Life is getting busy!

I'm running late with my post today.  Life was really busy this weekend and I never made it into my craft room.  I know! that's crazy :)  I've also been playing with a format (is that the right word) for my blog.  I really like blog challenges and when you are in a craft slump, they are the best way to get the mojo going. I want my blog to show case a variety of  things; challenges, techniques, products, and pretty papers.  Ok, so I'm going to try the following schedule for a while and see how it goes.  Monday is challenge day. Wednesday is technique day and Friday is product day.  Now, I might include a challenge with Wednesday and Friday if there is one floating around that fits my "schedule".  Let me know what you think:)
For today's card challenge I went to Less is More and found their current sketch challenge struck my fancy.
Here is the sketch:     


And here is my card:

I decided to go with a square 4 1/4 x 4 1/4 inch card.  It's a less than everyday shape that will still fit into a regular envelope.  I used Whisper White card stock cut 4 1/4 by 11 inches and scored at 4 1/4.  I used my die cut machine to cut a 2 1/2 inch circle in a piece of scrap paper and used the whole paper minus the cut our circle as a mask. I stamped the image from the Papillon Potpourri stamp set in Versa Mark ink and heat embossed it with white embossing powder.  Then I sponged the open circle with Coastal Cabana ink and a stapmin sponge.  The sentiment is from Hello Friend (retired) and is stamped in Baked Brown Sugar ink.  And just for a little more color I added a butterfly that was cute and embossed with the Beautiful Wings Embosslit.

Thanks for looking!

Designer Series Paper

I have a serious addiction to pretty paper.  I LOVE patterned paper!  I love it so much, I don't use it.  HAHAHAHA! I know that sounds crazy but I have a huge collection of pretty pretty papers and I look at them every time I go into my craft room.  I have decided that once a week I am going to make a card that is based on Designer Series Papers.  So this week it was for a friends birthday.  And since I wasn't mailing it, I was also able to use as much demention as  I wanted.

I started with a base of Soft Suede, 4 1/4 by 11 inches, scored at 5 1/2 inches.  The DSP I used was from Sale-A-Bration last year, Everyday Enchantment. I used the Mixed Bunch stamp set to stamp the flower image in Soft Suede ink.  I punched the flowers with the Blossom punch and 1 inch circle punch.  The stems are made from Lucky Limeade Organdy ribbon.  The brads are from the same Sale-A-Bration set.  The Sentiment is from Happiest Birthday Wishes.

Thanks for looking

Emboss Resist

Emboss resist is not a new technique, or even newly resurfacing.  But it is a technique that packs a punch.  I decided to try this technique with black embossing powder instead of the more traditional white or clear.

My color choices came from a color inspiration I found on Pinterest.  I used Basic Grey for the card base and Daffodil Delight for the layer.  The image from the Postage Due stamp set was stamped with Versa Mark ink and heat embossed with black embossing powder.  Black powder is really sticky, if that is the right word, so be sure to use your Embossing Buddy before you stamp.  After the image was heat set, I sponged the panel with three of the colors from the inspiration post; Midnight Muse, Tangerine Tango, and Daffodil Delight.  I stamped the stamps in the same colors and backed them with Midnight Muse card stock punched with the Stamp Punch.  I stamped the greeting from Happiest Birthday Wishes with Midnight Muse ink on Daffodil Delight and curled it up a bit with my bone folder.  All in all I think it turned out pretty well.

Thanks for looking.

Coloring with Markers

There are a few ways to dress up a masculine card without making it to girly.  Textured Impressions Embossing Folders add dimension and dress up the card just enough.

Freshly Made Sketches had the sketch I was looking for, for my nephews birthday card.

I started with a Sahara Sand card stock, cut to 5 1/2 by 11 inches and scored at 4 1/4.  I dry embossed the front with the Stripes Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.  The image was stamped with the Moving Forward stamp set.  I colored the stamp with markers in Cherry Cobbler, Night of Navy and Sahara Sand markers.  I wrapped it with Cherry Cobblers bakers twine and added it to a panel of Night of Navy card stock and Nautical Expedetion DSP.  The sentiment is from the same Moving Forward stamp set. Inked the edges with Sahara Sand.

Thanks for looking.

One of My Favorite Techniques

The SUO challenge was really a challenge this time.  The idea is to use your favorite technique.  I have a different favorite every day.  I decided that the one thing I have a hard time with is naked card stock.  Unless I am intentionally making clean and simple, one layer cards, I need to do something to the card base.  Very often I use Versamark or same tone ink to put just a little something there.

