Across the Miles

My little nephew is getting big-it warms my heart that he is so healthy and alert! His eyes follow his mama everywhere she goes...he looks, and looks and looks some more around. His little legs are getting the cute little creases. Skype has to be the best invention around. How I wish I could have held him when he was tiny, but I'm so very looking forward to the few short weeks when I can hold him for real, possibly even get cherish the coveted smile he might bestow upon me.

Going for a soft and warm feel-good feeling for Moxie Fab World's In My Beautiful Balloon Challenge, I drew and watercolored my hot air balloon and stitched the image onto a clear card base, to represent/replicate the balloon floating.

Supplies Used:
Cardstock: (So Saffron) SU
Stamps: (Up, Up and Away Sentiments) PTI, (The Birds and the Bees) WPlus9
Ink: (Bashful Blue, So Saffron Pigment) SU, (Antique Linen Distress) Ranger
Other: (So Saffron, Sahara Sand Markers) SU, Acetate, Watercolor Paper, Thread

Country Bumpkin

I literally clench the wheel when driving on interstates or through big cities. Although I love what the city might have to offer, call me a country bumpkin any day and give me the speed limits of only 35-55 miles per hour. I think its been at least six months since I last drove through a city that has a real sky scape, and I'm totally fine with that.

I was quite intrigued, however, to participate in Moxie Fab World's Cityscapes are on the Rise Challenge for the fact that cities represent growth. Growth represents change, as in a graduation, or a promotion-where the sky is literally the limit!

I created the night time sky with a few squirts of mist after masking out the buildings. The windows were created by using mesh as a mask. (Often times I wish I had the resources to learn more about my camera so I can accurately capture how all the elements work together in my card, but alas, I am a country bumpkin without too many resources around--and I'm totally fine with that...)


Supplies Used:
Cardstock: (Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black) SU, (White) Office Max
Stamps: (Sentiment from Look Up!) Practicing Creativity Designs
Ink: (Onyx Black) Versamark, (Pumpkin Pie, Summer Sun Pigment) SU, (Charcoal Chalk) Colorbox
Other: (Mr. Huey Mists) Studio Calico, (Black Pen) Pilot, (Staples) Tim Holtz

To My Dear Baby Nephew

For my TiffanyDoodles Blog Hop post, please click here!

Tapping feet. Clicking fingernails. Sighing...Waiting patiently.
My dear baby nephew, I am patiently waiting for your mama to call me up and say she's going to the hospital. My dear baby nephew, I'm patiently waiting for your proud father to call and say how you and your mama are doing fine... I can't wait for you to arrive.
In the meantime, I will continue to be inspired by your impending arrival. The colors were inspired by the challenge over at Off the Wall Craftiness. Loved that umbrella in the corner, which reminded me to pull out some decorative tape. I lined the tape in rows for a unique and graphic pattern, which was oh so much more quick then cutting and gluing strips of paper. Thanks to Moxie Fab World and their challenge to Get Daring with Decorative Tape. I cute-enized the card up with the sentiment and some buttons.

Supplies Used:
Cardstock: (White, Teal
Embellishments: (Sticker Sentiment) SRM, (Decorative Tape) 7Gypsies, (Buttons), Floss)

The Modern Cameo

Snips and snails and puppy dog tails...that is what this little boys is surely made of. Plus a little spitfire, and a few cowlicks. So full of energy. And wow, can he shake his little booty (and we just shake our heads).

I was intrigued with Moxie Fab World's The Appearance of Cameos but wanted to try something a bit different, a bit more modern. Perhaps that wasn't the way to go for the challenge, but I am so happy with the outcome, and that's what matters, right? I love the colors, I love mix of patterns, I love the design (also a modern take, this time from this versatile Artful Delight's February Sketch Challenge).

And the cameo? Well, that's who we affectionately sometimes call #2. Surprisingly, he was the model that cooperated. I edited the photograph both in a photo editing and illustrating program.

