If It Ain't Broke...

Don't fix it. Although that simple little saying is full of grammatical errors, I still use it and apply it, such as the ribbon/button treatment and the dandelion image that I did in my card here. United Thread, the feature Etsy shop for Etsy Inspired Challenges, has some really neat hand drawn images, especially of bees and dandelions. The sketch is from CPS. I've never tried grey, purple and yellow before on a card...I kind of like it!

**This is my second post today, I'd love it if you have time to check out my first.**

Supplies Used: CTMH Smokey Gray Cardstock, SU Whisper White Cardstock, SU DSP, Practicing Creativity Designs You're Dandy Stamp Set, SU Basic Grey Ink, Colorbox Chalk Ink in Lavender, Fiskar's Scallop Border Punch, SU Basic Grey Satin Ribbon, Button, 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

Bordered Butterfly

While I was visiting my folks, I cleaned out my old closet, where stuff was hidden from fifteen years ago! I found a roll of acetate leftover from my college days and that was the inspiration for this card, along with the current Embellish Color Challenge with Borders. Awesome spring colors, just what I need to use on this very very cold Wisconsin afternoon. I also based the layout on the current CPS Sketch. Both offer some fabulous design team cards and prizes. For the butterfly, I ran acetate through my Cuttlebug with the Swiss Dots Folder then cut them with the SU Butterfly Die and placed it on top of the same die cut with white cardstock and distressed. The borders are made with the only two border punches I have, and I stitched and paper distressed around most of the edges. (There is a "thank you" stamped and embossed with white in the bottom corner for the sentiment.)




Supplies Used: Making Memories Just Chillin Girls Collection, SU Whisper White and Barely Banana Cardstock, SU Apricot Appeal DSP, SU Pink Satin Ribbon, Fiskars Scallop Border Punch, SU Scallop Trim Border Punch, Heidi Grace Thank You Stamp Set, VersaMark Ink, White Embossing Powder, Cloud 9 Buttons

Dandelion Thanks

Do you ever find a moment in your life where you need to thank so many people for kind things they've done that you feel so blessed to have a reason to make so many "thank you" cards? I love that feeling!

One of the current challenges over at Moxie Fab is Fun with Floss so I've replaced/stitched the whispy seed strands (?) from the larger of two dandelions from the You're Dandy stamp set with ivory floss. I then deconstructed the strands and cut them short to create grass and wound the focal image three times with the same floss. Utilizing the Rule of Three, I carried the floss over to the ribbon/button combo. I punched a half circle out of the paper beneath the button so that the ribbon could be tied with floss closer to the card base. The background is stamped and lightly shaded with the rays from the same stamp set (ok, ok, I know you've seen them before, but I really LOVE these rays!). After reading many of Papercrafts Magazines, I was always tempted to try the "ink all edges" in the directions field, so I have done that on this card as well to soften the coral.

Thanks to the kind and talented Jessica from Recapturing Wonders, my weekend will be filled with trying out new and exciting product, as I was the humble recipient of her most awesome blog candy. What a wonderful surprise to receive this package after a trying day at work. Her work and her blog are amazing!



Supplies Used: SU Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla and Cameo Coral Cardstock, You're Dandy Stamp Set from Practicing Creativity Designs, Colorbox Chalk Ink in Alabaster, SU Cameo Coral and Rose Red Ink, Versamark, Creamy Brown and Chestnut Roan, SU Chocolate Chip Satin Ribbon, Floss, Button

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

I Have to Be Honest...

I have to be honest, bright colors intimidate me, and bright colors in mass amounts terrify me. But, I still wanted to challenge myself (after all, I think that one of the reason Challenges are posted?) so I created this set of Birthday Cards for the Embellish Birthdays Color Challenge. The entries thus far are amazing and so bright, I envy them from afar.

I've been away for a while and was able to spend some quality time with my sister, who had this dog stamp set, and the wonderful idea to use a little bling for the collars. She amazes me that with her smart, scientific, veterinarian brain she was able to think of such a crafty clever idea! I love her, her ideas, the fact that she shares her supplies while I visit (and that she looks over my dog to make sure he's still healthy!). Each card is 3.5x3.5 inches and finishes the Birthday sentiment on the inside. I really like the clean and simple nature of these cards (and truth be told the bright colors!) and later I will post some more cards of this nature. The inside sentiments are as follows:
It's a Matter of Making Years Count. You Just become for Fun to Know and finally, Happy Belated Birthday.

Supplies Used: SU Natural White Cardstock, SU Green Cardstock, Colorbox Chalk Ink in Chestnut Roan and various shades of pink, blue, green, SU Its Your Birthday and Man's Best Friend Stamp Sets, Fiskars Corner Rounder Punch and SU Scallop Trim Border Punch, CM Blue DSP, Various Gems, Blue Grosgrain Ribbon

Just Because...

Its been a while since I've created a card with no intentions, a just because card. This isn't for any challenges or anybody's day specifically, it is just because I like this stamp set, because I bought some new chalk ink and wanted to try them out, and many more reasons!

Supplies Used: SU Natural White Cardstock, Bazill Basic Cardstock in Blue, Practicing Creativity You're Dandy Stamp Set, CM DSP, Edge Distresser, Colorbox ChalkInk, Stazon Black, SU Pumpkin Pie Button, Black Floss, CM Black Journaling Pen, SU Mat Pack Set

Mr. & Mrs.

