On How to Name a Baby

This is how the conversation all went down:
Grandma: What should Auntie name her new baby?
Cole: Dot.
Grandma: (with an awkward pause...) Dot?
Cole: Yes, Dot.
Grandma: Why Dot?
Cole: Uh, I don't know.
Grandma: Can you think of another name for the baby?
Cole: How about Cole?

I used Limelight's Sketch Challenge with Halloween Colors for this Thank You card for after Baby Dot arrives. The mama wanted bright, bold boy colors for the layette and nursery, so I thought to continue that with the thank you's. I've decided that Halloween colors can be fun outside of Halloween too! I pulled out Lawn Fawn's Bannerific and Sophie's Sentiments and used Schlosser Designs Hexagon-A-Thon to fill in the banners with a solid and contrasting woodgrain pattern. I slightly inked the edges of the banners for a bit of dimension and then sewed them onto the card. Oh, and a drew some hair on the little smiley face to transform it into a baby! A flat card for a quick and easy mailing!

The other Limelight Gals also have a fantastic take on this sketch, so please check out the blogs of  Mandy Lisa, Lynn and JenMarie! You don't want to miss out on playing along with this versatile sketch and color challenge, as one lucky winner will receive a Pink Paislee Father Christmas 6x6 Paper Pad and Artisan Tape Roll!
(I just ordered mine today!)

Supplies Used:
Cardstock: (White) Georgia Pacific
Stamps: (Bannerific, Sophie's Sentiments) Lawn Fawn, (Hexagon-A-Thon) Schlosser Designs
Ink: (Purple, Green, Yellow Chalk) Colorbox (Onyx Black) Versafine, (Basic Gray Pigment) SU
Other: (Thread), (Corner Chomper) WR Memory Keepers

Tiled Sympathy

Her eyes scanned across the room gilted with gold accents and fine furniture. She stopped and stood in front of the victorian walnut chair upholstered in velvet but it wasn't the chair that intrigued her. Rather, the wallpaper on the wall behind the chair. Delicate. Old. Intricate. Everything beautiful.

Off the Wall Craftiness has the best color challenge which reminded me of my visit to the historic mansion here in town. Sympathy cards are always difficult for me to make, but I used my last one and needed another. I kept the design fairly simple and embellishments to a minimal so that the stamps design and message shine. It was fun to see if I could recreate the vintage wallpaper.

Supplies Used:
Cardstock: (Vintage Cream) PTI
Patterned Paper: (White Collection) Basic Grey
Stamps: (Poinsettia Patterns) Wplus9
Ink: (Old Olive Pigment) SU, (Vintage Photo Disress) Ranger
Embellishments: (Pearls in Sunflower) Queen & Co., (Rustic Twine) PTI
Tools: (Labels 4 Nestabilities) Spellbinders

Winner! (of the Gift Certificate)

Thank you for the kind and wonderful comments regarding my one year of blogging, and thank you to those who offered suggestions on how I can make your visit more enjoyable!

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

20

Timestamp: 2010-10-27 01:00:42 UTC

On to the winner of the $15 gift certificate from one of four fabulous companies

Practicing Creativity Designs
Wplus9
Lawn Fawn
Schlosser Designs

is.....Dana! I have the enjoyable experience of being on a design team with Dana, and let me tell ya, she is a fabulous designer and has an even better personality!

Here's what she had to say:  

Dana said...
YAY! Now I "get" the bald dragonfly bit! Well happy blogoversary Karen, I hope there will be many more reasons to celebrate your marvelous blog.

I have to say that I love the new blog look too. Very graphic and eye-pleasing.

1. Secretly I come back for the little tidbits and glimpses into your personal life. Is that awful to say? LOL I love reading those few sentences that start your posts.
2. Of course I'm a follower!

Well as a huge fam of orange poppies this card really spoke to me. It said, "Please mail me to Dana because I belong on her Amazing Art wall." Your patrents won't mind, right? *grin*

Dana, please email me within one week with your choice and I'll get that all set up for you!

