Wedding Wishes

Today I'm just popping in with a wedding card.  No challenge, no upcoming wedding to go to, just a card I wanted to make.  :-)

Actually, come to think of it, I do have a wedding to go to next month.  But my friend's colors are pink and grey, so maybe a variation on this card would work?  Thanks for stopping by to take a look!

Supplies 
Stamps:  PTI--Giga Guidelines, Turning a New Leaf
Paper:  PTI--Soft Stone, Smokey Shadow; stash
Ink:  PTI--Smokey Shadow; Embossing Powder--Filigree Clear
Dies:  PTI--Beautiful Blooms II #1
other:  Flower--Frog Feathers (Etsy); Pearls--Recollections; Circle Punch--E.K. Success; Corner Chomper  

Happy Father's Day/cQc #141

I was all set to make my dad's Father's Day card this week.  I was only sure of two things: I would use PTI's Father Knows Best for the stamps, and the color scheme would be white, brown, and red.  So . . . I sit down to make the card and run into a problem.  I don't actually own Father Knows Best.  Yeah, I've thought about it so much that I guess I just kind of bought it by osmosis?  :->  Hee!  This slight complication leads me online to look at some blogs and get some new inspiration.  I visit Joyce at Cards-by-the-Sea, and WOW, the colourQ color palette she used on her cool Shine card grabs me!  So I rethink everything, check to make sure I have Masculine Motifs, and adopt colourQ's challenge #141 as my colors.  Here's their perfect masculine palette:

Love it!  And here's my revised Father's Day card:

It's sort of CAS, and some the layers are popped up with dimensionals, the highest of which is under the globe.  I used a herringbone embossing folder on the white card front.  It sort of looks like chevrons in the photo, which is kind of cool.  :-)  I hope those of you lucky enough to celebrate this Sunday with your dad have a fun and blessed day!

Supplies
stamps:  PTI--Masculine Motifs
paper:  PTI--S.S. White, Enchanted Evening, Blueberry Sky, Spring Rain
ink:  Versafine--Onyx Black
other:  Embossing Powder--Filigree Clear; Twine--The Twinery; Punch--E.K. Success; Embossing Folder--Cuttlebug

The Craft's Meow June Sketch Challenge

I'm trying a new challenge today--the June sketch challenge for The Craft's Meow!  I have had a couple of sets from Lisa for a long time, and recently bought a few more (okay, a lot more), so I thought it was time I joined in the challenge fun!  Here's the sketch:

A little out of my comfort zone, but all the more reason to give it a try.  Here's my card:

I used one of TCM's irresistible owl images, and a tiny little sentiment (both from Whoo's Birthday).  This was my first owl set, but not my last!  I'm not so into "cutsey," but I adore these owls.  :-)  Thanks for stopping by and taking a peek!

Supplies
stamps:  TCM--Whoo's Birthday
paper:  PTI--Fine Linen, Vintage Cream; Simple Stories--Happy Day; stash
ink:  PTI--Dark Chocolate, Classic Kraft
dies:  PTI--Tag Sale #3, Tiny Tags; Spellbinders--Classic Squares
copics:  E00, E57, YR23, YR31, YG63, YG97, R20, R89
other:  Pen--Uniball Signo White; Floss--DMC 3777; Crystal Lacquer--Sakura; Ribbon--PTI Fine Linen; Embossing Powder--Filigree Clear 

MIM #69

It's been awhile since I participated in a Make It Monday, so I was happy to find the time this week!  For #69, Nicole showed us how she creates new sketches, and then she offered several for us to choose from to make a card.  I chose this one:

I wanted to create a congratulations card for a friend who recently got a job after a long search.  Her favorite color is any shade of aqua/teal, so it was easy to pick some Aqua Mist, Hawaiian Shores, and a dark teal that I have just a bit left of--I would be so happy if PTI comes out with a deep, vibrant teal! 

Can you see the crystal Fancy Flourishes in the background?  I'm going to give this to my friend tomorrow, and I am looking forward to it--she deserves some good things happening in her life!

Supplies
stamps:  PTI--Congrats All Ways, Fancy Flourishes, Star Prints
paper:  PTI--S.S. White, Aqua Mist, Green Boutique; stash
ink:  PTI--Hawaiian Shores; Versamark Dazzle--Frost
other:  Embossing Powder--Opaque White; Filigree Clear, Stampendous Crystal; Dies--PTI Simple Circles border, Seeing Stars; Impression Plate--PTI Polka Dot Basics II; Glitter--Palette Ultrafine Prisma

Happy 100 Waltzingmouse Stamps!