I decided to see if I could use all In Colors for this project.  Nothing like adding to the challenge right. I used Baked Brown Sugar for the card base and stamped an image from the Posy Punch stamp set in the same color ink, stamping off first to make it even lighter.  I added two panels. One Coastal Cabana layered with some Prints Poetry DSP, and the second still Coastal Cabana with the focal image.  For the focal image I pulled out the Happiest Birthday stamp set and used a few of the sentiment stamps.  I added them all to the stamp block at the same time, and colored them with markers in Strawberry Slush, Coastal Cabana, Pistachio Pudding, Crisp cantaloupe, Raspberry Ripple and Summer Starfruit.  Everything was lightly sponged in Baked Brown Sugar. And Raspberry Ripple stitched ribbon to top it off.

Thanks for looking!

Masking and Stamping

I've seen quite a few blog posts and videos that include some king of masking but I haven't really tried the technique.  I needed a card for a wedding this past weekend and was stuck.  I decided to try the masking and stamping idea.

I started with Early Espresso cut at 5 1/2 and scored at 4 1/4 inches.  I added a layer of Primerose Petals card stock cut to 5 1/4 x 4 inches.  I stamped with Early Espresso on Whisper White the En Francois stamp.  The masked area was mace by cutting some copy paper with the Apothecary Accents framelits, and adhering it with temporary adhesive.  Then I used the image from Simply Soft and stamped it with Versa mark ink, and heat embossed with clear embossing powder.  Before removing the mask, I grabbed a sponge and added the Primerose Petal ink, wiping off the embossed area to remove the ink.  The banner is made from Early Espresso and Whisper White stamped with Early Espresso with the stamps from the Love & Laughter stamp set.  The candy dots add just a little to finish it off.

When I do this again I think I will try a lighter ink for the script and white embossing powder to see the difference.

Thanks for looking! 

Double Wammy!

Sketch Challenges are never quite the same.  Sometimes they are just what you need for the card and sometimes you cannot help  adding to them.  Today's card is a two for.  I liked the sketch from Freshly Made sketches but couldn't find a color combo that I wanted to use.  So I looked for a color challenge and found one at Hand Stamped Sentiments.

And I came up with:

I used Baked Brown Sugar for the card base, I cut the card stock at 4 1/4 and scored it at 5 1/2 and them flipped it to open from the side.  The layer is three papers stacked together.  The first is an old Designer Series Paper  DSP,  Letters to Santa, the second is from last years Holiday Catalog paper stack and the small strip is some Gumball Green card stock. I forgot the green in the paper stack was Lucky Limeaid not gumball Green, but it turned out ok.  I used the faint lines in the DSP to stamp the sentiment from Teeny Tiny wishes and added some pearls for bling.

Thanks for looking!

A Little Bit of Fall

I noticed when I made the list of cards I would need for this month that September has as many anniversaries, and weddings this year, as it does birthdays.  I guess in a large family that is bound to happen.  If you view my blog with any regularity  (and I hope you do :)  ) you will notice that I've been playing with blog challenges a lot lately.  
There are two reasons for this: the first is I really like it.  I enjoy seeing what I can create with "rules".  I also like seeing how far I can bend the "rules" or some days how closely I can keep to the "rules".
The second reason is that with school starting, my little guys need me more than during the summer when all my big helpers are home and (usually) happy to help with the younger ones.  I want to keep my creating going.  It is like yoga to me, except that I often feel more stiff when I'm done than when I began.  :)
With that rather long introduction.....my card today is a challenge.  Surprised? Create with Connie and Mary fall sketch 2



 My card looks like....

I started with a Soft Sued card base cut and folded to be 4.25 x 5.5 inches. then I added a piece of old Sale A Brations DSP that I didn't even measure.  I was cut from another project and fit.  I punched flowers with the Blossom punch in Calypso Coral, Pool Party and some more of the same DSP and used a brad form the same year Sale A Bration.  The banners are made from Calypso Coral, Soft Sued and Very Vanilla.  The Calypso Coral is punched with the Scalloped Trim border punch.  I sponged everything with Soft Suede to coordinate with the distressing of the DSP.  I realized when I was done that the only stamping I had done on this card was the sentiment, with the Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set.  

Thanks for looking!

A Late Summer Wedding

I get to make another wedding card.  This one is not to formal, for a less formal wedding.  It is also a sketch challenge.  I know that is about all I post these days, but I am really enjoying the challenges that have been around.  Sketch Frenzy Friday is the host of this sketch:




I liked the idea of stamped image on patterned paper or over another stamped image.  I didn't choose fall colors, because I really liked the DSP that I found in my stash.

I started with a Crumb Cake card base cut to 5.5 x 11, scored at 4.25. I added a small layer of Marina Mist card stock cut 5.25 x about .5 inches. Then I laid down the layer of Beau Chateau Designer Series Paper (DSP) cut 3 x 5.25 inches and stamped in Early Espresso with the Love & Laughter stamp set.  I added the Wild Wasabi card stock embossed with the Honey Comb embossing folder and the Early Espresso piece punched with the Dotted Scalloped Ribbon border punch.  I stamped the sentiment in Early Espresso as well and punched and layered it with the Modern Label punch. And for the bow, Early Espresso bakers twine.

