Number of Tools

I remember registering for our wedding with my husband and in order for him to remain remotely interested in towels and cooking supplies, we had to stop by the automotive department. The "combo" package wouldn't do, he had to register for the drill, the sander, the screwdriver set separately. I also recall his statements on how he needed to go to his father's, because his father has everything and can offer a solution to his problem. Of course, we are now older and therefore my car has to fight for room to rest at night. Do you think that men secretly justify their age by the number of tools or supplies that they own in their garage? 

The Masculine Color Trends Challenge at Embellish Magazine inspired this design and direction of this clean and simple card. (Thanks to a great friend for her words of advice during my foray of not making anything post worthy...keep it clean and simple and true to my style and I'll like what I make.)

Supplies Used:
Cardstock: SU
Stamps: (You're the Man, Another Year) Practicing Creativity Designs
Ink: (Pigment) SU, (Chalk) Colorbox
Other: (Die) PTI, (Staples) Tim Holtz

Joy

The diapers. The crib. The onesies. The dirty diapers. The carseat. The diapers. The sleepers. The dirty diapers. The stroller. The diapers...Babies sure can fill your home up fast with stuff, but my oh my do they ever fill your life and heart with joy. Joy beyond belief, even through all the diapers.

The newest release from Practicing Creativity Designs, Little Bundle, is the perfect gift giving and works so well with other PCD sets. For this removable tag, I simply die cut and stamped (featuring the wood background from Carved Love) a piece of cardstock, distressed the edges and let the awesome sentiment from Little Bundle steal the show. A glittered, glossy pink heart accents the sentiment.

Valerie, Dana and Courtney have some truly fascinating ideas for baby gifts as well, please take a minute to check out their blogs! Also, there is still time to play with Practicing Creativity's Sketch Challenge too!

(A side note: I only wish I could crotchet like this! My great aunt gave gifted it to my first born son, I couldn't find it in me to wrap him in pink so it is patiently waiting in storage for the right little girl...)

Supplies Used:
Cardstock: (White) Office Max
Stamps: (Woodgrain from Carved Love, Sentiment from Little Bundle) Practicing Creativity Designs
Ink: (Antique Linen and Walnut Stain Distress) Ranger
Embellishments: (Chipboard Heart) Heidi Grace
Tools: (Labels 4 Nestabilties) Spellbinders

Poppies and a Sneak

Spring is destined to arrive soon, right?...

TiffanyDoodles Challenge this time around is a lovely photo inspiration! I started with a poppy image from the internet, made it really large in my photo editing program and basically superimposed this poppy image from TiffanyDoodles.

Find the rest of the details and link up your creation on Tiffany's blog!

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Also, Practicing Creativity Designs newest release is coming up. Here's a little sneak for you! Check out the blogs of Dana and Val, and then Courtney's to leave your guess for a chance to win this month's release! (Remember that you can win three sets by entering the sketch challenge featured in this month's release!)

Sea Grass

If she could only see the tall grass blowing gently in the dunes. If she could only smell the salty ocean air. It would mean that she was that much closer to her sister...It would mean that she wouldn't be so far away from the little baby that is expected so very soon...

Practicing Creativity Designs has something special up their sleeve for this month's release. We start the festivities out with a sketch challenge!

Oh, such a fabulous sketch that opens the door to so many possibilities... Find all the details at Courtney's blog (psst: the winner gets three Practicing Creativity Design stamp sets!) Sneak peeks featuring the newest stamp set start on Monday! My card today features the grass image from Nature's Wonder and a sentiment from Chatterbox. (The colors were highly inspired by the photo in this post at Moxie Fab World.)

The colors in the photograph might appear a bit distorted for which I am sorry, this dang winter hasn't allowed me to photograph outside for a while now!

***See my card for the Tiffany Doodle's Blog Hop here!***

Love Never Fails

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails.

This card is dedicated to you, Mom and Dad. 

Love never fails.

Thank you for teaching me this by living it.

Inspired by the latest Embellish Magazine's Color Trends Challenge with Birds.

 Bluebirds will forever hold a special place in my heart.

