Happy Birthday D!

Hello! Did everyone have a good Thanksgiving? I did, although our guests left me with something to remember them by--a cold! Ugh, I hate being sick and thus I am the worst patient in the world. Reeeaaally cranky and whiny. You may have guessed that by now, LOL! The card I'm presenting today is one I made for my SIL's birthday. Her name starts with a "D," hence the ghost letter, and otherwise it's just strips of paper, stamps, and impression plates. I made the balloons by cutting small ovals with Nesties and then attaching little hand-snipped triangles to the bottoms. The tag is a punch. Please forgive the infamous kitty condo--I still haven't gotten the light box out again! :-D

Supplies
Stamps: PTI--Background Basics: Tin Types & I honestly can't remember the set the "Happy Birthday" is from, but it's PTI!
Paper: PTI--Dark Chocolate, Green Tea Leaves; stash
Ink: PTI--Dark Chocolate, Ripe Avocado, Melon Berry, Fresh Snow
Dies: Spellbinders--Classic Ovals
Impression Plates: PTI--Tin Types; Cuttlebug--Polka Dots
Misc.: Ghost Letter--Heidi Swapp; floss--DMC Ecru

Birthdays are the Best

Yes, that is my television, in all its dusty glory! I was in a hurry and didn't want to take the time to set up my photo thingee, so I just popped the card down in front of the TV, since it matched the color scheme. :-) This is a birthday card that came together quickly for me. I tend to be very spontaneous in card making (the only area of my life I'd call spontaneous, LOL), so all I knew going in to it was that I wanted a black, white, and hot pink color combo. (This was because the recipient, after seeing another card I'd done with a black base and bright color accents said, "Now this I like." LOL! I teased her mercilessly that she meant that she hadn't liked any of the cards I'd made for her before, and made sure to make this year's birthday card to her specifications!) After pulling the papers, I saw these rhinestones in my bling drawer, and they matched Raspberry Fizz exactly--woo hoo! So then Blooming Button Bits came to mind . . . check and see if there's an appropriate birthday sentiment in there . . . yep! Good to go!

Supplies
Stamps: PTI--Blooming Button Bits
Paper: PTI--True Black, Raspberry Fizz, SS White, & Bitty Box; stash
Ink: Versacolor--Evergreen
Ribbon: Stash (it came off of a gift and matched R. Fizz exactly! Don't you love when that happens?)
Rhinestones: Kaisercraft & Stamper's Dream (teeny ones)
Dies: PTI--Mat Stack 4, Envelope Liner; Spellbinder's--Scrap-Mart custom design
Embossing Powder: Ranger--Super Fine Detail Clear; Stamp Diego--Ultra Detail White
Misc: Impression Plate--PTI Linen; Corner Chomper

I'm Back!

Hello! Remember me? LOL! I'm back to blogging tonight with a card I made for a friend's 80th birthday. That's kind of a big deal birthday I'd say, and I wanted to make something special. My friend loves pink almost as much as I do, so it was a no brainer to choose it as the dominate color of the card! I tried a first for me--the cupcake liner flower/backing for a flower. I didn't really know what I was doing, I just distressed and folded the liner until I liked the look. I haven't made another one since. But I sure hope to as a LOT of liners came in the package, LOL! The cute crocheted flower is courtesy of Lisa V. (visit her blog here). I won a package of these lovely, almost Berry Sorbet colored flowers (she has them in an online store, although I think she is out right now) and am stretching them out for as many cards as possible! I also bought some basic crocheting supplies and intend to learn how to make them. It can't be that hard, right? Even for a complete crocheting novice? Yeah, I'm not going to hold my breath. :-D So, anyway, hopefully I'll be back soon to post a few more cards I made while I was busy letting life overwhelm me. It's nice to be back!

Supplies
Stamps: PTI--Birthday Bash Sentiments
Paper: PTI--Vintage Cream & Berry Sorbet; October Afternoon--Cherry Hill: Recipe Box; Mellissa Frances--Kitschy Kitchen
Ink: Ranger--Antique Linen & Tea Dye distress inks; Versacolor--Pink
Border Punch: Recollections
Tag Punch: McGill
Dies: Spellbinders--Labels 9
Ribbon: Etsy Shop
Cupcake Liner: Wilton
Crocheted Flower: Lisa V.
Other: Sewing Machine

ODBDSLC27

The challenge at Our Daily Bread Designs this week is TEXTURE, whether it be by embossing, distressing, or through embellishments. Unfortunately, I needed a sympathy card this week. After I made it, I realized that it fit the challenge well, so I decided to submit it. Here's a second picture so you can see the texture a bit better:


I did lots of distressing, tearing, inking, and fraying and was happy with the result as it looks really different from any card I've made before! It's always fun to try something new, isn't it? :-)

Supplies
Stamps: ODBD--Lift Up Our Hands
Paper: PTI--Kraft & Vintage Cream; stash
Ink: Ranger--Frayed Burlap & Walnut Stain Distress Inks
Die: MFT--Rolled Flower
Distress Tool: Heidi Swapp
Misc: Sewing Machine, Canvas strip, ric rac--stash

HEC #9

And now for something completely different . . . Ted's challenge on Happily Ever Crafter for August was to keep it simple, stamps and pens only. This was really, really hard for me. I had a basic idea, but as I made the card, I kept starting to reach for dies . . . more cardstock . . . glitter . . . you name it. :-) Well, I did finally get something I liked, despite so-so masking and some questionable stamp lining up, LOL! I used a PTI set that hadn't seen love in awhile, Garden of Life. With the small leaf image, I stamped "grass" in various green inks. I stamped and masked FF #5, then stamped the two-step flowers. I colored their centers with a glittery pen, and then added the sentiment to the center of the Fillable Frame. It's actually a long sentiment, all one line, so I had to break it up by inking one part at a time. There! Something I'm pretty sure I haven't done before--a one-layer card! Think you're up to the challenge? Details are here on Ted's blog.

