Sweet Baby Girl

Sometimes I wonder what it would by like to have my very own baby girl...To go through the process of picking out pink booties and tights with lacey behinds, finding every little dress that is frilly and pretty. I was destined, however, to live with the wonders of frogs, worms, snails, dirt, mud, etc. and am so very grateful to be blessed with two rambunctious, absolutely cute, fun and lovable boys. I'm happy and I'm content.

For this card, I knew I wanted to showcase the medallions other than in a birthday or anniversary form and I wanted to use the colors from the latest Color Cue Challenge. A baby girl card seemed to fit the bill as I was going through the creative process of pulling the colors out and some embellishments. I created the background paper by penciling in a light grid and repeatedly stamping a medallion. I thought Kraft paper would be a bit to heavy for this application. My solution was to bring that color in through the distressed inked edges and as an image base for my sentiment.

Supplies Used: Cardstock: (Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip, Cameo Coral) Stampin' Up! Stamps: (Mehndi Medallions, Woodgrain Silhouettes) Wplus9 (Mega Mixed Messages) PTI  Ink: (Chocolate Chip Pigment) Stampin' Up! (Antique Linen Distress) Ranger Other: (Rustic Twine) PTI (Brown Safety Pin) (Coral Button) (Circle Cutting System) Creative Memories

Birds and the Window

There aren't many birds that weather out the Cold Wisconsin Winters. Perhaps their petite little bodies just don't have enough insulation to handle the negative wind chills and piles of snow. Sometimes it does get lonely out there, when all you see is vast areas of white. My heart fills with hope of spring when I happen to notice that first little brave birdie perching upon the bare branches on the tree out my living room window.

I created this window card by first changing the digital bird file to a monotone color, printing him on colored cardstock and then highlighting him with white colored pencils, a white gel pen and then some distress ink. The bird was purposefully printed on the inside of the card so I could create a window, complete with an acetate panel for the TiffanyDoodles Challenge. I used the colors from Color Throwdown, which reminded me a bit of Christmas. I think my grandma will enjoy this as one of her cards this year...Christmas In July, perfect for the new challenge over at Anjillic Creations! Also, the current Wee Memories Challenge is a Stamp Anything, I really love the look of watermark ink and do not do it often enough. Thank you for everyone who puts on a challenge because it really gives me inspiration and makes me think!

Supplies Used: Cardstock: (River Rock) Stampin Up Digital Image: (Warbler) TiffanyDoodles Stamps: (Woodgrain Silhouettes Additions) Wplus9 Ink: (Antique Linen Distress) Ranger (Versamark) Other: (White Gel Pen) Signo (Labels 8 Nestabilities) Spellbinders, (Certainly Celery Satin Ribbon) Stampin Up, (Rustic Twine) PTI, (Green Rhinestone Brad) Oriental Trading Company, Acetate, Handmade Decorative Pin, Silk Flower, Thread

Rhinestone Wishes

The tune of Rhinestone Cowboy by Glen Campbell rang in my head during the entire time in the making of this card. Not familiar with the lyrics?-here's a portion (you may or may not thank me later as you hum this throughout the day): Like a rhinestone cowboy / Riding out on a horse in a star-spangled rodeo / Like a rhinestone cowboy / Getting cards and letters from people I don't even know...

Super simple creation, another card that can be sent through the good ol' postal service without much fuss.

This week's CAS-Tastic Challenge is to "Bling it Up"- use rhinestones, stickles, etc in your creation! There is a random prize of a $15 gift certificate offered up by Whimsy Stamps!

Please check out the other sparkly designs from the CAS-Tastic Design Team:
Angie
Deb
Maylee
Agata
Barbara
Bonnie Rose
Regina

Supplies Used: Cardstock: (Kraft) PTI (White) Georgia Pacific Stamps: (For the Love of Dots) Practicing Creativity Designs Ink: (Lavendar, Blue Lagoon, Pink, Citrus Chalk) Colorbox Other: (Pink, Purple, Blue and Yellow Rhinestones) Michaels (Clear Rhinestone) Prima (Sticker Sentiment) SRM Stickers (Silver Cord) Stampin Up Tools: (Square Punch) Creative Memories

Truly Friends Book

 

 

This is my first time participating in a Hero Arts Challenge. One part of the challenge consisted of creating ANY theme that features a Bookmaking technique. Ooh, right up my alley-I love making and repairing books and haven't had much opportunity since college. Since my supply of stamps is limited (to me anyway, my husband thinks otherwise) I turned to some oldie but goodie Hero Arts Digital Images Vintage Trio Of Women, Friendship Definition and Stitched Border files to create my front and back cover panels for a fresh, sassy and fun notebook for my friend's birthday. Here's what my digital file looks like from the three sets:

I added an acetate cover on my little book to keep the printed image from getting roughed up in her purse (I'm assuming it is like mine and is a bottomless pit) and the baker's twine is a sturdy addition for binding. Here's a bit of a tutorial-my first one so I know I have a lot to learn. Please click on the picture to make it a bit larger.