Supplies Used:
Cardstock: (White) Office Max, (Kraft) PTI
Patterned Paper: (June Bug Collection) Basic Grey
Stamps: (Treasure Life) CTMH, (Mega Mixed Messages) PTI
Ink: (Onyx Black) Versamagic, (Watermark) Versamark
Embellishments: (Transparency Frame) Making Memories, (Tangerine Tango Ribbon) SU, (Staples)
Other: (Clear and Black Embossing Powder) SU, (Security Envelopes)
Tools: (Circle Punch) SU, Creative Memories

Bling and a Vase

As I've said many times, I am blessed to have a house full of blue jeans, dirty socks, mud caked boots, cars and trucks and two little boys. Not too much pink around this part of town...

Whew! This monochromatic card marks the final challenge for me for Moxie Fab World's Color Inspiration for Card Maker's Week and thus the most personally difficult in terms of color. So happy that I stuck with creating something for all six color schemes! I am not exposed to much pink in my house and it extends to my craft area so I search high and low for solid colors that matched the swatches. (I think I might have blown about ten inches of dust off each paper piece.) I also resisted the urge to pile on the frills and layers that I usually associate with this hue and kept it clean and simple with a few stamps from Furnishing Fun by Schlosser Designs.

A few notes to myself: Stamped the shelf in chalk ink and then kissed it with the woodgrain stamp-cool effect, must try again. Softened the edges of the main panel with some white ink to add a bit of dimension (hard to see in the photograph)-remember this ink gets everywhere! Make more of these in other monochromatic hues for a card set, perhaps adding glossy accents instead of rhinestones if the bling is running low...

Supplies Used:
Cardstock: (Pinks) The Paper Company
Stamps: (Vase, Flowers and Shelf from Furnishing Fun) Schlosser Designs, (Woodgrain from Woodgrain Silhouettes) WPlus9, (Sentiment from Fillable Frames #2) PTI
Ink: (Pixie Pink Pigment) SU, (Pink Chalk) Colorbox, (Fresh Snow) PTI
Markers: (Regal Rose, Rose Red) SU
Embellishments: (Rhinestones) Basic Grey
Other: (White Gel Pen) Signo, (Colored Pencils) Prismacolor

The Zone

Stepping out of my comfort zone is a quite intimidating but I know if I want to grow and journey on the route of self achievement, then I feel the need to do it. I'll just take little steps. Little steps, like the colors of purple and teal. Little steps, like patterned paper.

And little steps, like completing all of the Color Inspiration for Cardmakers' Week issued at MoxieFab World. This is my second to last, an entry for Jewel Tones combination. Dana issued a fantastic challenge for Yvonne's Guest Designer's Challenge, so I took a slightly larger step by stamping directly onto the patterned paper.

I feel like I put on a few wandering miles during this leg of my journey, yet went back on track with a clean design.

Supplies Used:
Cardstock: (Vintage Cream) PTI, (Teal) EK Successs
Patterned Paper: (Restoration Line) Crate Paper
Stamps: (Silhouettes from Nature's Wonder) Practicing Creativity Designs, (Sentiment from Teeny Trees) Waltzingmouse Stamps
Ink: (Elegant Eggplant, Taken with Teal Pigment) SU, (Vintage Photo Distress) Ranger
Other: (Colored Pencils) Prismacolor, (Thread)

Feelin' Kinda...

Neutral. Not happy, not sad. Not chatty, not mute. Just neutral this week. Good things and bad things have all tumbled together these past few days to make me feel, well, you guessed it, kinda neutral.

Which is why tonight is a good tie to post my card for Moxie Fab World's Color Inspiration for Card Maker's Week: Neutral Challenge. I am smitten with the vintage buttons (thanks to my fabulous sister,  Heather) and the spattering of feathers (thanks to my handsome husband). Using feathers helps to Extend the Background of my sentiment panel- a fabulous tip I learned from Mandy, Yvonnne's Guest Designer.

If you have time, I'd invite you to read this post from Lora, the current Moxie Fabber of the Week. Thank you Lora, your post helped me a lot tonight...