Supplies
Stamps: PTI--Garden of Life; Fillable Frames #5
Paper: PTI--Vintage Cream
Ink: PTI--Ripe Avocado, Spring Moss, Simply Chartreuse, Plum Pudding, Terracotta Tile & Dark Chocolate; Color Box--Yellow Citrus
Pens: atyou Spica--Red & Yellow

WMSC #10

Whew! Just under the wire! ;-D I decided to make a Christmas card for the Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge #10 (details here) since it was Claire's Christmas stamp sets from last year that first captivated me. I embossed the white card panel, and cut the snowflake paper out with a nestie. I stamped the gorgeous retro/vintage star and the holiday sentiment and embossed them in gold filigree embossing powder. I then took two of the border images and embossed them in gold as well, just under and over the embossed portion of the white cardstock. I love how that looks! I used gold brads for the two side elements, anchoring some teeny gold lacey ribbon with them, and using the ribbon for the tag bow as well. Another Christmas card for the "finished" stack! :-)

Supplies
Stamps: WMS--Seasons of Love & Very Vintage Christmas
Paper: PTI--SS White; My Mind's Eye; stash
Ink: Watermark
Embossing Powder: Filigree--Gold
Embossing Folder: Stamping Up!
Ribbon: Offray
Brads: American Crafts
Die: Spellbinders--Big Scalloped Squares SM

CTMH

I have several sets of CTMH stamps that I haven't used in AGES. My mojo is on vacation (I'm jealous, since there's no vacation for me this year), work is crazy and will be for the rest of the month, and my mom is sick so I'm kind of preoccupied with that. Tonight I said, "Enough!" and pulled out a CTMH set for a quick card to cheer me up! I used "With Love," some PTI patterned paper and cardstock, and ribbons and pearls from my stash. I purposely didn't add a sentiment because I thought the card could be used for several different occasions, depending on what I need. I feel better now. :-D

Supplies
Stamps: CTMH--With Love
Paper: PTI--Vintage Cream, New Leaf, Hawaiian Shores, Green Boutique & Simple Valentine
Ink: PTI--Hawaiian Shores & New Leaf; Versafine--Onyx Black
Button: PTI--Pure Poppy
Ribbon: Michaels
Twine: PTI--Rustic Cream
Embossing Powder: Ranger--Clear Super Fine Detail
Misc: Scallop scissors; Scor Pal; pearls

The Cat's Pajamas Blog Hop!

Howdy, Pardners! Today I'm posting my card for The Cat's Pajamas' first Customer Blog Hop! I'm a customer, so I'm hopping! :-) Believe it or not, this card was made for the birthday of the Sheriff of San Diego County, Bill Gore. He was elected one month before his birthday, so we at work decided that we couldn't resist the sentiment here. I had a lot of fun making this, choosing papers and distressing everything. It took a few tries to get the image colored in a way I liked. At first, I colored the buildings behind the penguins, but it just didn't look right--too busy. So I tried another, more subtle set of colors. Finally, I left them uncolored and I really like how it looks! Happy 1st Customer Blog Hop, TCP!

Supplies
Stamps: TCP--It's a Western Thing
Paper: PTI--Kraft & Rustic White; stash
Ink: Versafine--Vintage Sepia & Onyx Black ; Ranger--Antique & Brushed Corduroy Distress Inks
Embossing Powder: Ranger--Fine Detail Clear
Copics: I can't find the list of them, sorry!!! I'll add them if/when I find it!
Twine: Stamper's Dream
Brads: Making Memories
Distressing Tool: Heidi Swapp

WMSC #9

Well, long time no post! I've been so busy between company and household stuff that just has to be done (and I'd rather be creating so I'm even more reluctant, LOL), I didn't have any creative time until yesterday. I got three cards photographed tonight, so at least there will be three posts this week! :-)

This card is one I made for this week's Waltzingmouse Stamps Sketch Challenge. They always have such interesting and different sketches, don't you think? For this one, #9, I made my first attempt at vintage/shabby chic. Waltzingmouse is having their customer blog hop on August 17 (details here), and the theme this month is vintage/shabby chic, so I thought I'd practice. :-D I love how that style looks, but hadn't given it a try yet, mostly because I am more of a--well, I don't know what my style is, but it's not vintage/shabby chic! I loved making this card. I'm going to be annoying and say that the picture doesn't do the card justice--it looks amazing in person, IMO (not so humble), as in one of my favorites ever.

I used lots of Vintage Cream cardstock from PTI, and the most adorable paper from Cosmo Cricket's new Togetherness 6x6 paper pad. That little piece of paper inspired me! The Togetherness paper as a whole is just delicious; I can't wait to use more. I cut some flower nesties in different sizes and roughed them up with smooshing and inking. I stamped a little dot in each scallop (would you believe it's the period from WMS' Victorian Alphabet set?), then added buttons--some with floss, some without. For the biggest flower, I used a rolled fabric flower from Ryann Marin Designs' etsy shop. I stamped a gorgeous flourishy outline and my sentiment on a nestie label, and added some crocheted trim and tulle netting. What do you think? I can't wait to try this style again!