Supplies Used: Cardstock: (White) Georgia Pacific Digital Files: (Trio of Vintage Women, Friendship Definition, Stitched Border) Hero Arts Other: Acetate, Baker's Twine, Printing Paper Tools: Cropodile

Everyday Boys

The End Result 

 

The Beginnings

Just thought I'd share quick the other featured project on the SRM Stickers Blog on this post. I thought I'd have time to do a tutorial and such, but that just didn't happen (see those two boys in the picture-that's why). Pretty easy transformation though. The project started with a new acrylic frame at the local thrift store, quite ugly with the orange. After measuring the complete size, I cut a "frame" with my nesties from cardstock, distressed the edges with ink and adhered to the acrylic with some spray adhesive. I then added the SRM Sticker to the side, some baker's twine and a metal tag (with a SRM Sticker) for the final touch. The frame is up at work now, and now I realize how well it does fit my boys. Bright, somewhat dirty, and this picture is just them everyday. (Minus the times where they are bickering...)

Supplies Used: Cardstock: (Summer Sun) SU Ink: (Walnut Stain Distress) Ranger Stickers: SRM Other: Metal Tag, Baker's Twine, Labels 8 Nestabilities, Acrylic Frame

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

Love is in the Air

Love is in the air  / Everywhere I look around  / Love is in the air  / Every sight and every sound
Hee, hee, I picture robots with this song. Why? It is featured in Wall-E, the Pixar movie from Disney, a movie my boys love to watch. Now, the robots never wore itsy bitsy bikinis or swim trunks, but the idea is the same, right?

Jenny at Wee Memories is having a Summer Fun Challenge, the starting basis for this card. I don't often send out summer cards (clarification: I don't often send out cards period), so I wanted to create one with dual meaning, perhaps an engagement, wedding shower or wedding? I paper-pieced some Lawn Fawn goodies and adhered them to a floss clothesline (the clothespins for the swimming trunks are the exclamation point from one sentiment if you are curious). The floss was really putzy and messy to glue down-the whole time I was thinking that I really need to purchase Barefoot Summer from Practicing Creativity Designs, where the clotheline and clothespins are stamps! There are a few things I would change if I made this card again, but overall, I think the idea is rather fun (its like one pattern from Cosmo Cricket's The Boyfriend Collection). I think I'll take another gander at the Moxie Fab World's Fun and Cute Challenge as well.

Supplies Used: Cardstock: (Blue) Recollections (White) Georgia Pacific Patterned Paper: (Pixie Pink DSP) Stampin' Up! (Green Polka Dots from Just Chillin' Girls Collection) Making Memories Stamps: (Swimsuit Season) Lawn Fawn (You're Dandy) Practicing Creativity Designs (Communique) PTI Ink: (Barely Banana) Stampin' Up! (Onyx Black) Versafine Other: (Sticker Sentiment) SRM Stickers (Black Brads) Oriental Trading Company (Black Floss) DMC Tools: Corner Round Punch (Fiskars)

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

Celebrate...Summer!

She'll do anything for anyone without batting an eye. She's fresh, funky and oh so fun! We are related so we can be honest and open with each other without the fear of hurt feelings. We share our stories of child rearing and offer support. In my boys eyes she is the best doctor around, even though there is no MD title attached. The best part of it all (other than the above, of course) is that she likes to stamp too! Her birthday's coming up soon and this card is the perfect fit.

This week's CAS-Tastic Challenge  is to create clean and simple summer inspired design! There also is a random prize of a $10 voucher offered up by Tiddly Inks!

Please check out the other fresh and clean summer inspired designs from the CAS-Tastic Design Team:
Angie
Deb
Maylee
Agata
Barbara
Bonnie Rose
Regina

Supplies Used: Cardstock: (White) Georgia Pacific (Pink) The Paper Company (Flower Rubon) (Aqua Ribbon) Offray (Black Pearls) Queen & Co.