Supplies Used: 
Cardstock: (Ivory, Gray Blue) from my stash
Stamps: (Bird) SU, (Sentiment from Fillable Frames #2) PTI
Ink: (Basic Grey Pigment) SU
Embellishments: (Vintage Buttons), (Natural Burlap String) May Arts
Tools: (Labels One Nestabilities) Spellbinders

The Fancy Chair

The set of chairs dueled day after day, facing each other, mostly not ever moving. Each had seats that were covered with pristine white wool supported by shiny mahogany wood. It appeared, to the tiny little girl peaking through the french glass doors, that the chairs would only move when they taunted her to get the other dirty and thus becoming the victor.

 

Moxie Fab World's Color Inspiration for Card Makers Week: Bold and Bright Challenge was a perfect opportunity for me to try out an idea that has been running around in my head for ages with the chair pictured above, as the colors were a perfect backdrop for black and white. Before adhering the rubon to the patterned paper, I highlighted with white pen only certain areas, therefore reducing the need to fussy cut. Worked like a charm! The card is is finished with strips of solid pink paper as well as the innards of security envelops and a pink rhinestone by the sentiment to balance it out (a tip picked up ala Kelley).

Supplies Used:
Cardstock: (White) Office Max, (Pink) Recollections
Patterned Paper: (Sweet Pea Collection) Stampin' Up!, (Security Lined Envelopes)
Stamps: (Mega Mixed Messages) PTI
Ink: (Onyx Black) Versafine
Other: (Chair Rubon) Michaels, (Pink Gem) Basic Grey
Tools: (Corner Rounder) WR Memory Keepers

Pinwheel Flower

I honestly once studied the art of pinwheel making in screen printing class for my design degree (questionable as to if it was money well spent?). We were to screen twenty or so different designs and configure handmade pinwheels out of the best color and pattern combinations, a thumbtack and a #2 pencil. It was quite the sight to see eighteen twenty-or-so year old students blowing their pinwheels across campus! 

So I basically took the pinwheel concept and came up with a flower using the color combination from Moxie Fab World's Color Inspiration for Cardmakers Week: Pretty Pastels. I found some rare-in-my household pink and purple patterned paper and let it do all the work. A first for me-no stamping!

Supplies Used:
Cardstock: (Vintage Cream) PTI
Patterned Paper: (FreshPrint Clothesline) Little Yellow Bicycle
Embellishments: (Epoxy Button, Journaling Card) Little Yellow Bicycle, (Natural Burlap String) May Arts

Gilded Girl

She's the kind of girl that has manners down to a tee, but has a bit of a rebellious streak to her. She's the kind of girl that cuddles with her teddy bear every night, but builds ramps with the boys at school. She's soft and sweet, but knows that she can be herself and do whatever is on her mind...I'd like to call her the Gilded Girl.

 It is my goal to participate in all of Moxie Fab World's Color Challenges, and some are more difficult to me than others. Take for instance, this Color Inspiration Week's: The Metallic Challenge. Yeah, giiiirrrrrlllllll colors (saying that like my boys do, and how to them girls might just be the kiss of death). I don't have any girls (but if I did, I think she would be a Gilded Girl) therefore I hard a hard time combining gold and pink together. But I appreciate the challenge for the challenge and I have a thank you to send out.

Supplies Used:
Cardstock: (White) Georgia Pacific, (Gold) no source
Patterned Paper: (Pink Dots from Sweat Pea Collection) SU
Stamps: (For the Love of Dots) Practicing Creativity Designs
Ink: Versamark
Embellishments: (Sticker Sentiment) SRM Stickers, (Ivory Burlap String) May Arts, (Gold String) SU, (Gold Embossing Powder) SU
Tools: (Labels 8 Nestabilities) Spellbinders

Art Nouveau

The History of Graphic Design was the longest course in college and while most of my classmates dreaded the ninety minute daily lectures, I looked forward to them. I still have the heavy, image ridden textbook from the class. In it, I find the description for the inspiration of this card...