I had so much fun with these giveaways that I think I'll have some more in the future. Thanks again for your wonderful support through this past year, I couldn't have done it without you!

Discovering

I discovered something new. Something fun. And produced a lot of objects from learning this new to me technique. Does this ever happen to you?

The Play Date Cafe is celebrating one year of challenges with an absolutely beautiful color combination, and I wanted to make sure I helped celebrate-even though the idea in my head didn't come out exactly as planned. Does this ever happen to you?

 

Supplies Used:

Cardstock: (Very Vanilla, Blush Blossom) SU

Stamps: (Bannerific, Sophie's Sentiments) Lawn Fawn

Ink: (Antique Linen and Vintage Photo Distress) Ranger, (Pumpkin Pie Pigment) SU

Embellishments: (Rustic Twine) PTI, (Rhinestones) Studio G, (Starfish Glimmer Mist) Tattered Angels

Other: Coffee Filter, (Corner Chomper) WeRMemory Keepers

Grandma's Roses

Sometimes Life grows thistles and overwhelming weeds in your way or sends swarms hornets to follow you so that you can overcome them and become stronger. Sometimes barren spots of brown soil or red clay is all that is ahead in your path, but you keep going because you know that there is a bright spot at the end of your journey. Sometimes, Life gives you someone that is your Rose in the Garden, to guide you and love you through anything.

My garden has had its fair amount of troubles, but I am blessed that it is full of roses, and my Grandmother is one of them! This framed artwork is for her, to thank her for everything. The colors and style were derived from the latest Embellish Magazine Challenge, and the sparkly roses from Karen's tutorial found here.

Supplies Used:
Patterned Paper: (Pyrus) Basic Grey
Stamps: (Roses in Bloom) Waltzingmouse Stamps
Ink: (Vintage Photo, Antique Linen Distress) Ranger, (Really Rust, So Saffron Pigment) Stampin' Up!
Embellishments: (Butterfly) The GuildedBee, (Fabric Leaves) May Arts, (Brass Brads) Oriental Trading Company
Other: (Sugar Maple Glimmer Mist) Tattered Angels, Coffee Filter, Doily, Frame

Birthday Winner of some Twine!

Thank you for all the well wishes for my birthday (and my twin's too!) 

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

56

Timestamp: 2010-10-24 18:01:15 UTC

Huh, I'm not sure how those crafty people can get the pretty picture for random.org to post on their blogs, but I used it, and came up with this wonderfully talented gal. (Who happened to make me laugh with her comment!)

Cynthia Schelzig,Cynnie said...

I have twin nieces...so I know how cooool it is to have your double birthdays and live your whole life with a sibling the same age as yourself...wonderful! Now as far as the twine goes...omg...do you know how HARD it is to find this stuff in Germany!!!!! Oh heavens...do I ever hope I get lucky on this one:)...even more so than on Be(e)´s giveaway that you so luckily won....have you created anything with it...or is it even at your place yet...takes awhile from Europe. come on Karen make my day....you don´t want me stuffing my face with chocolate AGAIN,,,do you???

October 20, 2010 3:19 AM 

Cynnie, I hope I did make your day! Please email me within the week with your address so I can get the sample twine sent your way. The winner of The Bald Dragonfly's One Year Celebration will be announced in a day or two-if you haven't entered yet, check out the details here!

I've been working hard on some projects and can't wait to share them with all of you!

A Tutorial Attempt

He asked his girl if she had a friend that his friend could write too, as his friend was sort of lonely out there in the south by himself. She said she had the perfect friend in mind and the friends of the friends started writing. Letters. The old school way to fall in love. A long-distance relationship that has lasted 37 years with many more to come. Happy Anniversary to the best parents in the world.

I wanted to something a bit different and new to me with sprays/mists. Shimmerz is having a Hooray for Halloween Challenge so I grabbed a few supplies, my new set from Schlosser Designs and created the above little number. (Original wreath concept found here.)

So here's my attempt at a tutorial:

 Start with watercolor paper, a punched circle, distress and pigment ink and a stamp of your choice.
Make sure your paper sized for just a bit of trimming on your final piece-
that way, where you spray is a bit more controlled.