Thanks for looking!

Remembering

This morning I am remembering.  Remembering where I was, what I was thinking and how my life was changed in just a few minutes of one day.  My husband was still active duty Army and we had a 4 day old baby.  Life has changed, some good, some not good and some just change.  As you pause today to remember, as we all will, try to think of something happy as well.  Let's always remember those who lost their lives, but also try to find a positive thought, so their loss isn't for naught.  

Love,
Jennie

Two Celebrations For Me

I have two reasons to celebrate this week.  My baby blog reached the 500 page view mark and my #3 turned 12.  It's kind of been a busy week around here.  

12 is a big deal around our house. Its one of the birthday that gets a freind party, it's the age at our church that you move from the children's program to the youth program, and our girls get to start wearing make up, which is the easiest birthday party ever.  And this time around the oldest taught #3 and her friends how to apply the stuff in their goody bags.

Add that having that many people in a few short months look at my blog that many times is more excitement for me.  I enjoy looking at other blogs seeing your creative juices flowing and participating in your challenges.  I'm inspired by your creations daily.

I found a new to me blog challenge and used their recent sketch challenge to make my girl's birthday card. Hand Stamped Sentiments #167 sketch challenge looks like this:



I was instantly in love with this sketch because of my obsession with banners. My card looks like this:

I started with a card base in Stampin' Up!'s Pear Pizzazz and embossed it with Provo Craft's Swiss Dots embossing folder.  I Stamped the images from an older  Stampin' Up! hostess set called A Cherry On Top onto Whisper White card stock in Wisteria Wonder, Pear Pizzazz, Melon Mambo and Perfect Plumb inks.  I cut the shape with the Apothecary Accents Framelits and sponges all the edges with Crumb Cake ink for definition   The banners are cut from Designer Series Paper from the same colors. And for some bling for my girl, Cherry Cobbler Dazzling Details on the cherry.
Thanks for looking!

Pocket Cards

The card I am posting today is for the challenge at Create with Connie and Mary.  The sketch challenge comes with a surprise, it's a pocket card.

I've seen this type of card all over the internet, but I have made one before.  I still needed to get some thank you cards mailed to the ladies that bought product at my Mom's workshop, and I thought this would be a great idea for mass producing.  It took a little longer than I intended, but it usually does :)

I started with a card base in Basic Grey, scored at 1 1/2 inches and 5 1/2 inches.  I added a layer of Island Indigo Designer Series Paper (DSP) that I rounded the top of with the Adorning Edges framelits.  I ended up  loosing the whole cute curve I was going for but I like the rounded edge too.  I folded up the card base and then folded down the top at the score line, creating a flap that I later glued down.  I added the Banner in the Island Indigo DSP and the main image from the Million Dollar Moments stamp set, stamped in Island Indigo on Whisper White. I added a touch of color with the sentiment, from the same set, punched with the Petite Curly label punch and the Triple Layer Doily Punch in Daffodil Delight. For the final touch , I added the falling flowers in Basic Grey.  I stapled the card on each side, under the flap, to keep it from being pulled apart, then taped the flap in place.

Thanks for looking.

Back to school

I cannot believe I am posting cards for my elementary school age children's new teachers!  I seriously just posted graduation cards.  For these card I used the SUO Challenges challenge Ribbons and Bows.  The only problem I ran in to was that we have a male teacher this year and I don't think of masculine and bows in the same card.  

I stared with a Night of Navy card base because blue is one of our school colors.  I cut a piece of whisper white and sponged it with Soft Sky using a sponge dauber.  I stamped the clouds in Smoky slate and free hand cut the grass in Pear Pizzazz.  I sponged the edges of the grass as well.  I stamped the outline of the kites in Night of Navy and stamped the designs in Marina Mist and Cherry Cobbler. The kite strings are in Night of Navy and the tails are Whisper White stitched ribbon with Cherry Cobbler bakers twine bows.  For our male teacher, I tied knots instead of bows.

Thanks for watching!

Stamp sets:     Send Me Soaring and Itty Bitty Banners with matching Framelits

Eat a Cupcake

Today's post is a challenge from Freshly Made Challenges.  Here is the sketch they posted.


And here is what I created.

I started with a Crumb Cake card base and added a layer of Midnight Muse and DSP from the Prints Poetry paper stack.  I stamped the image with Midnight Muse and Summer Starfruit inks on Very Vanilla with the Carry On stamp set from the 2012-2013 annual catalog.  The banners are from the same DSP, Summer Starfruit and Midnight Muse ribbon.  I made this for a birthday, so I stamped Happy Birthday on the inside. Add some Dazzling Details for the frosting and it's ready to send.

thanks for looking

Measurments:  Card base 4.25 x 5.5
Midnight Muse:  2 3/4 x 4 1/4
DSP:   2 1/4 x 4
image:  1 7/8 x 2 1/4