Supplies
Stamps: WMS--Victorian Alphabet, Very Vintage Labels #5, and Fancy Phrases
Paper: PTI--Vintage Cream; Cosmo Cricket--Togetherness
Ink: PTI--Aqua Mist; Ranger--Antique Linen & Tea Dye Distress Inks
Buttons: PTI--Aqua Mist and Vintage Cream
Dies: Spellbinders--Blossom and Labels 5
Fabric Flower: Ryann Marin Designs
Punch: Corner Chomper--Scallop
Tulle: Michaels
Floss: DMC Ecru
Distress Tool: Heidi Swapp
Crocheted Trim: Stamper's Dream

And the Winners Are . . .

My very first blog challenge has come to an end, and I want to thank every single one of you who took the time to enter! I have so enjoyed looking at your cards--you are a TALENTED bunch of ladies! You all have certainly inspired me to not procrastinate this year and to get my Christmas cards done early. And it doesn't hurt that I now have 30 fabulous designs to work with and so many new blogs to follow! I hope that each of you is inspired too--that's the whole reason for the challenge! So, without further ado (since I can talk forever), the two winners of $25 gift certificates from Papertrey Ink are:

Random Drawing Winner: Melissa Ladd



Jill's Favorite Entry Winner: Michelle Philippi


Congratulations, Melissa & Michelle! Please email me at anjill@cox.net with the email address you'd like your gift certificate sent to.

It was sooooo hard to choose a favorite, and yet I'm going to do it again! In January, I will be having another challenge with the same prizes. I'm not sure what it's going to be called yet, but it will be a birthday card challenge--I would be honored & thrilled if each of you choose to enter that challenge too!

Thank you again from the bottom of my heart for making my first challenge such a friendly, creatively inspiring experience! May I be the first to wish each of you a Merry Christmas/Happy Hanukkah/Glorious Winter!

It's Almost Time!

It's Saturday night as I post this, and I am sitting here wondering how the heck I am going to choose a favorite card from all of the FANTASTIC entries in my First Annual Christmas in July Challenge tomorrow! I'll be posting the winners sometime between noon and 2 p.m. PDT, so I know what I'm going to be contemplating in church tomorrow morning! (Shh . . . ) I think I can use some help from the Big Guy on this--I hope the sermon is something like, "How to Choose Between Cards When Everyone is So Talented." It might happen!

So, just so I've got a card to show you tonight (my crafting time has been nonexistent this week) I pulled this picture of one I made a few months ago for a neighbor. Even though I would never wear it in a million years, I do love to papercraft with orange, so looking at this card makes me happy!

Supplies
Stamps: PTI--Everyday Button Bits
Paper: PTI--Orange Zest; stash
Ink: Versafine--Vintage Sepia
Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug
Border Punch: Martha Stewart
Ribbon: Michaels
Die: Spellbinders
Flowers: Prima
Misc: eyelet, rhinestone--stash

WMSC #7

Ladies and Gentleman (in case Ted reads this), I have an announcement to make. Look to your right. No, I mean to the right of this post. See the word at the top of the right hand column? (Scroll up.) "Awards." Can you believe it? Last week I won a Top Mouse Award from Waltzingmouse Stamps for WMSC #6! I know, I'm still shocked! Then, the same night, I also found out that I won a Shining Light Award from Our Daily Bread Design for their Challenge #22! I've never won a challenge award before, and I win two on the same day??? It was like Christmas around here, let me tell you! I'm still celebrating. Thank you to two great companies for the honors!

Today's card is one I made for WMSC #7. I turned the sketch on its side, and used one of my new stamp sets from WMS, Victorian Frippery. What a great set! I can see so many possibilities for it. I chose a pink and black color palette for the card because it seemed Victorian and Parisian to me. The patterned paper I have had in my stash for ages, and I'm trying hard not to hoard supplies anymore. ;-> I colored the pearls with a Copic marker to match the pink shade and used some really cool looking ribbon from Michaels that I am not hoarding anymore either, LOL!

Supplies
Stamps: WMS--Victorian Frippery
Paper: PTI--Sweet Blush & True Black; stash
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black
Pearls: Recollections
Copic: R20
Ribbon: Michaels
Flowers: Prima
Embossing Powder: Ranger--Super Fine Detail Clear
Dies: Spellbinders--Classic Circles & Labels 3
Impression Plate: PTI--Linen
Punch: Corner Chomper

Papertrey July Blog Hop!

It's Blog Hop time for fans of Papertrey Ink! This month's challenge was to use office supplies in making your project. I knew I wouldn't get my July release goodies in time to use them for this card, so I went with what I had: I used PTI's Woodgrain Impression Plate to impress the card front, and then used some ink to go over it and emphasize the impression. I wanted to go for a desk look. Next I made a little file folder and teeny pieces of paper to go in it. I used Library Ledger to make the little papers. Finally, I used some ruler ribbon from my stash and stapled it on with my tiny attacher, and anchored everything with a swirly paper clip. This is certainly outside my box and I loved making it! Happy Hopping everyone!