Cardvaarks is having a Wedding Card Challenge with the opportunity to get published, and since I missed the last deadline for the magazine I thought I should give it a shot! Here's my attempt at a classical style union with modern design.

Supplies Used: Bazzill Textured Cardstock, CM Smokey Gray Cardstock, White Cardstock, SU Medallion and Tag Stamp Sets, SU White Embossing Powder, CM Circle Punches, Versamark Ink, SU White Embossing Powder, CM Corner Round Punch, Ribbon from Michaels, Rhinestones (unknown source)

Making a Wish...

When you were little (or to this day...) did you ever take one of those dried out dandelions, blow, and watch all those little seeds float in the wind as you made your latest wish?
I love this new set by Courtney from Practicing Creativity Designs for that reason, well...to be honest, a lot more reasons than can be mentioned (like being able to create your own patterns and textures with the graphic images) and wanted my first card to recreate that feeling of being able to wish for anything.
I also wanted it to be really soft and airy as well so I that is why I chose the white on kraft with a touch of sky blue. The layout of the card is from 2S4Y.

Supplies Used: SU Kraft and Sky Blue Cardstock, Practicing Creatity You're Dandy Stamp Set, SU White Craft Ink, Heidi Grace Velvet Stickers, Half Back Pearl Embellishment, Fiskars Corner Rounder Punch.

Watercoloring

I made this card a while back but never posted it here on my blog. I love to watercolor, and I should try it out more often, it brings me back to the good ol' days of high school. Art Class to be exact, when I could create whatever and whenever I wanted... when the supplies came free... when I received recognition for hard work and determination. Anyways, back on track. To create this look I first spritzed some watercolor paper, added a base of blue and green inks with my aqua painter, stamped my image on the slightly wet paper, let it dry and then went back with the aqua painter and ink for some added depth.

Supplies Used: Watercolor Paper, SU Very Vanilla and Chocolate Chip Cardstock, SU Old Olive, Taken with Teal and Pumpkin Pie Ink, CTMH Treasure Life Stamp Set, Heidi Grace Thank You Stamp Set, CM Sticker Paper, Fiskars Rain Dots, SU Chocolate Chip Marker, SU Corner Rounder Punch

The Truth about Submitting

I let another CARDS submission deadline pass. ***SIGH*** I'm really going to get enough courage to submit some of my creations some day, (pretty please let me find this courage before the August Deadline)... It's not for a lack of wanting to submit, really, it was a lack of time.

A Cross Country Ride

I wish I could have time to make something new, but the ticking clock just isn't in my favor. I thought I would post a card from some time ago that I favor over most other cards. There are some slight changes I would make if I were to recreate this card, but overall the simplistic nature of it and the mostly tone on tone colors really fits with the Sympathy theme, I think.

Supplies Used: SU Very Vanilla Cardstock, CM Circle Punch, SU Chalk, SU Very Vanilla Ribbon, SU Art of Life Stamp Set, SU Chocolate Chip Ink, Versamark Ink, Sponge Daubers, Green Ring (unknown source)

Be Thankful

From the words of Oprah Winfry: Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you never, ever have enough.
This sticker quote came from a pack by Creative Memories (and I'd like to think I should apply it to my stamping supply) and I based my card around it for the SRM Sticker Challenge (stickers and chipboard) and the Embellish Challenge (pink, turquoise, brown and ribbon). The basic layout of the sketch comes from CPS's sketch.




Supplies Used: Pink Cardstock, Chipboard, SU DSP, Creative Memories Stickers, SU Pink Ribbon, SU Scallop Border Trim Punch, Fiskars Scallop Border Punch, Button, Floss, Thread

The Story of the Black Ribbon

As mentioned in a previous post, last weekend my dear uncle had his fiftieth birthday party. His sister, and my favorite aunt, wrapped his gift from my mother and her in newsprint and tied it with a lovely, wide satin black bow. He struggled to open the gift and GASP-he pulled out his pocket knife and cut this lovely ribbon! To all the crafty ladies' horror! My cousin and I quickly grabbed up the shreds from the paper pile and stashed it away. I knew that this coveted ribbon would be a perfect addition to a card for the Pals Paper Arts Color Challenge of Light and Dark Pink (with Black). The look I intended for this card was Classical Chic, with a flair of vintage. To counter balance the big, classy and bold ribbon, I took the background stamp, spritzed it with water, added watercolor crayons, spritzed again and stamped on Naturals White Paper. I finished with distressed edges and stitching-guess I just couldn't put the Sew Mini away.

Supplies Used: SU Naturals White, Black and Pretty in Pink Cardstock, SU Watercolor Crayons in Rose Red and Pretty in Pink, SU Medallion and Sweet Little Sentiments Stamp Set, Stazon Black Ink, SU Black Brad, Ranger's Mini Mister, SU Edge Distresser, CM Black Pen, Thread, and the Lovely Wide Wire Laced Black Ribbon from the Birthday Party

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

NEW LOOK!

Oh how much fun it is to use all this "schtuff", technology and my brain to create! Graphic Design create! I'd love to know what you think of my new look (wouldn't it sometimes be wonderful if one could instantaneously change their physical attributes as well?!) Should I add what I do here or is that an assumption? Should I add my name somewhere? Blogspot is new to me so help and advise is welcome!