"Art Nouveau's identifying visual quality is an organic, plantlike line.

Free from roots and gravity, it can either undulate with whiplash energy

or flow with elegant grace as it defines, modulates and decorates a given space.
Vine tendrils, flowers, birds, and the human female form
were frequent motifs from which this fluid line was adapted."

For my entry into the Moxie Fab World's The Gray is the New Black Challenge I started by printing in darker tone of gray a digital image onto textured gray cardstock and then colored areas lightly with colored pencils. I then added enamel accents in both black and white and finished the card with a sentiment panel. While my card doesn't necessarily reflect the bright colors from the period in Graphic Design history, I'm happy that I think I captured its essence.

Supplies Used:

Cardstock: (Textured Gray) Bazzill, (White) Georgia Pacific

Stamps: (Doodle Blooms Digital Image) TiffanyDoodles, (Sentiment from Look Up! Additions) Practicing Creativity Designs

Ink: (Basic Grey Pigment) SU, (Charcoal Chalk) Colorbox

Fiber: (Pink Twill) May Arts

Embellishments: (Black and White Enamel Accents) Ranger, (Black Brad) SU

Tools: (Corner Chomper) WR Memory Keepers, (Colored Pencils) Prismacolor

Blooming Love

As I look out my window today and see over a foot of white fluffy snow, I reminisce about the times my husband and I have attempted to celebrate our anniversary only to be sidetracked by blizzards. We often end up with a cozy evening at home.

Today's card was based on the sketch at Skipping Stones Designs. I decided to try out the fabulous layering techniques that Maile Belles uses for the Wee Memories Challenge and Moxie Fab World is still celebrating their Card Creations Week, so this is my entry into the Love category.

Supplies Used:
Cardstock: (Vintage Cream) PTI 
Patterned Paper: (Basics Cream) Basic Grey
Stamps: (Ever After) Wplus9
Ink: (Vintage Photo and Walnut Stain Distress) Ranger
Embellishments: (Ivory String) May Arts, (Button)
Tools: (Labels 4 Nestabilities) Spellbinders, (Corner Chomper) WR Memory Keepers

Let It Snow!

I am quite honored to be SRM Sticker's July Guest Designer. They are featuring two of my projects, and if you'd like to mosey on over to the SRM Stickers Blog today to see the other, I'd be tickled. I'm hooked on these stickers. They are clear, fun, versatile and very easy to use. They are seamless as they blend into cardstock or over stamped images.

This clean and simple card came together quickly after I had the general concept in mind. A card with great impact, a nostalgic message and only a few supplies used! There are just a few more days to play with the Clean and Simple Challenge at the SRM Stickers Blog (which is also a perfect opportunity to play along with the Let's Do Clean & Graphic Challenge at Moxie Fab World as well...).

Supplies Used: Cardstock: (Kraft) PTI Other: (Snow Sentiment and Image Sticker) SRM Stickers, (White Polka Dot Tape) 7 Gypsies (Red Damask, Black Polka Dot Tape) Pink Paisly (Rhinestone) Prima Tools: (Corner Round Punch) Fiskers

Blessed

This card took a life of its own. I do rather like it because it is like no other card I've ever made. It slowly morphed into reminding me of the days of Sacajawea-so I turned it into a Thanksgiving Thank You card. I also liked the fact that I tried out feathers, I've been wanting to for a while. Have you seen Windy Robinson's card here or many of Savannah's cards? No birds were harmed with the making of this card as I raided my husband's bait making/fly fishing corner of the garage. I invite you to please click on the picture for a larger view, the feathers and textures are absolutely beautiful, if I can say that.

To help me get to the final product, I used the lovely colors from the Play Date Cafe and the sketch (with rhinestones!) from Limelight Papercrafts. I'm also throwing my hat into the Moxie Fab World's Classy & Elegant Challenge with this card. The background was first embossed and then sanded for a nice soft feel, then cut apart, distressed and sewn back together. The edges were inked lightly to bring out the dots again.

