Everything in Her Power

This according to a fine organization:
"Susan G. Komen fought breast cancer with her heart, body and soul. Throughout her diagnosis, treatments, and endless days in the hospital, she spent her time thinking of ways to make life better for other women battling breast cancer instead of worrying about her own situation. That concern for others continued even as Susan neared the end of her fight. Moved by Susan’s compassion for others and committed to making a difference, Nancy G. Brinker promised her sister that she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever."

Starting with The Paper Variety's challenge as inspiration for this card, I arranged the three cherry blossom images from TiffanyDoodle's newest release to her series, Granny's Yard, to create my own background paper, used two types of ink to highlight the blossoms and finished the card by one powerful sentiment.

Tiffany has tons of specials and even a fun easter egg hunt going on in April (see my side bar) that you won't want to miss out on!

Supplies Used:
Cardstock: (Kraft) PTI, (Pink) Recollections
Stamp, Digital: (Cherry Blossom) TiffanyDoodles
Ink: (Vintage Cream Hybrid) PTI, (Pink) Clear and Simple Stamps
Embellishments: (Ticket) Tim Holtz, (Twine) May Arts, (Button)

He Says it is So Trendy

 

I do believe any sense of normalcy has left my house and taken a vacation... Just a quick post inviting you to play along too with a few of my favorite challenges!

First, this card was inspired by the current sketch and product challenge at Limelight Papercrafts. These sketches are so versatile, as you can see I've taken a bit of liberty with a few placements and scale, but the inspiration is there. Link up your creation, with a birthday theme to the Limelight Blog by Monday for your chance to win a Kaisercraft train album.
 

Additionally, I am playing along with Yvonne's Guest Designer Challenge over on her blog, Do More with Less. Debbie Standard sure does amazing things with sanded cardstock and I wanted to try my hand at it as well. The woodgrain pattern has been sanded down to a lighter shade, and the texture is kind of fuzzy in person. Love it!

I laughed out loud when my boy said I was "so trendy" with this card...perhaps its the colors, textures, patterns and little metal pearls? I like to think so anyway, but I think he was trying to make me feel good.

Supplies Used:
Cardstock: (White) Office Max, (Teal Black Magic Cardstock) Coordinations

Stamps: (Woodgrain Silhouette Additions, Brothers and Sisters) WPlus9, (Communique Sentiments) PTI

Ink: (Pink) Clear and Simple Stamps, (Onyx Black) Versafine

Embellishments: (Black Corduroy Ribbon) May Arts, (Metal Pearls), (Black Pen) Pilot

Other: (Woodgrain Embossing Folder) Craft Concepts

FIngers and Toes

Life really is all about the little things in life, isn't it? I'm blessed that I've purely run out of fingers and toes when counting all the little blessings in my life.

Denami is having a Product Challenge to feature rhinestones. I like to use rhinestones to accentuate a sentiment mostly... In fact, I think this is the most rhinestones I've ever put on a card before.

Supplies Used:
Cardstock: (Buckaroo Blue) SU, (White) Office Max
Patterned Paper: (unknown)
Stamps: (Single Tweety Bird) Denami Designs
Ink: (Onyx Black) Versamagic
Other: (Sticker Sentiment) SRM Stickers, (Rhinestones) Michaels, (Black Enamel Accents) Ranger, (Corner Chomper) WR Memory Keepers

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

Stranded

My car stalled right in the middle of the county highway. After rolling to the side and calling my husband to rescue me, I sat there waiting. And waiting. After a few minutes I noticed a bluebird just sitting there on the telephone wire above me. Watching. And waiting with me. He never flew away, he never seemed to move. He just watched and waited. As soon as my husband rolled up behind me, the hues of blue fly away. I knew in my heart that the bluebird was sent by someone to be my protector those long thirty or so minutes.

This is just one of the many reasons why bluebirds will always be special to me...

The Lawnscaping Challenge is all about a splash of color. Having gone through a recent personal rough patch in regards to work, etc., I remembered the power of the bluebird and created this card. Instead of the black tones, I reached for the cream and brown, with a pop of blue.

The inspiration for the general design and neutral color theme came from the challenge at Scrapbooker's Paradise.

On a side note: I really like that I can use challenges as inspiration points, and appreciate it when they help to recall why I make cards. Thank you to all those wonderful crafters who put so much time and talent into running the challenge blogs.