Supplies Used:
Cardstock: (Vintage Cream, Kraft) PTI

Stamps: (For the Love of Grids) Practicing Creativity Designs, (Ever After) Wplus 9

Digital Image: (Bluebird Couple) TiffanyDoodles

Ink: (Buckaroo Blue Pigment) SU, (Vintage Photo Distress) Ranger

Embellishments: (Satin Ribbon) SU, (Thread)

Other: (Colored Pencils) PrismaColor, (Brown Pen) Creative Memories

Deer Friend

After supper and the chil'rens were asleep last evening, I was supposed to make cookies for my work party. But then, I saw this card, and this challenge, and the above card formed in my head. I wondered aloud what I should do... cookies....or a card? From the words of one very talented lady after seeking advice: "cookies shmookies....make the card :) crafty mojo is a terrible thing to waste!"

I had a scrap piece of stamped background paper from Practicing Creativity Design's brand spankin' new release on my desk that provided the background for the sweet little deer (from Retro Christmas, also by Practicing Creativity Designs. He's now been a Halloween, Christmas and Valentine deer!). Ted challenged his participants to use their own handwriting on the front and inside of the card for his Happily Ever Challenged Challenge. Ted always has great challenges that are just that...a challenge. I wrote in pencil and erased about a billion times until I got something that was presentable. Here's the inside:

My dear sweet friends, I am happy to say that I did finish a batch of chocolate chip cookies as well, let it be known that you can get a lot accomplished in eight minute intervals.
 
Supplies Used:
Cardstock: (Kraft) PTI, (White) Georgia Pacific, (Real Red) SU
Stamps: (Deer from Retro Christmas, Grid from For the Love of Grids) Practicing Creativity Designs
Ink: (Antique Linen and Vintage Photo Distress) Ranger, (Pretty in Pink Pigment) SU
Embellishments: (Epoxy Hearts) Cloud Nine, (Brown Burlap String) May Arts
Other: (Brown Journaling Peng) Creative Memories

A Bluish Bicycle

It's so easy to combine For the Love of Grids from this month's release at Practicing Creativity Design with any of your existing stamps because of its versatility and ease of use, or to let it stand alone. I used the vintage cycle from The Whole Cycle and a doily to correspond with the old style patterned background, stylized from For the Love of Grids for this first card.

Please see for yourself the wonders of this set by stopping by each of the design team member's blogs - Dana - Courtney - Valerie - where we all feature For the Love of Grids and another fabulous stamp set. Get ready for it, its being released at midnight!

A Ticket to Wish

The world would be a rather dull and dissatisfying place if the powers to be didn't hand out Tickets to Wish. There would be no hope. There would be no prayers. Hard work would be non-existent and challenge would be obsolete. But because people wish, they in turn hope, pray, work hard and embrace challenges. Being able to wish is wonderful, beautiful.

And if I do say so myself, so is the new release from Practicing Creativity Designs, For the Love of Grids! I've used two of the large background stamps to make this card, first stamping one in saffron and the other in a light pink to create a unique base for my little collage of elements.

Hop on over to the blogs of Valerie, Dana and Courtney for more delicious eye candy featuring the new release, For the Love of Grids.

Supplies Used:
Cardstock: (So Saffron, Whisper White, Pretty in Pink) SU
Stamps: (Grids from For the Love of Grids, Sentiment from Chatterbox) Practicing Creativity Designs
Ink: (So Saffron, Pretty in Pink Pigment) SU, (Vintage Photo, Antique Linen Distress) Ranger
Embellishments: (Ivory Burlap String) May Arts, (Ticket) 
Other: (White Gel Pen) Signo
Tools: (Label Punch, Butterfly Die) SU

A Seaside Welcome

The palette of colors from Jay Gee's Nook Challenge and a Sketchy Sunday layout by Tiff (be still my heart...it is so wonderfully clean and simple!) captivated my attention...just as the ocean does with its soft array of wonderful blues, greens and whites. For this card, I combined a mix of patterned paper, a nautical charm and fiber, and a sentiment from Practicing Creativity Design's My Beach House, to represent a warm seaside salute of welcome to the newest Practicing Creativity Design Team member, Valerie from Paper and Cookies!

I also welcome you to view a sneak peak for Practicing Creativity Design's set being released this month. So excited about this one, the possibilities are endless! Visit the blogs of Dana and Valerie for more clues, and then make your final guess on Courtney's blog for a chance to win this month's release!