It's the 100th Waltzingmouse Stamps Sketch Challenge!  Congratulations on this milestone, WMS!  I am honored to participate in this extra-special challenge!  I got a boost toward entering from Renee (of It's a Patchwork Life), who is a fine ambassador for the company and emailed several folks to make sure they knew about the 100th sketch!  Thanks, Renee.  :-)  Here's the sketch, designed by Anya Schrier:

VERY nice, isn't it?  I was inspired to get out my WMS stash and create!  And here's my entry:

I used three different WMS sets on my card!  But that's not a record as their sets are so easy to mix and match.  I know I've used at least four before!  :-)  I love the fonts Claire chooses, and her fabulous frame images can set the tone for an entire card.  When I win the lottery, WMS is going to be one of my first stops, LOL!  Now . . . all I need is to "forget" someone's birthday, so I can send this!  Thanks for stopping by, and if you haven't already, why don't you give the Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge a try yourself?

Supplies
Stamps:  WMS--Fancy Phrases, Pic-Nic Patterns, Text-It
Paper:  Echo Park--Happy Days; PTI--S.S. White, New Leaf; stash
Ink:  Versafine--Onyx Black; Versacolor--Camellia; Ranger--Spun Sugar Distress Ink; Watermark
Dies:  Spellbinders--Classic Rectangles; PTI--Heart Border
Other:  Embossing Powder--Filigree Clear; Border Punch--Fiskars; Doily--Martha Stewart; Butterfly--Michaels; Sewing Machine

Happy Birthday!

Hello and happy Monday!  Happy? you say?  Yep, Monday is my day off, so Mondays are always happy around here!  :-)  Today I'm sharing the birthday card I made for my BFF (and also the gift card holder that went with her present).

The whole birthday was black, white, red, and silver-themed, to go with one of her gifts, which was a button pendant by Jen Carter of Jen's Ink Spot.  Not only is she a talented card designer, Jen also has an Etsy shop where she sells her lovely button ring and pendant creations.  It's also called Jen's Ink Spot and you can find it here.  And she has a Facebook page you can like, which I recommend because then you get to see her newest creations as soon as they are posted!  Here's the packaging my friend's pendant came wrapped in:

Of course, I completely dropped the ball and forgot to photograph the pendant itself!  I am such a dork.  But, this would make an excellent excuse for you to check out her Etsy page to see examples for yourself, LOL!  (I should mention that although I did ask permission from Jen to post the photo of the packaging--and the forgotten pendant, darn it--I did not receive any sort of compensation from her.  I am just a satisfied customer, online friend, and fan of her design work.) 

Okay, and here is the quick little gift card holder that went along with the pendant and a few other goodies:

Inside was a card to our favorite clothing store.  I had a cute black and white metal pail-type holder that everything was in, but due to my excessive dorkiness, I forgot to take a pic of that too!  Sigh. 

I'll close with a big thank you and virtual (HUG) to all of you who sent condolences on my mom.  I still haven't responded to all of them, but I will!  I hope to have a small post on her soon.  Hope you're having a good day!

Supplies
stamps:  Verve--Blessings
paper:  PTI--S.S. White, True Black; stash
ink:  Versafine--Onyx Black
dies:  PTI--Moroccan Screen, Gift Card Holder; MFT--Perfect Petal Trio; Spellbinders--Fancy Tags
other:  Ribbon--stash; Rhinestones--Recollections; Brads--stash; Embossing Folder--Cuttlebug

Papertrey Ink May Blog Hop

Wow!  Isn't this picture gorgeous?

If you are visiting through PTI's May Blog Hop, welcome.  Many of you know that my sweet mom recently passed away.  In our discussions before she passed, she encouraged me to keep up my creative outlets, especially this blog.  Her memorial service is tomorrow, the 26th, and I was planning to wait until after that to start posting again, but . . . when I saw this picture for PTI's blog hop this month, I loved it so much I am back a little early.  :-)  Here's my take:

I utilized the black/while/chartreuse colors, the bold checks, and the flower element for my card.  I used an Edgers die to cut the checked and black papers because it reminded me of the fluted edges of many of the plates in the inspiration photo.  I overlapped the papers onto the back of the card just because.  :-)  And added a little heart to the inside to warm it up a bit.

I am going to give this card to a friend who did something really thoughtful for me last week.  My emotions are all over the place, as you would expect, and I was having a really hard day.  She showed up at my work with lunch--a veggie wrap, pretzels, and a Frappacino!  Nothing cheers me up faster than a coffee drink!  :-D  Then she hung around and talked (she lost her mother last year) and just made the day so much brighter.  I hope I can do the same for someone else someday.

Well, I'll let you get on with the Hop now!  Have fun!