 Stamp image repeatedly around circle.

Experiment by spraying Shimerz Vibez at different angles.
(Directly on top of the piece and/or one side or the other.)

And different heights from your paper.

The spray acts like water-the image looses its crispness

and takes on a muted effect due to the watercolor paper.

The number of spritzes depends on how deep you want your coverage and how well you want your coverage of color.

Remove the circle and spray lightly to tone down brightness of paper where the mask was.

If you've made it thus far, a reminder to you to enter my two giveaways found here and here! Thank you all so much for your kind words and wishes, and suggestions!

Supplies Used:
Paper: (Mustard Cardstock) Recollections, (Watercolor Paper) Archers
Stamps: (Furnishing Fun) Schlosser Designs
Ink: (Antique Linen and Vintage Photo Distress) Ranger, (More Mustard, Pumpkin Pie) Stampin' Up
Embellishments: (Vibez Spray in Penny Pincher) Shimmerz, (Brown String) May Arts
Tools: (Circle Punch) Creative Memories

On Turning One (Another Giveaway!)

"Mama", he asked, "is there such a thing as a bald dragonfly?" "I don't think so, honey, but I'm sure we can create one..." And thus is the story of how The Bald Dragonfly, my little ol' blog that is one today, came to be!

I'd also like to take a quick moment to wish my parents a happy anniversary tomorrow as well! I need to call them to find out the number years, but it is definitely more than one!... I made this card with them in mind, and fits Yvonne's Guest Designer's Challenge. SherryAnn Eckblad, the guest designer, makes amazing handmade flowers...I'm practicing mine.

Now for the giveaway:
I truly appreciate each and every one of you that stops by for a visit. I truly appreciate each and every comment made. Your visits, comments, words of encouragement are what keeps me going, thank you!

I have a $15 gift certificate up for grabs for one of the following stamp companies (listed in no particular order), winner's choice. Customer service is the best and the stamps are my most favorite stamps ever to work with.


Practicing Creativity Designs
Wplus9
Lawn Fawn
Schlosser Designs

It's easy to enter. Only two little things...
1. Post a comment letting me know what keeps you coming back to this blog, or offer any suggestions that you'd like to see here. I'm open for improvement, and to new and exciting things.
2. Are you a follower? I really like it when you come back to visit!
(Winner will a random draw from all comments entered by one week from today.)

Remember that you can still comment on yesterday's post for a chance to win some baker's twine!

A Birthday Giveaway!

Pete and Repeat. Ernykaren. Two peas in a pod. Yep, that's what they called us! It's a joy to share a birthday with someone you love and today I wish my twin sister and best friend the best of days! Hope your day is filled with fun, happiness and everything else you want it to be, Erin!

The inspiration for this card came from the fall photo at Pals Paper Arts. They also eloquently brought to mind the idea of layering, which I've tried to do with the embellishments.

Now for the giveaway! It is also a joy to spend my birthday with you as well and I'd like to share one of my favorite products! How about 3 yards each of Divine Twine in each of the colors below? It doesn't matter if you live in the states or over seas, I'm thankful today and every day that you visit! A comment on this post will enter you in the drawing and I'll pick a winner via random in one week. (It'd would mean a lot to me if you were a follower of my blog too, but it's not necessary to win.)

(Disclaimer: I am not compensated by any person or manufacturer for this giveaway, I just really like the product and want to share.)

Check back tomorrow as well, I have a different giveaway planned in honor of the one year birthday of The Bald Dragonfly!

Supplies Used:
Cardstock: (Kraft) PTI
Patterned Paper: (Monster Stew-Bunch of Monsters) Jillibean Soup
Stamps: (Fall Fest) Practicing Creativity Designs
Ink: (Walnut Stain Distress) Ranger (Olive Chalk) Colorbox
Embellishments: (Sticker Sentiment) SRM Stickers, (Handmade Crinkle Ribbon) ButtonJunkie, (Mocha Bakers Twine) The Twinery, (Berries) (Thread)
Tools: (Labels 4 Nesties)

Waltzing

Oranges, yellows, reds...the colors all combine to make the perfect palette for autumn. I was inspired by nature's palette for this month's Waltzingmouse Stamps Blog Hop. Its also a perfect time to thank my mother for all she's done!