Supplies Used: Cardstock: (Tan/Black from Black Magic Collections) Coordinations (White) Georgia Pacific Ink: (Vintage Photo Distress) Ranger Sticker Sentiment: (Blessed) SRM Stickers Other: (Metal Dots, Rhinestones) Prima, Feathers, Thread Tools: (Swiss Dots Embossing Folder) ProvoCraft, (Oval Cutting System) Creative Memories

A Pound of Thanks

I'm always up for a challenge, but I do believe the Moxie Fab World's Shabby and Vintage Card Style Challenge has topped them all. I don't know what happens. I just sit and stare when it comes to this style. Perhaps I think too much about it. Does that ever happen to you?

After close to twenty minutes of staring at a white card base, I remembered that I had won some wonderful blog candy from here, and I pulled out everything vintage-y that I had. Doing so, I found a pre-printed old world postcard with the pink hue that geared the color combo towards that of the latest Off the Wall Craftiness (oh gorgeousness!). I inked edges, stitched, distressed, added a doily, some hand-made pin embellishments and luscious satin ribbon. I think the card weighs close to a pound.

Supplies Used: Cardstock: (White) Georgia Pacific (Grey) Recollections Stamps: (Mehndi Medallions) Wplus9 Ink: (Basic Grey) Stampin' Up! Embellishments: (Rose Plaque) Melissa Frances (Basic Grey Satin Ribbon) Stampin' Up!, (Doily) Wilton, (Postcard from Passport Collection) Making Memories, Decorative Pins, Thread Tools: (Multi-tag Punch) McGill

Dabbling in Fun & Cute

I'd like to consider myself a good pupil at this point in my life, one that still learns by visual aids the best. The stamping and crafty blogging world is full of visual aids. Cath from Moxie Fab World explains what a cute and fun card should consist of: "a happy color scheme (check) a sweet sentiment (check) and an uncomplicated design (check). Throw in some whimsy...a few simple shapes...some friendly patterns... (check, I think) and voila! There's a smile on your face (check) and a song in your heart (check) that's unmistakably fun and cute."

So here's my take on the Fun & Cute Card Style Challenge-it debuts my first go at Lawn Fawn's stamps (the best thank you gift from Erin!) that make this style so unbelievable easy. I was inspired to transform these stamps into a baby set from a card by Kelly Marie. ETA: I finally remembered where I saw the idea for the scalloped waves too, from Lynnette!

Supplies Used: Cardstock: (Naturals White) Stampin' Up! Patterned Paper: (Baby Talk) NRN Designs Stamps: (SwimSuit Season) Lawn Fawn Ink: (Antique Linen, Vintage Photo Distress) Ranger Emellishments: (Sentiment Rubon from Chit Chat) Stampin' Up! (Rustic Twine) PTI Tools: (Scallop Slit Punch) Stampin' Up!

Chrysanthemums

I'm excited today to be able to participate in The Friends of Waltzingmouse Stamps Blog Hop--were the colors are inspired by summer (a big thanks to Erin for helping me get here)!

"Polished. A shiny finish, sparkling embellishments, a rich color scheme, and sophisticated sentiment treatments... Regal, stunning, and dashing. [Clean] lines...monochromatic colors..." Do you think I accomplished the classy and elegant style as Cath from Moxie Fab World has described it? One style that I definitely like but rarely ever do!

I was inspired to make an acetate based card after seeing Jessica's here, and this big bloom chrysanthemum image from Walzingmouse Stamps sure fits the bill for class and elegance. The flower is composed of one large bloom and two of the smaller blooms, with the closest layer trimmed down a bit. I curled the edges before adhering together with a rhinestone brad. The acetate base was wrapped in satin ribbon and wool mending thread, and then a faux bow adhered to represent leaves. The blossom then went on top off the ribbon treatment to hide the glue.The solid blue panel cardstock was stamped with the sentiment and attached to the inside of the back of the card.

Thanks for visiting today!