Supplies Used:
Cardstock: (Kraft) PTI, (Buckaroo Blue) SU
Patterned Paper: (Blue/Green from Restoration Collection) Crate Paper, (White from Olivia Collection) Basic Grey
Stamps: (My Beach House) Practicing Creativity Designs
Ink: (Walnut Stain Distress) Ranger
Other: (Natural Burlap String) May Arts, (Nautical Charm from Its All Gravy Mixed Media Kit) Guache Alchemy

Carved Love

Do you remember the story of how a boy named Billy found the perfect names for his two new red bone coon hound pups carved in a tree? Old Dan and Little Ann. Where the Red Fern Grows has to be one of my all time favorite reads and Carved Love was inspired by that pivotal moment from the story. The birch wood grain stamp is certainly the feature in this set, although there are quite a few other interactive surprises too! This set is perfect for Valentine's Day, Deployment, Anniversaries, etc. ... the list goes on and on.

Courtney more creations on her blog featuring Carved Love-including fabulous cards from Paulina and Dana, and a chance to win this set on her blog! So I'd really enjoy hearing what you think of this set, please be sure to leave a comment! Are you as excited as I am of the releases this month?

Supplies Used:
Cardstock: (Natural White and Real Red) SU
Stamps: (Carved Love) Practicing Creativity Designs
Ink: (Onyx Black) Versamagic, (Watermark) Versamark
Embellishments: (Red Rhinestone) Michaels, (Puffy Embossing Powder) Ranger

Another Year

This month marks Practicing Creativity Design's one year in business! And what a fitting occasion for one of the new sets being released this month, Another Year.  Here's two samples, one featuring a shabby chic look (with antique embossing powder) and the other a clean and graphic design (with a vintage children's book image). 

Another year has come and gone, another tick mark etched in sand with a stick. As I get older, I am learning to appreciate each day and each birthday, for each day and each birthday brings something new-I only recently learned that sometimes I have to find it.

I love this set, and one stamp is just purely awesome in my opinion. It is a grid of the numbers 1-100 and is so versatile. You can customize your card to any age-any age! Here's a close-up of each card, featuring the number grid background. It was my intention to show you the versatility of this set, please let me know if I've accomplished that!

Please be sure to stop by Courtney's blog for an opportunity to win your very own set, and check out the blogs of Paulina and Dana as well! I'll be back tomorrow with a card featuring the second set being released this month.

Thank you for your visit and comments, I so very much appreciate each one!

Supplies Used:

Shabby Birthday:
Cardstock: (Naturals White) SU
Patterned Paper: (Light The Way from Life's Portrait) Webster's Pages
Stamp: (Another Year) Practicing Creativity Designs
Ink: (Vintage Photo Distress), (Versamark) 
Other: (Natural Burlap String) May Arts, (Orange Button) SU, (Antique Embossing Powder), (Glass Bead), (Copper Wire), (Silk Flower), (Copper Mini Safety Pin)
Tools: (Labels 1 Nestabilities) Spellbinders


Children's Birthday:
Cardstock: (Kraft) PTI
Stamp: (Another Year) Practicing Creativity Designs
Ink: (Onyx Black) Versafine, (Wild Honey Distress) Ranger
Other: (Vintage Children's Book), (Ruled Children's Paper), (Black Brads) SU
Tools: (Labels 4 Nestabilities) Spellbinders, (Cropodile) WR Memory Keepers

I {Heart} You

He's all rough and tumble, a bit of grumble. He comes home with mud caked all on his boots and jeans. He's scruffy in the face, and a little in his personality. He won't think of wearing anything pink and cringes at the thought of a button shirt and tie. But oh, oh, does he have a heart of gold and I love him to pieces. (You see, that's why I married him.)

Masculine cards are difficult to make, I agree--whether it be for a birthday, a congrats, or a lovely dovey valentine's cards for your mister--but this first ever set from Practicing Creativity Designs makes it super easy! I stamped a tone on tone background with the open argyle pattern, ink distressed the edges and then added my sentiment panel by threading some burlap string and adhering with tape.