Supplies
Stamps: PTI--Library Ledger, Simply Alphabet & Background Basics: Botanicals
Paper: PTI--Vintage Cream, Aqua Mist, Melon Berry
Ink: PTI--Aqua Mist; Ranger--Antique Linen & Tea Dye Distress Inks; Watermark; Versafine: Onyx Black
Impression Plate: PTI--Woodgrain
Ribbon: Bobbin Ribbon
Paper Clip: 7 Gypsies
Staples: Tim Holtz --Tiny Attacher
Edge Distresser: Heidi Swapp
Punch: Corner Chomper

Card Patterns #73

The challenge over at Card Patterns this week is the sketch above (details here). I used some patterned paper and charms that I've had on hand for years (I'm trying to stop hoarding supplies!). That's a Verve sentiment stamp that came free with your order one month and some ribbon I picked up at Mike's. Nesties, stitching, shading . . . a card. :-)

Supplies
Stamp: Verve--VS009-PJ028
Paper: PTI--Vintage Cream; Coredinations; Making Memories
Ink: Versacolor--Baby Blue; Encore!--Copper
Embossing Powder: Ranger--Clear Fine Detail
Charms: All My Memories
Ribbon: Michaels
Dies: Spellbinders--Classic Circles & Scalloped Circles
Misc: Sewing Machine

C4C46--Buttons!

Crazy for Challenges' Challenge #46 was to use buttons! So, with my mojo not so present the last few days, I went literal again--button patterned paper, and PTI's Blooming Button Bits stamp set! I chose this picture because you can see the gold flecks in the red embossing powder on the flowers. It looks really pretty in person! The colors made me happy--they remind me of summer turning into fall, of the anticipation of school starting. Remember those back-to-school shopping trips? Sigh. I was a weird kid, I loved school. You can check out the details of the challenge right here. Who doesn't love buttons? :-)

And in the second picture, you can see my photography assistant. Mia was styling the photo right here, and I persuaded her to pause for the camera. She's a great help, but she's starting to mention words like, "unionization" so I'm not sure how much longer I'll use her! ;-> And if you can see anything I'm doing obviously wrong with my cheapie Amazon.com photo "studio," let me know, I can take it. Would you believe the thing came with absolutely no instructions?!

Supplies
Stamps: PTI--Blooming Button Bits
Paper: PTI--Lemon Tart; Cosmo Cricket--Material Girl
Ink: Versafine--Onyx Black; Ranger--Distressed Embossing Ink
Ribbon: PTI--New Leaf
Buttons: PTI--Vintage Cream
Embossing Powder: Moon Glow--Hollyberry Red/Gold
Die: Spellbinders--Labels 1
Misc: Sewing machine, Corner Chomper

ODBDSLC21 (Or, Birthday Blessings)

Our Daily Bread Designs' challenge this week was to create a card or project that has a colored image. I needed to make a birthday card for a very sweet senior lady. Voila! :-D

Supplies
Stamps: ODBD--Happy Birthday
Paper: PTI--SS White & Hibiscus Burst; Jenny Faw Designs
Ink: Versafine--Onyx Black; Ranger--Spun Sugar & Victorian Velvet Distress Inks
Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug
Border Punch: Martha Stewart
Embossing Powder: Ranger--Super Fine Detail Clear
Dies: Spellbinders--Labels 3
Pens: Copics--C1, 3; N0; G000, 21, 85; RV02, 21, 34; V04, 12, 91; Y00, 21, 28; YR02; atyou Spica--Lilac & Blossom

WMSC #6 and JUGS #42

A two-challenge card today! I looked at this sketch from Waltzingmouse and had no ideas. So, I thought--when all else fails, go literal. It looks like a flower to me, so I made a flower! I cut several Large Scalloped Circles from nestie dies, stamped them with a background stamp from WMS, and then rolled like crazy to soften and loosen up the paper layers. Then I inked it some more and cut it to fit the shape of the card. My first try at one of these homemade flowers and it was a fun learning experience. I used one of my grandmother's old earrings as the flower center, and a sentiment from WMS, and stitched around the edges.

The color combo came from challenge #42 at Just Us Girls. I loved it, and so decided to play along with my first JUGS challenge (love the acronym!). I can see using these colors together again!

Thanks for looking, friends!

Supplies
Stamps: WMS--Faux Fun & Fancy Phrases
Paper: PTI--Vintage Cream; stash
Ink: PTI--Enchanted Evening; Versacolor--Marigold; Ranger--Dried Marigold, Antique Linen, & Tea Dye Distress Inks
Buttons: PTI--Orange Zest
Ribbon: Michaels
Dies: Spellbinders--Large Scalloped Circles
Misc: Button; sewing machine

Surprise Birthday

Hee! This weekend I got to see a friend who moved quite far away earlier this year. She celebrates the big 5-0 in September, but our bible study group can't all fly across country for it, so we thought we'd throw her a surprise get-together while she's out here visiting right now. Surprisingly (groan), my birthday card for her was inspired by this card here by the talented Michele at I am Derby. I know what you're thinking--similar colors, but it really doesn't look anything like it. I know, but honestly, the idea for this card popped in my head whole when I saw Michele's card! I already knew I wanted to use the sketch from MTSC82 (too bad I didn't post in time for the challenge, LOL!), and her black with color pops really inspired me.

The card was a hit at lunch, and one of my friends said, "I like this one, Jill. Keep that in mind for later." (Her b-day is in Nov.) Ha! So, quickly, I embossed the color panels with Crystal embossing powder and added lots of glitter to the cake, and a little bling too. My shading on the nesties looks truly weird here, but it looks more "normal" in person. Raspberry Fizz continues to be my favorite PTI color--doesn't it just look gorgeous? The stamps are all The Cat's Pajamas. I love the retro flair of Alma's line, although I don't have nearly enough. I've used the, "Does this mean you're a grownup now?" sentiment on a lot of cards!

