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!