A simple card that I'm hoping is also elegant. Pattern paper is sewn to the card base, a wide ribbon wrapped over that and a stamped label is attached with a handmade decorative pin and some twine. The sentiments from Roses in Bloom are just so lovely I thought that a card to showcase them was in order.

I invite you to visit me again tomorrow to help celebrate my birthday, I'll be having a giveaway! Fall is the perfect time to have a birthday, in my opinion!

Supplies Used:
Cardstock: (White) Georgia Pacific
Patterned Paper: (Orange Flowers from Sweet Pea Collection) Stampin' Up
Stamps: (Roses in Bloom) Waltzingmouse Stamps
Ink: (Pumpkin Pie Pigment) Stampin' Up
Embellishments: (Rustic Twine) PTI, (Peach Grosgrain Ribbon) Offray, (Decorative Pin),(Thread)
Tools: (Labels 4 Nesties) Spellbinders

Mummy-To-Be

She's going to be a fantastic mama. I know it. She'll love him and cuddle with him, she'll be stern when she needs to and soft when she can. Even though I won't be right around the corner if she needs my help, I will be a phone call away to offer advice when she asks for it. I absolutely cannot wait until Halloween when I can see "the mummy-to-be", who is coming from out of state for a visit!

When I emailed Ted for his latest challenge at Happily Ever Crafter, I dreaded the word "Trick" contained in his response. My challenge was to create a Halloween Card with pastel colors and non-traditional icons! Sheesh-what was I going to do? It took me literally days before I realized that I had the perfect opportunity waiting for me and created a card that is my most favorite to date.

After lightly stamping the deer from this Christmas set, I drew the mummy costume and colored her lightly. I stamped a hexagon pattern in peach that one could say represents pumpkins, and then bordered it in pastel purple and topped it off with a green button-both baby versions of traditional Halloween colors.

Supplies Used:
Cardstock: (Vintage Cream) PTI, (Pale Plum) SU
Stamps: (Retro Christmas) Practicing Creativity Designs, (Hexagon-A-Thon) Schlosser Designs
Ink: (Soft Subtles Pigment) SU, (Antique Linen Distress) Ranger, (Close to Cocoa Marker) SU
Embellishments: (Ivory String) May Arts, (Button) PTI, (Pearl) Kaisercraft
Tools: (Labels 4 Nesties) Spellbinders, (Corner Chomper) WR Memory Keepers
Font: (Ali Edwards) Creating Keepsakes

A Prima Congrats

It was their special day. Guest after guest lined up to hug them and say congratulations and best wishes. They offered that this was just the beginning of the bright path that's filled with their hopes and dreams. Nobody quite mentioned that it would be a long, winding road or there would be bumps along the way, but they knew. They knew what they wanted and they were determined to get there...together.

Limelight Papercrafts has a new sketch challenge with a focus on flowers (primas or handmade!). One lucky winner will receive a package of Webster's Pages Bloomers! I don't often make cards with big ol' flowers on them so I really appreciated the challenge presented-I made a card that was different than my normal style yet a card that I still really like.

Hop on over to the blogs of Mandy, Lisa, JenMarie,  and Lynn -they have fantastic interpretations to share as well! Post YOUR creation on Mandy's blog before Monday, October 17th.

Supplies Used:
Cardstock: (Blue) Archer's Paper, (Cream) Georgia Pacific
Patterned Paper: (Olivia Collection) Basic Grey
Stamps: (Sophie's Sentiments) Lawn Fawn
Ink: (Chestnut Roan Chalk) Colorbox, (Walnut and Antique Linen Distress) Ranger
Embellishments: (Urban Cosmos Paper Flower) Prima, (Burlap String) May Arts, (Rhinestones) Michaels, (Altered Vintage Button)
Tools: (Labels 4 Nesties) Spellbinders

The Rainbow

Sometimes we just need to be reminded... Reminded with a hug, a note, a prayer, a listening ear. Sometimes we just need to know that there will always be someone... Somebody that can give us a hug, a note, say a prayer or lend a listening ear... Sometimes we just need to know that everything will be ok, that the rainbow of life follows the storm...