Supplies
Stamps: TCP--Smells Like Cake, You Say It's Your Birthday & two flower ones that I think are discontinued because I can't find them on the store site!
Paper: PTI--True Black, Simply Chartreuse, Raspberry Fizz, Summer Sunrise, and SS White.
Ink: Versamark--Onyx Black; Watermark Dazzle--Frost; PTI--Summer Sunrise, Raspberry Fizz, and Simply Chartreuse
Ribbon: PTI--Raspberry Fizz; Offray
Embossing Powder: Stampendous--Crystal; Ranger--Super Fine Detail Clear; Stamp Diego--Ultra Detail White
Rhinestones: stash
Glitter: Ranger--Crystal Ice Ice Stickles
Dies: Spellbinders--Classic Circles & Scalloped Circles
Copics: RV06, 29; YG03; G94
Punches: Corner Chomper; EK Success border punch

CPS #175

Yep, another post! Another challenge card this morning. I'm trying hard to post them on time! :-D This is my first time playing with Card Positioning Systems.

Supplies
Stamps: Verve--Hebrews 11:1
Paper: Watercolor; PTI--Rustic White, Orange Zest; PP--My Mind's Eye Bloom & Grow
Ink: Versafine--Vintage Sepia; PTI--Tea Dye Duo
Trim: Michaels
Felt: PTI--Vintage Cream
Dies: PTI--Beautiful Blooms #3
Embossing Powder: Ranger--Super Fine Detail Clear
Pearl: Recollections
Copic: YR68 (to color pearl)
Punches: Corner Chomper; EK Success Border & Flower
Other: Sewing machine

SFYTT & Papertrey Posse #2

After my earlier post, I thought I oughta check the "due dates" for a couple of cards I made, and sure enough, it looks like to be safe, I should post one of them tonight. (I'm getting smarter . . . I hope!) For this card, I combined two challenges: Papertrey Posse's 2nd challenge and this week's SFYTT on Jen del Muro's blog. The nice ladies in the Posse issued a color challenge: Ocean Tides, Aqua Mist, Melon Berry, and Dark Chocolate. I decided to make Dark Chocolate my main color just because I so rarely use it in large quantities. My mom wanted a card to give a friend she meets for coffee occasionally, so I pulled out an actual wood-mounted rubber stamp. They are becoming an endangered species, I think! :-D This is also an oversized card--no reason, I just felt like using a bigger canvas. Interesting sketch, don't you think?

Supplies
Stamps: Magenta--Coffee House; Flourishes--Coffee With Friends; PTI--Library Ledger & Polka Dot Basics
Paper: PTI--Dark Chocolate, Ocean Tides, Aqua Mist, Melon Berry, SS White & Bitty Box Basics
Ink: Versafine--Vintage Sepia; Watermark
Buttons: PTI--Dark Chocolate
Twine: PTI
Flowers: Prima
Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug--5x7 Polka Dots
Copics: BG13, 15; B00; E00, 47; YR00, 02, 04
Dies: Spellbinders--Classic Squares & Big Scalloped Squares
Punch: Corner Chomper

C4C45 . . . and WMS :-(

Welcome! Today I have a card that was supposed to be for two challenges: Crazy 4 Challenges #45, and Walzingmouse Sketch Challenge #5. When I went to do the linky thing today after work, I realized that WMS#5 closed last night! Aaagh! I make the cards in plenty of time but often put off photographing them since it tends to intimidate me. And then by the time the picture is ready to go, it's too late . . . I need to tie a string around my finger or something! Please tell me you do the same thing--even if you have to lie to make me feel better! :-D ( In some great WMS news, my order from the last release arrived today! Yippee! I can't wait to play.)

The C4C45 challenge is still going! Yeah! Their challenge is to use the colors red, black, and white. No problemo. And so I present to you possibly the simplest card I've ever made. CAS (or thereabouts) doesn't come easily to me, so I am proud of this card, LOL! Here are the details:

Supplies
Stamps: WMS--Labels 4; PTI--Beautiful Blooms II & Fillable Frames 2
Paper: Provocraft; stash
Ink: Watermark
Embossing Powder: Stamp Diego--Ultra Detail White; Ranger--Super Fine Detail Clear
Felt: PTI--Vintage Cream
Brad: Making Memories
Dies: PTI--Beautiful Blooms II #3; Spellbinders--Labels 4
Punch: Corner Chomper--Scallop & Cloud

Happy Birthday Coffee Queen!

Today is the birthday of a very special person--my mom, the Coffee Queen! (I'm just the Coffee Princess.) She loves lavender, frilly, bling, and of course, coffee so this card came together pretty easily. I used a sketch, and I can't remember where from. Maybe Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge? Anyway, thank you anonymous sketch donor! ;->

I also used a very special product: see that lovely, scrunchy, hand-dyed seam binding? I won the most delicious package of it on fellow Papertrey Pixie Michelle Phillipi's blog giveaway. I will be taking a picture of the packaging soon because you won't believe how clever and gorgeous it is, but in the meantime, I would love to direct you to the Etsy shop of the creator, Michele: this good day. I am doing this on my own, she hasn't asked me for any favors, but I am doing YOU a favor if you love this very popular embellishment. Hopefully you can see in the picture that it's variegated, unique, luxurious, and so, so beautiful! It comes in lots of luscious colors too. I dare you to look at that Etsy shop and not drool!

