behind the window of white cardstock. I've learned the hard way that red sticky strip tape doesn't work well with sewing machine needles, but that Goo Gone does work wonders on getting the goo off the needle. Of note: I'll have to ask my "Sewing Teacher" aka Mom how to change the needle next time she comes to visit. This tiny and intimate card is my third submission for Everything but the Kitchen Sink's current challenge and another notch off the learning curve on using my new sewing machine.

Here's the Goods: White Cardstock, Wrapping Paper, Black Thread, SU So Many Sayings Stamp Set, Red Sticky Strip Tape

I {heart} Acetate

I love acetate and peek-a-boo cards and textured cardstock and grosgrain ribbon, but not really Valentine's Day. Perhaps that started when I wasn't the recipient of one of those folded small generic valentine's from my fourth grade crush... I guess I might be the only one to not get into this holiday but there are a lot of challenges (Embellish Magazine) and good causes (Cards for St. Jude) out there, so I thought that I could make a couple cards. I had acetate laying on my table from my last card and wanted to try another technique out with it. The faux silk technique was also a good reason to use all the leftover crumpled tissue paper from the holidays, and perfect for another try at Everything but the Kitchen Sink's current challenge. The design is pretty clean and simple, but sometimes that's ok when you want your technique, colors and textures to stand out.

Here's the Goods: Acetate, Bazill Textured Cardstock, SU Pretty in Pink Cardstock and Ink, Tissue Paper, Black Stazon Ink, Spray Adhesive, SU Love It Stamp Set, Grosgrain Ribbon, SU Chitchat Rubons, Fiskars Corner Rounder Punch, CM Circle Cutting System

Dahlia Flower

When design team member Courtney described her card for the latest Everything but the Kitchen Sink Challenge to use wrapping paper, she mentioned that this medium would be excellent to fold. That got me thinking to make a Dahlia Flower, as I have been wanting to try this technique out before. I found some double sided wrapping paper from Christmas and followed the tutorial here. I look forward to making some more cards with this wrapping paper as my own challenge to see if I can create different looks with the same product. For this card I wanted to keep the design clean and simple with just enough added interest to compliment the flower rather than distract (I hope).

Here's the Goods: Wrapping Paper, SU Very Vanilla Cardstock, CM Circle Punch, Colorbox Chalk Ink in Creamy Brown, Inkadinkadoo Happy Days Stamp Set, Scallop Border Punch, SU Build a Brad.

Contradictions

To swirl or not to swirl. To be girly or manly. To have dimension or lay flat. Simple or complex. To be still or to move... This card was created for Everything But The Kitchen Sink Sketch Challenge. I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out, since it started completely different and I almost gave up. I was able to use my new set that I got from Jacksonbelle Embellishments so I got to play along with them this week!

Here's the Goods: Inkadinkadoo Happy Days Clear Stamp Set, Colorbox Chalk Ink in Chestnut Roan, SU Chipboard shapes, Unknown Cardstock and DSP

On an completely unrelated note, check out this icicle that was right in front of our door-we figured we better knock it down or it would have taken our house out!