Supplies Used:
Cardstock: (White) Office Max, (Teal) Bazzill
Patterned Paper: (Basics White) Basic Grey
Stamps: (Critters in the Burbs, Sophie's Sentiments) LawnFawn
Ink: (Walnut Stain and Antique Linen Distress) Ranger
Other: (Natural Burlap String) May Arts, (Glossy Accents) Ranger, (Woodgrain Embossing Folder) Craft Expressions, (Tag Punch) McGill

Granny's Yard

I fully intended to make a card with these beautiful images from TiffanyDoodles, but alas, Old Man Winter decided to pay a visit and shut off our power. We had snow coming down like nothing else along with a fantastic (and scary) lightening and thunder show. Odd.

With this series, TiffanyDoodles is now offering pre-colored images. Making a card has never been more quick and easy....and pretty! Hope to be back after work to showcase a card!

Petie's Pal

Petie went almost everywhere with my oldest when he was two. Petie went almost everywhere with my youngest when he was two. Petie was, er, is very well loved (and oh so dirty). I might have talked about Petie before on here, I can't quite remember. Petie is a doll that both my boys love(d).

Wee Memories and The Lawnscaping Challenge have teamed up to showcase cute and cuddly creations. I started by adhering some soft baby yarn around a square block and topped it off with a pup that has a slightly distressed and well worn look to him. The square background reminds me of a chenille blanklie (as my boys affectionately call their blankets).The layout is from March's sketch at Artful Delight.

 

Supplies Used:
Cardstock: (White) Office Max, (Vintage Cream) PTI
Patterned Paper: (School Spirit Collection) Crate Paper
Stamps: (Critters in the Burbs, Sophie's Sentiments) Lawn Fawn
Ink: (Vintage Photo Distress) Ranger
Other: (White Enamel Accents) Ranger, (Colored Pencils) Prisma

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

On St. Patrick's Day

St. Patrick's Day = Irish, Irish = Ireland, Ireland = History, History = Vintage Green Blooms. Some day my sisters and I are going to visit Ireland where we will take in all the culture, history and beauty. Some day.

This bit o' green card was inspired by the St. Patrick's Day Waltz for Waltzingmouse Stamps. (I'm not one to give out cards for this holiday, nor to use a ton of green-just not my color, I guess-so I much more inspired by the history of the holiday...) I used a combination of distress inks and shimmer spray to create the vintage, old background. Most of the same techniques were incorporated into the blooms, from Roses in Bloom. I added the delightful pleated ribbon, twine and a sentiment from Teeny Trees. The sketch layout is from Limelight Papercrafts, where Mandy has the challenge to incorporate some green into the layout!

(Remember, you can play along with Limelight too, just use the sketch and a bit o' green in honor of St. Patrick! Upload your creations to Mandy's blog before the weekend is up for your chance to win a Glitz Bubbles Roller Doodle stamp AND a package of Basic Grey Sparkling Rub Ons! Check out the links for the other design team members too!)

Supplies Used:
Cardstock: (Kraft) PTI, (Natural White) SU
Stamps: (Roses from Roses in Bloom, Sentiment and Lines from Teeny Trees) Waltzingmouse Stamps
Ink: (Antique Linen and Vintage Photo Distress) Ranger
Embellishments: (Pleated Ribbon, Natural Burlap String) May Arts
Other: (Kermit the Frog Mist) Shimmerz, (Marker) Copic
Tools: (Mini Mister) Ranger

Baubles

When we were old enough, my oldest sister took my twin and I to the local thrift store. With a what seemed like a fortune in our pockets (but was really only pocket change) we entered the store with the confidence of rich women and started trying on the fine baubles and long dresses. Ahh, good times for sure.

The beautiful and spring-like inspiration board at Jay Gee's Nook provided the color pallette for my card, and the sketch from Skipping Stones Design the layout.

Supplies Used:
Cardstock: (White) Office Max
Stamps: (Brothers and Sisters) Wplus9
Ink: (Sage Shadow Pigment) SU, (Antique Linen and Wild Honey Distress) Ranger
Embellishments: (Wrinkle Ribbon), (Natural Burlap String) May Arts, (Bauble) Making Memories, (Lemonade Mr. Huey Mist) Studio Calico
Tool: (All Occasions Die) Wplus9