I can't believe I actually used some and didn't hoard it. Well, for Mom . . . Otherwise, this card is pretty self-explanatory. Coffee cup stamp, patterned paper, stamped paper, dies, embossing folder, bling. If you look reeeeally closely, you can see that I even used something totally new for me: a stick pin! It's stuck in the knot of the bow, but you have to search it out because it's partially hidden. :-)

Supplies
Stamps: PTI--Background Basics: Retro; Verve--Big Wish; Stamps 'N More--coffee cup
Paper: PTI--Plum Pudding & Lavender Moon; stash
Ink: Versafine--Onyx Black; Ranger--Milled Lavender Distress Ink; PTI--Fresh Snow; Watermark Frost
Punches: Corner Chomper--Cloud & Round
Ribbon: this good day seam binding
Rhinestones: Kaiser
Pin: Maya Road
Flower: Prima
Dies: Spellbinders--Classic Circles; PTI--Medium Scallop

***Just a reminder: I'd love to have you join my Christmas in July Challenge! There are two prizes up for grabs, $25 PTI gift certificates! The details are right here.

Color Throwdown #100!

***This is my second post for today. Scroll down if you'd like to see a get well card I posted earlier. Thanks!

Finally! I've photographed a card and uploaded it in time for a Color Throwdown challenge! Number 100, to be exact, which is a very big deal over on the challenge blog--take a look!

I inked up one of the goodies from PTI's June release, All About You Additions, for this card. I stamped the flowers on the nestie, and then again on Pure Poppy and Hibiscus Burst cardstocks, embossing with clear embossing powder and coloring with Copics. Then I cut out the flowers and popped them up to varying heights on foam. I colored clear rhinestones with the Copics to match and placed them as the flower centers. I sponged a little "ground" and "sky" on the nestie, and then layered it on some blocks of cardstock. I embossed the blue paper and then cut the edge with those old decorative scissors we all have lying around from the early days (or am I dating myself?--hee!). I stamped some Spring Moss dots down the side, and then attempted one of my first ribbon "treatments." It was meant to be . . . different . . . than it turned out, but I kind of like its funky vibe! I sewed down the middle first for some interest. I knew I'd need a small sentiment, so I went looking in that old standby, Paper Tray. It comes in handy!

Supplies
Stamps: PTI--All About You Additions, Polka Dot Basics & Paper Tray
Paper: PTI--SS White, Spring Rain, Hibiscus Burst & Spring Moss
Ink: PTI--Spring Moss, Pure Poppy, Hibiscus Burst & Spring Rain; Versafine Onyx Black
Die: Spellbinders--Big Scalloped Rectangles
Copics: YG23, 91; RV23, 34; R27, 59
Ribbon: PTI--Pure Poppy satin; DMC--White floss
Decorative Scissors: Provo Craft
Embossing Powder: Ranger--Super Fine Detail Clear
Rhinestones: Recollections
Impression Plate: PTI--Linen

MTSC81: You're a Hoot!

Edited to say that Lee Anne suggested that I enter this card in the "Fun & Cute" challenge at Moxie Fab World. So I did! Thanks, Lee Anne!

Here's a card I made for a friend in my book group who had a stroke on the 4th of July. (Fortunately, it was mild and he will be fine.) He is funny, so when I saw this $1 stamp set at Michaels the other day, I couldn't resist it for a masculine get well card. The inside sentiment is, "Hang in There." I used some PP I got on the same Michaels trip--I wasn't intending on getting any paper, but have you seen DCWV's Songbird stack? Too cute. It had to come home with me! You can see a tidbit of it here (scroll down a bit).

I used the sketch from Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge #81. You can see I flipped it a bit. It's sort of upside-down mirror image. Sort of. :-D I paper pieced the owl, then cut it out and popped him up on foam squares and sponged the oval to give it the look of sky. Masculine cards can be challenging, but I think this fits the bill!

Supplies
Stamps: Studio G--You're a Hoot; PTI--Background Basics: Woodgrain; Stampendous--Changito the Monkey (inside sentiment)
Paper: PTI--Vintage Cream & Dark Chocolate; DCWV--Songbird; stash
Ink: Versafine--Vintage Sepia; Watermark; PTI--Tea Dye duo & Spring Rain
Buttons: PTI--Dark Chocolate
Embossing Powder: Ranger--Clear Extra Fine Detail
Die: Spellbinders--Classic Oval
Distressing Tool: Heidi Swapp
Corner Punches: Stampin' Up; Corner Chomper

HEC #8 / SSIC #46

WARNING: Do not make fun of my Copic "skillz" or your computer will self-destruct! :-D

Tonight I am posting a card I made for two challenges: Firstly, Ted's Happily Ever Challenged #8 (here) which challenges us to use red, white and blue. I hope my green leaves don't disqualify me! I could have made blue or red leaves, but that would have looked really strange. ;-> I also decided to enter the Stamping Sisters in Christ Challenge #46 (found here). It's my first time playing with them.

I was inspired to make this card by Peggysue at Roses By My Window. This card here just took my breath away. Isn't it amazing? My card doesn't look anything like it, but I did go make it right after seeing Peggysue's card!

So, I inked up YOF: Roses for the first time! I was intimidated, but I just went for it, Copics-wise. Practice makes perfect, right? I'll get there. I used some PP scraps I've had forever (one of them was printed with "1998" on the back, LOL!) for the backgrounds and the leaves. And that dotty Cuttlebug embossing folder--I think that particular one gets more use than all the others combined! I decided on a sentiment, punched out a tag, and then had to ink the sentiment one word at a time to split it so it would fit.