Supplies Used: Cardstock: (Blue and Cream) Recollections Stamps: (Big Blooms Chrysanthemum) Waltzingmouse Stamps (Good Luck from Mega Mixed Messages) PTI Ink: (Basic Black, Night of Navy, River Rock) Stampin' Up! Ribbon: (Certainly Celery Satin) Stampin' Up Embellishments: Rhinestone Brad (Oriental Trading Company) Other: Wool Mending Thread, Acetate Tools: (Corner Rounder) Fiskars

Layout Inspiration

When I look back through my scrapbooks I recognize my "style" even in those pages from way back when. I've changed some and so have my finished projects, but my go-to clean and graphic look is still there.

The layout featured in Moxie Fab World's Finding Inspiration in a Layout Challenge was too pretty to pass up. I refined and simplified my card a bit from the layout to suite my style. I drew inspiration from the colors, the treatment of patterned paper, the pins, cropped circles and black journaling. This was fun, I think I'll go back to my own layouts to draw inspiration for future cards.

Speaking of the pins, these little gems were so fun to make. I found an easy tutorial over at the Scrap Doctor's blog.

Supplies Used: Cardstock: (White) Georgia Pacific, (Bashful Blue) Stampin' Up Patterned Paper: (Just Chillin Girls) Stamps: (Sentiment from Mehndi Medallions, Bird from Woodgrain Silhouettes Additions) Wplus9, Making Memories Ink: (Creamy Brown, French Blue, Citrus Yellow Chalk) Colorbox, (Onyx Black) Versafine Other: (Rustic Twine)  PTI, (Colored Pencils) Prisma, (Black Marker) Pilot Thread, Handmade Decorative Pins Tools: (Circle Cutting System) Creative Memories, (Scallop Border Punch) Fiskars

The Cottage Quilt

My sisters and I crawled under the handmade quilt, propped on chairs and covering the whole of the living room. Mom and Grandma poked the yarn threaded needle down through and we poked it back up just a centimeter away. Over and over we did this. When we finished, there was a beautiful blanket to take Up North to the Cottage.

I combined the Moxie Fab World Challenge Fun with Fabric with the Wee Memories Challenge to use pink and embellishments to create this quilt paneled card. I first stamped the fabric with ink, batted it, stitched it to cardstock and then added the sewn buttons to pucker the fabric. I also distressed the edges of the fabric (along with the cardstock) with some ink for a well worn look. I only had to call my mom once for assistance on quilting, and I finished the card with a brand new admiration for the real quilters out there.

Supplies Used: Cardstock: White (Georgia Pacific) Chocolate Chip, Pretty in Pink (Stampin Up) Stamps: You're Dandy (Practicing Creativity Designs) Woodgrain Silhouettes (Wplus9) Ink: Chocolate Chip Pigment (Stampin Up) Creamy Brown Chalk (Colorbox) Embellishments: Buttons (Cloud 9) Linen Thread (Stampin Up) Ribbon (May Arts) Other: White Muslin Fabric, Cotton, Thread

Let the Relaxation Begin

I looked. They searched. He pretended to glance. We all could not find a chair stamp. He asked "How can you not have one chair image with all these stamps? Why do you need a chair stamp?" I responded "You are right, I must get one some day. And, its for the Three Cheers for Chairs Challenge at Moxie Fab World." He shook his head and grumbled "I'm not even going to ask what Moxie Fab means..."
No chair images. No chair stamps. The solution? Make one myself. I created this beach chair using four strips of double sided sided ribbon and some cardstock that was stamped with a woodgrain image. I added light shadows under the chair and a ribbon tab to represent the sky. When I retire I think it would be nice to spend some time at the beach, doing nothing all day, therefore letting the relaxation begin.

Supplies Used: Cardstock: Natural White (SU) Tan (Archers Paper) Stamps: Woodgrain Silhouettes (Wplus9) Congrats (SU) Ink: Versamark, Close to Cocoa (SU) Jet Black (Stazon) Embellishments: Orange Striped Ribbon (May Arts from Practicing Creativity Designs) Blue Ribbon (Offray) Tools: Aqua Painter (SU) Other: Thread