For some more excellent inspiration using Key to My Heart and the other three word clues for this month's release, please stop by the blogs of Dana, Paulina and Courtney! Be sure to enter your phrase on Courtney's blog for a chance to win both sets being released this month! I {heart} both of them!


Supplies Used:
Cardstock: (Natural White) SU, (Ivory) Georgia Pacific
Stamps: (Key to My Heart) Practicing Creativity Designs
Ink: (Vintage Photo and Antique Linen Distress) Ranger
Embellishments: (Epoxy Heart) Cloud 9, (Natural Burlap String) May Arts

Listen to the Spouse

So the idea for this card went down like this:
Me: I'm stuck.
Brian (the Spouse): Why?
Me: Well, what do you think of when I say Hot Air Balloons?
Brian (the Spouse): Dorothy.
Me: Um, ok. What else?
Brian (the Spouse): Orange, hot flames.
Me (with the lightbulb going off): Ooh, good idea. Thanks. Carry on.
Brian (the spouse-now with the look like he thinks I'm crazed): Um, ok.

Today's card features both Look Up! and Look Up! Additions by Practicing Creativity Designs and the tutorial shows a bit of Misting and Masking, the best way I could configure to showcase "orange, hot flames."

 Cut cardstock to size.
Stamp image onto scrap paper, cut with a small border and position with repositionable adhesive.
(Or you can use a post it as I've done here, if your image is small enough.)
The big black item in the photo is the top of the spray mist bottle, I hold it about a foot away
from my project and at a bit of an angle.) Spray the mist. I used two passes for this card.

Stamp sentiment.
After stamping the masked image onto another scrap piece of paper,
cut out area where "orange, hot flames" would be and position it back onto your card base.
Sponge the color and remove the mask.

I hope the tutorials during Practicing Creativity Design's Release Week were helpful and fun, as I enjoyed putting them together for you (suggestions or comments for improvement will be most welcome!). Both Look Up! Additions and Nature's Wonders are now availabe! Please stop by Courtney's, Paulina's and Dana's blogs today as well as our talented guest designers' blogs: Valerie, Amy and Vanessa.

***This is my first post today, if you have time, please stop by my second post! ***

Nature's Wonder

She walked down the paved road and seemed to notice for the first time the beauty in a single blade of grass,  the intricate design of a tree branch full of leaves. She realized it was so pretty and so full of wonder, this thing called Nature is...

Practicing Creativity Design's is releasing another "sequel" this month, an everyday partner set to Christmas Wonder. There are many mix and match sentiments and a few beautiful silhouette stamp images to Nature's Wonder. I've created a quick tutorial to showcase how to use the silhouette stamps to create depth on a card.

Draw a horizon line lightly in pencil onto your card base or a piece of cardstock.

Using a piece of scrap paper as a mask, stamp an image repeatedly in your lightest ink color,
followed by one or two more slightly darker ink colors.
Offset the stamp slightly or vary the angle for a more natural, flowing feel.

Stamp your main image in the darkest color of ink.
Here I was able to alter the look of the leaf stamp by inking only a part of the image
and then curving the photopolymer on my second inked pass. Stamp your sentiment.

For less bulk, punch a small circle at the crease of the card and thread your twine through.

Tie off on the front of your card.

For more wonderful eye candy using Nature's Wonder, stop by the blogs of Courtney, Paulina and Dana as have some great eye candy for you, as well as our talented guest designers Valerie, Amy and Vanessa.

Please be sure to stop by this post for your chance to win both sets being released this month!

Stained Glass

Ooh, are you all as excited as I am? Courtney has done it again and created an addition to the ever popular Look Up! Set from Practicing Creativity Designs! Today I'm showcasing the Stained Glass Technique with a short tutorial for this card featuring December's release, Look Up! Additions (which is a CASE of an old card of mine using the original Look Up! Set.)

Measure the stamp of your choice and configure even spacing,
marking and stamping with watermark ink on a cut piece of cardstock.

Emboss with black embossing powder and color and shade image with blender pens and ink or Copic markers.

Cover each section heavily with glossy accents and let dry.

Finish card by embossing the banner as scallops and the sentiment.

Add a color border on your stained glass image and adhere to card.

Finish with rhinestone embellishments.