Supplies:
Stamps: PTI--YOF: Roses, Paper Tray, and Round & Round
Paper: PTI--SS White, stash
Ink: Watermark; Memento--Tuxedo Black; Color Box--Sky Blue
Embossing Powder: Ranger--Clear Detail
Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug
Floss: DMC--White
Dies: Spellbinders
Eyelet: Doodlebug Design
Punch: McGill--Multi Tags Scallops
Copics: R27, 29, 59; YG63

C4C44 and Papertrey Paper Dolls #10

Today's card meets two challenges--well, three actually. I used the sketch from the Papertrey Paper Dolls' Challenge #10, and the guidelines from Crazy 4 Challenges 44 to use two or more ribbons and combined them on this card. And, I'm just realizing that since it's a Christmas card, it's in the spirit of my own Christmas in July challenge! (Details on that here.) Forgive the picture location--yes, that is a kitty condo! I was in a hurry and the only decent light was at the patio doors where the condo sits. You'll see a few more cards with that background in the next week or so! :-D

I used a sticker for my focal point, one a friend had given me last year that I saved to make a card this year. It makes a pretty cute Christmas card, I think! I used Spellbinders dies to cut out the gold and white papers, embossed the red--and swiped it with gold ink--and threw in a piece of PTI PP cut with a border punch. After stamping the sentiment, I mounted it on one ribbon, which I tied at the ends with another ribbon. Oh, and the little snowflake stickers came with the snow globe sticker. Now I have two Christmas cards done, LOL!

Supplies:
Stamp: PTI--Winter Swirls
Stickers: Sandylion
Paper: PTI--SS White, Pure Poppy & Green Boutique PP; stash
Ink: Watermark; Encore--Gold
Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug
Ribbon: Offray, Michaels
Border Punch: EK Success

Petite Posse Challenge #3

Popping in to post a quick card. This one I made for the Petite Posse Challenge #3--thanks gals for letting me play along with you! It was also supposed to be for a Color Throwdown challenge, but I didn't get it posted in time for that one. I have intended to enter a Throwdown challenge many times now, but I'm always late--it must have to do with my schedule versus when the challenge posts or something like that.

Anyway, thanks to the Papertrey Posse I thought way back to my first PTI order--the challenge was to tell how you discovered PTI, what your first stamp set was, and then to use that set. Well, I discovered PTI reading Erin Lincoln's blog one night (back when it was on CK's website--she's one of my scrapbooking idols) and she blogged about how her husband had asked her to make him some thank you cards for people at work. She pulled out a stamp set (Out On a Limb) and made the most amazing cards. They weren't cutsey! They were gorgeous! I *had* to know more about this company. I clicked on her link, and the rest is history. ;-D I had a very hard time deciding on my first order, and there have been so many since then (ahem) that I'm not 100% sure if this is what I got that first time, but I think my first order consisted of Out On a Limb, Butterfly Kisses, Borders & Corners: Square, and Borders & Corners: Circles.

So I pulled those sets out and ultimately chose to use Butterfly Kisses and Borders & Corners: Squares on my card. I intended to use a butterfly image or two, but somehow I couldn't make them work, so I used a sentiment--I still love the fonts in this set! And the dots in a square, of course. I knew when I saw them that the Borders & Corners sets would get lots of use by me and I was sure right! At the time, no one else that I knew of had anything like them and they gave me an inkling that PTI was going to be my "go to" stamp company. It think it's a great "testimony" (I don't mean to be irreverent) for PTI that I am still using my very first sets from them two years later! Anyway, I'm getting a bit long-winded here, sorry about that! For this card, I also made my first homemade ribbon flower embellishment. I've been meaning to try to make one for months and I finally did it! This one is my second try, actually. [Anjillic Tip: Hold onto one end of the stitching on the ribbon so you gather the ribbon instead of simply pulling the thread out!] This card is for one of my very few "in person" crafting friends. She's a great scrapbooker and just starting to get into cards. I knew when I saw the color combo on the Color Throwdown blog that it would be just right for her birthday card because they remind me of her.

Supplies
Stamps: PTI--Butterfly Kisses & Borders & Corners: Square
Paper: PTI--Vintage Cream, Enchanted Evening, Berry Sorbet & Simply Chartreuse; stash
Ink: PTI--Enchanted Evening & Simply Chartreuse; Versacolor--Cinnamon
Ribbon: PTI--Berry Sorbet
Brad: Making Memories
Pearl: Recollections
Punches: EK Success, Fiskars
Die: Spellbinders
Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug

Jill's First Annual Christmas in July Challenge!

Welcome papercrafting friends to my first blog challenge! Much as I'd like to, I don't have the time to do regular challenges, so I thought I'd do a doozy when I do get the chance! I've decided to hold a "Christmas in July" challenge because I really, really, really want to make all my holiday cards this year, and I don't want to leave it to the last minute. I thought that with this challenge, I could motivate myself to get an early start, perhaps benefit someone else out there in blogland by doing the same for them, and make two readers very, very happy by awarding them PTI gift certificates!

So, here are the rules:
1) Make a Christmas card (Hanukkah counts too). If you don't celebrate Christmas or Hanukkah, perhaps you have a friend who does and you can make a card for him/her.

2) Upload your card to your blog or an online gallery (with a link back to the challenge please) and add your info to Mr. Linky at the end of this post.

3) Leave a comment after you've added your link. If you choose to become a follower of my blog, or are already a follower, leave another comment and you will have two chances to win! Blog about the challenge and you can leave a 3rd comment for three chances!

The challenge runs from July 1-31, and the winners will be announced on this blog on August 1. There are no limitations as to design, stamp company(ies), colors, techniques, etc.. The card can be religious or secular and any size.

The winners will be chosen in two ways: One winner will be from a random draw of all comments left after linking/following/blogging. The other will be chosen by me from all the cards entered--my favorite card gets a prize! The prizes are both . . . drumroll please . . . $24 gift certificates to Papertrey Ink! Yes, you can get a wonderful quality, highly creative, gorgeous stamp set from PTI just for entering my 1st Annual Christmas in July Challenge!