When making this card, I felt like I was back in design school. "Your assignment is to design something to represent a meaningful quote." Quite philosophical-the black paper is the storm, the acetate the sky, the rhinestones represent tears of sadness, and then of joy. And the baker's twine-well, that represents happiness, the rainbow.

 The JUGS current challenge is to make a card with acetate, and that usually means a difficult card for me to photograph. There is an acetate layer underneath the black panel and in front of the white. I adore the brightness and thickness of the twine (which can be found here! Check back next week, I just might be giving some away for my birthday!)

Supplies Used:
Cardstock: (White) Georgia Pacific, (Black) SU
Embellishments: (Twine) Divine Twine, (Rhinestones) Michaels
Tools: (Labels 8 Nestabilities) Spellbinders

10.10.10...

10.10.10. Now that's just neat. And it also happens to be Courtney's Birthday, the creator of Practicing Creativity Designs and one wonderful woman to design for. She's so sweet, so hip and modern and so professional (oh, and an absolutely wonderful designer too!)!

Happy Birthday Courtney, I hope your day is full of fun and adventure.

This card came together with the colors of the Color Throwdown #113 in mind. I am most proud of the altered antique item! I found a four pack of these shiny, gaudy buttons at a local antique outlet and decided that a bit of spray paint and a pearl would do the trick to make it chic and cool. (But ooh, look at the packaging, so retro and fabulous!)

Before:

After:

  














Supplies Used:
Cardstock: (Vanilla Creme) PTI
Patterned Paper: (Mat Stack 5) DCWV
Ink: (Vintage Photo and Antique Linen Distress) Ranger
Embellishments: (Sweet Branch Rub-on) Crate Paper, Antique Button, Pearl, Bronze and Brown Spray Paint

A Little Bit of Boo

Halloween can be as clean as simple too! For instance, throwing a white sheet over your head or creating a stack of CAS cards with three supplies. A little bit of Boo, a bit of Trick, and a lot of Treat!

I participated in the May Arts Halloween Stack Challenge and created some clean and simple cards and a candy jar featuring their fabulous ribbon, thread and SRM Stickers. If you are so inclined, it would be a real treat for me if you left me comment over on the May Arts post here!

 

 

If you've stuck around through all the pictures...I'll be having some giveaways in about two weeks-for my birthday (age not disclosed!) and the one year birthday of The Bald Dragonfly and to thank you for all your support!

Supplies Used:
Cardstock: (White) Georgia Pacific (Colored) Recollections
Embellishments: (May Arts Ribbon) (SRM Stickers)
Other: Corner Chomper, Thread, Ikea Jar

In Wonderland Time

She's the one where you can email just about anything and get a response back that will make you laugh. She's the one that will eat cafeteria cheese curds with you and not make you feel guilty about your tight jeans. She's the one that will listen and offer advice only when she thinks you need it. My best ever co-worker's birthday was this past July. The July as in three months ago July. And now I'm finally getting around to giving her a gift.

You see, I'm fortunate that she likes to paper craft as well, so I filled this little number with some baker's twine and vintage buttons and make a card to match. The package design was based off the sketch at Card Patterns and the card was from the anniversary sketch at JUGS, who happens to also be celebrating Breast Cancer Awareness month-awesome. Together, they make a presentation entry for Yvonne's Guest Designer's Challenge. I admire how Julie Elak can transform regular paper into objects that can actually hold something and look cute at the same time. Julie offers some really, really great tips for creating packages on this post here.