The other Practicing Creativity Designs Gals, Courtney, Paulina and Dana have some great eye candy for you, as well as our talented guest designers Valerie, Amy and Vanessa. I'll be back tomorrow with a card and tutorial showcasing the set I designed.

Please be sure to stop by this post for your chance to win both sets being released this month!

Sequels

 

The brilliant masterminds behind the Toy Story movies sure hit the mark by showcasing the relationship of the toys with each other and their owners for three movies straight. (I knew there was a reason why I couldn't throw out the teddy bear with the shaky head and bald spots, and now I know why my boys fetch broken toys out of the garbage when I'm cleaning). If you haven't seen Toy Story 3 yet, please do-it is one of the best sequels out there, the DVD is on my (as well as my two boys') Christmas Wish List.

 

 

Welcome to the first day of the Practicing Creativity Design's December Release. For this month, I'm offering a quick photo tutorial on how each card is made! I used the villain from Toy Story 3 as an inspiration for my holiday card, I loved Lotso's colors. This card features the Emboss Resist Technique and Retro Christmas from Practicing Creativity Designs.

 

Stamp the deer image in watermark ink onto your favorite patterned paper, then stamp the antlers.

Clear emboss the image.

Rub ink around and slightly over the embossed image in a color slightly darker than the patterned paper.

I used a cotton ball, but a rag, sponge dauber or foam squares work nicely as well.

Rub any excess ink off your embossed image.

 Outline your embossed image with a permanent black marker for additional contrast.

Dry emboss your paper with Nestabilities (I used the tutorial found here.)

Assemble your card by adhering your die cut focal image to the embossed card base and stitching a few lines.

Stamp your sentiment.

Oh, and don't forget to add a pearl or gemstone for your reindeer's nose!

Please be sure to visit the blogs of Dana, Paulina and our guest designers, Valerie and Amy, for additional clues. Hop on over Courtney's blog to make a guess on what both sets are about for a chance to win!

A Star

Making the cheer squad. An exemplary test score.  An engagement. A promotion. A pregnancy....
She is a Star and Congratulations are in order.

I am smitten with the star from Rejoice! -one of the stamp sets released today from Practicing Creativity Designs- and knew that it would be awesome when used in a completely different setting than the holidays. I studded this card up with everything shiny that I had to create that awestruck feeling-Glimmer Mist, Stickles and Rhinestones! A large sentiment from Chatterbox completes the look. I also just love how the misting makes an everyday, upcycled object, such as the inside of an envelope, look spectacular and oh so different!

(Check out what Amy Duff can do with upcycled items...she is having a challenge as the guest designer on Yvonne's blog!)

Supplies Used:
Cardstock: (White) Georgia Pacific
Stamps: (Star from Rejoice!, sentiment from Chatterbox) Practicing Creativity Designs
Ink: (Onyx Black) Versafine
Embellishments: (Rhinestones) Hero Arts, (Vintage Pink Glimmer Mist) Tattered Angels, (Ice Stickles) Ranger
Other: (Envelopes)

Place Setting Cards

Having heard most of my life that I need to wear a name tag to distinguish myself from my identical twin sister, I'm not one to do a lot with projects that identify names. But...the newest set from Practicing Creativity Designs has this awesome panel that was perfect for a place setting card!

This is so super easy to do! Stamp the panel image on cardstock and score the top edge, being careful to avoid the raised circle portion. Trim the panel on the two sides and bottom. Trim around the circle portion only and fold. I've added embossing, glitter strips and bling for a bit of shine to match the plates I've had since my college days.

The rest of the gals (Paulina, Courtney and Dana) have some super projects to show you as well from this release, and both sets are available at midnight!

The cobalt color is so fun to work with, as seen by the latest Tuesday Trigger over at Moxie Fab World! I knew there was a reason that I liked cobalt blue dishes! (Thanks Brandi!)

Supplies Used:
Cardstock: (White) Georgia Pacific
Stamps: (Everyday Prints) Practicing Creativity Designs, (Mom from Roses in Bloom) Waltzingmouse Stamps
Ink: (Night of Navy, Ballet Blue Pigment) SU, (Onyx Black) Versafine, (Watermark) Versamark
Embellishments: (Snow Glitter) Martha Stewart, (Rhinestone) Prima