To start us off, I made a cute little card for my 3-year-old nephew. [I can't believe I actually have a Christmas card checked off, and it's only July 1st!] I chose a snowman since they are special to me and he has picked up on this--he made Christmas cards last year for family (including my dog, lol!) and they all had a snowman on them. At least that's what I'm told. The three balls of snow aren't actually touching, but it's totally the thought that counts, right?! What a sweetie! I used Holiday Button Bits for the main image, and tried to keep the style & colors in the "boy" range. Adrian's favorite color is green, as he has reminded me a few hundred times, and I thought the background paper looked like a sweater and snowballs at the same time. I also thought there was a sweater-y pattern to the button. I love the gold twine I used to tie the die cut to the card--I just got it from Michelle at Stamper's Dream and it's great because it's twine/cording but it holds a knot really well, unlike the stuff sold in stores for Christmas wrap. (FYI--she has several colors, I recommend it if you're in the market.) I made sure to listen to a few Christmas songs on my iPod as I made the card, to get into the spirit! I hope this challenge brings you a little bit of Christmas cheer in the middle of summer!

Supplies
Stamps: PTI--Holiday Button Bits & Polka Dot Basics II (on the scarf--hard to see)
Paper: PTI--Vintage Cream & Simply Chartreuse; Zoe Pearn Bloom & Grow; watercolor
Ink: Versafine--Onyx Black; PTI--Spring Rain & Simply Chartreuse; Ranger--Tumbled Glass & Brushed Corduroy Distress Inks
Button: PTI--Spring Rain
Die: Spellbinders
Distress Tool: Heidi Swapp
Fun Flock: Stampendous--Cotton Ball White (on ball on top of hat)
Twine: Stamper's Dream--gold
Pens: Copics--R27, R59 & Colorless Blender; atyou Spica--clear, peach

Papertrey Pixies Challenge #2

I actually made this card a couple of weeks ago, but am just getting it posted in time by the skin of my teeth (which is a really odd expression, if you think about it; now I'm wondering about its origins). :-D Karen H. was hostess this month for the Pixies' challenge, and she gave us for inspiration this lovely set of fat quarters from which we were to take any aspect we chose: layout, colors, pattern(s), and so on. Since my favorite aspect of papercrafting is COLOR, that's what immediately came to my mind. To me, the colors I saw here were Raspberry Fizz, Orange Zest, Summer Sunrise, Simply Chartreuse, and Smokey Shadow. Oh, and white of course. :-) So I made a simple card with pops of those colors. I used watermark ink and a tiny polka dot stamp on a swatch of each color, and then punched out flowers from the swatches (there's a big flower and a little flower if you look closely). I embossed the white on white panel with a polka dot embossing folder and attached the flowers to it with white brads. A Spellbinders label for the sentiment and some Orange Zest bitty dot ribbon and this card was done! Oh, and on the inside is the Smokey Shadow flower (didn't want you to think I'd forgotten it) and lots of room to write. Thanks for the fun challenge, Karen!

Supplies
Stamps: Polka Dot Basics II & Communique Curves Sentiments
Paper: PTI--SS White, Simply Chartreuse, Summer Sunrise, Orange Zest, Raspberry Fizz & Smokey Shadow
Ink: Watermark; Versafine--Onyx Black
Ribbon: PTI--Orange Zest Bitty Dot
Die: Spellbinders
Brads: stash
Punches: Papershapers
Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug

June PTI Blog Hop!

June's challenge is to use your favorite PTI color combo! Well, here's mine: RIPE AVOCADO, SPRING MOSS, RASPBERRY FIZZ & HIBISCUS BURST!

Nichole asked participants to put their color combo up top on their post, in BOLD. I wish I knew how to make those color thingies--you know, like paint samples. You know, I'd happily take a class on computer design for papercrafting blogs. I'd like to know how to make other things too, like a badge, and a banner, and . . . well, I'll have to look into that. Anyway, here is my favorite PTI color combo. I really don't know why it's my favorite, except that it makes me happy to use it. Pink is my favorite color, and I do reach for green more than any other color (except maybe blue) when papercrafting. I needed a get well card, and since my June PTI goodies didn't arrive in time for me to play with them, (sad face), I decided on a favorite, Dawn's Scattered Showers. I stamped the raindrops with watermark ink on the Ripe Avocado cardstock and the paper pieced the umbrella and popped it up on a nestie. Some more patterned paper, a popped up sentiment, ribbon and dew drops--oh, and I used my 2-Way Glue Pen and added glitter to the outside edge of the circle. I also shaded the circle, but it seems to be really hard to see in my picture. This will go out today to hopefully cheer up a friend. Thanks so much for stopping by my blog! *** Before I go I want to make an exciting (for me, at least!) announcement: On July 1st, I will be posting my first ever challenge! It will be a month-long card challenge and there will be TWO prizes! We're talking PTI gift certs, people! :-D So tune back in next Thursday for the details, I'd love to have you join in!

Supplies
Stamps: PTI--Scattered Showers & Scattered Showers Additions
Paper: PTI--Ripe Avocado, Spring Moss, Raspberry Fizz, Hibiscus Burst, SS White; pp--stash
Ink: Watermark; Versafine--Onyx Black
Embossing Powder: Ranger--Clear Fine Detail
Punches: EK Success border punch; Corner Chomper
Dies: Spellbinders
Ribbon: PTI--Hibiscus Burst
Dew Drops: Stamping Bella
Glitter: Prisma