Here's the package:

And here's the matching card-the houndstooth pattern was stamped lightly underneath the flowers:

Supplies Used:
Package:
Cardstock: (Ivory) Georgia Pacific (Green) CTMH
Stamps: (Retro Christmas Backgrounds) Practicing Creativity Designs
Ink: (River Rock Pigment) SU
Embellishments: (Paper Rose) available at Perfectly Pretty Etsy Shop, (Rustic Twine) PTI, (Pewter Eyelets) SU
Tools: (Labels 4 Nestabilities) Spellbinders
Template: (Walztingmouse Stamps)
Card:
Cardstock: (River Rock) SU (Ivory) Georgia Pacific
Stamps: (Roses from Roses in Bloom) Waltzingmouse Stamps, (Sentiment from You're Dandy) Practicing Creativity Designs (Houndstooth Background from Retro Christmas Backgrounds) Practicing Creativity Designs
Ink: (River Rock, Old Olive Pigment) SU
Embellishments: (Rustic Twine) PTI

A Penny Pinched Pumpkin

He searched up and down the brown muddy aisles. He would pick one up and then not so gently set them down. One was too crooked. The other was too big for his arms to reach around. One was too pale, the other too green. Then, a big Oh escaped his little mouth and he bent down as only the little ones can and examined it, forever. Yes, he shook his head, yes, this was the one.

A tiny, slightly imperfect pumpkin was the one to be decorated with paper crafting supplies.

Mandy and the rest of the Limelight Papercrafts gals (Lisa, Lynn and JenMarie) were challenged to use paper crafting supplies to spruce up a pumpkin! I started my decorating by spraying heavily the top of the pumpkin with Penny Pincher Shimmerz Vibes, continued by adding a few Crate Paper Sweet Branch Rub-ons and then finished with twine and styrofoam balls stuck with gold pins. And to not make the little pumpkin lonely, I created a little card using many of the same supplies found at Limelight.

And just a quick remember that there is a super fun challenge over at Practicing Creativity Designs! Make any card using a Practicing Creativity stamp, and link it up to this post by October 8th! There are two prizes! One winner gets to be the guest designer next month and there is also an awesome Tattered Angels prize pack!

And check this out! Be(e) Stamped has one inspirational blog and she is offering up some wonderful candy!

Supplies Used: 
Pumpkin: Shimmerz Vibez in Penny Pincher, Crate Paper Sweet Branch Rub-ons. Gold Stick Pins, Twine, Styrofoam Balls, Metallic Spray Paint
Card: Cardstock, Crate Paper Sweet Branch Rub-ons, Shimmerz Vibez in Penny Pincher, WR Memory Keepers Corner Chomper, SU So Saffron and Pumpkin Pie Markers

In the Limelight at 30

I think I've figured it out. Being in your thirties is all about meeting and exceeding your dreams that most of us had when we were five. My dreams were all about being married to the most handsome man, have a little one running at my feet while pushing another in a stroller, all the while eating bon bons in my two story house with a huge smile on my face. (Well, three out of the five isn't bad for me!)

I'm not quite sure of the fairytale dreams you had when you were little, Mandy, but here's to hoping that you've met and exceeded them! Happy Birthday! I hope that your day is full of relaxation and fun!

Hop on over to Lisa's blog next and JenMarie and Lynn have some to share as well!

A little bit about the card: I love (and love and love some more) the colors over at Off the Wall Craftiness and wanted to also incorporate offset scallops for Moxie Fab World's Offset Scallop Gallop Contest. I got a little help from the Mojo Monday Sketch (rotated 180 degrees) and the idea to use alternative shapes for the scallops from Courtney's card in Paper Craft's Holiday Cards and More, available from Paper Crafts Magazine.

Supplies Used:
Cardstock: (Vanilla Creme) PTI
Patterned Paper: (Pyrus) Basic Grey
Stamps: (Look Up!) Practicing Creativity Designs, (Communique Curves) PTI
Ink: (Vintage Photo and Walnut Stain Distress) Ranger, (Buckaroo Blue Pigment) SU
Embellishments: (Jute)
Tools: (Labels 4 Nestabilities) Spellbiners, (Corner Chomper) WR Memory Keepers