Supplies
Stamps:  PTI--Heart-2-Heart #3
Paper:  PTI--S.S. White, True Black; stash
Ink:  Versafine--Onyx Black; PTI--Simply Chartreuse
Misc.:  Embossing Powder--Filigree Clear; Die--PTI Edgers #1; Flower--Frog Feathers (Etsy); Cord & Seam Binding--stash; Corner Rounder 

MIM #63/Unscripted Sketches #155

This week's Make It Monday from Papertrey Ink has me, for once, feeling hip and "with it."  Groovy, even!  The technique to try is glittered die cuts.  Which I do all. the. time.  Woo hoo!  :-D  By far, I use the glittered die cut technique most with PTI's "By the Numbers" dies.  On birthday cards and anniversary cards especially.  Below is the latest one I've made, for a friend's big 6-0.

 
Glittering really is so easy when you use the Xyron.  A folded piece of paper under your work to catch the stray glitter takes care of most of the mess . . . and I bought a teeny battery-operated vacuum made just for crafting that quickly and easily scoops up any strays, and even has a receptacle that you can recover beads, pearls, etc. from in a flash.  I highly recommend it, and I was going to be all cool and include a link to it, but in googling, I see that it's no longer available.  :-(  However, I did find 2 still for sale on eBay.  Unfortunately, by the time you pay shipping, it costs about double what I paid.  Grrr.

I am also entering this card in this week's Unscripted Sketches Challenge #155--they are a new-to-me blog and not only is #155 a sketch challenge, but a Piggyback Challenge--an additional option to include in your project.  Since we just celebrated Earth Day, the piggyback is to use something recycled on your project.  Most of my card is recycled:  the card base & bottom stamped area are from a card I made and rejected last year, and everything else (except the glittered numbers and button) is made from scraps.  I loved doing this, and I think I'm going to try to make "recycled" cards more often!  Here is Unscripted Sketches' sketch (as you can tell, I flipped it):

 

Supplies
stamps:  PTI--Say It With Style, Big Birthday Wishes, Asian Fusion, Four of a Kind
paper:  PTI--S.S. White, Summer Sunrise, Hawaiian Shores, Aqua Mist
ink:  PTI--Summer Sunrise; Versafine--Onyx Black
other: Dies--PTI--By the Numbers; Spellbinders Large Scalloped Squares, Classic Squares, Scalloped Circles; Embossing Powder--Filigree Clear; Glitter--Recollections; Twine--Divine Twine; Ranger--Tiny Attacher; Button--PTI Summer Sunrise; Tulle--Michaels; Punch--E.K. Success; Corner Chomper

Better Late Than Never--April PTI Blog Hop

So . . . I made a card last week for this month's Papertrey Ink Blog Hop!  And . . . I completely forgot about it!  Yay me!  ;-D  So, I hopped around this morning, commenting on the fabulous cards fellow PTI fans posted, then I rushed home after work to quickly photograph my card and put it up before the deadline!  Or I would have  if there hadn't been a giant traffic tie up on the freeway!!  Man . . . some days you realize you just should have stayed in bed, huh?  :-D  But I still made the deadline--whew!  Here is the dreamy inspiration photo for April:

And here is my boring, run-of-the-mill, you ain't seeing nothin' new card:

Now, I'm not putting myself down, I'm just being honest.  Sometimes I hit it out of the ball park, and this is not one of those times, LOL!  But it's a perfectly good card and was inspired by the photo.  What I saw when I looked at the picture was Aqua Mist, Sweet Blush, Hibiscus Burst, and white.  (And florals, damasks, polka dots, and stripes.)  And I have someone in mind for this thank you card, so it's all good! 

If you've stopped by here this LATE in the blog hop, and read all the way to the end of the post . . . thank YOU, and have a great evening!

Supplies
stamps:  PTI--YOF: Sweet Peas, BB: Circles, Flower Fusion #4
paper:  PTI--S.S. White, Sweet Blush, Hibiscus Burst, Aqua Mist, Aqua Mist Damask PP
ink:  Watermark; Versafine--Onyx Black
other: Embossing Powder--Stampendous Crystal, Filigree Clear; Border Punch--E.K. Success; Copic--BG11; Corner Chomper

SSIC #136

This week's challenge from Stampin' Sisters in Christ is #136, to use soft pastels.  It's inspired by Psalm 119:105, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."  And if you've ever in your life been an Amy Grant fan, then you can't help but sing those words, can you?  :-D 

I used yellow as my soft pastel, with cream and kraft.  Why kraft?  Because I love it and rarely think to use it.  It feels to me like it adds a modern touch to a card, and I'm trying to use it more.  This was my first time using MFT's rolled roses dies and hey, they weren't that hard!  :-D  There's a learning curve, but they really are fun to do.  This turned out kind of, well, not CAS, but approaching it, wouldn't you agree?  I'm trying to get out of my comfort zone now and then!  :-)  

Supplies
stamps:  Verve--Psalm 46:1 Plain Jane
paper:  PTI--Vintage Cream, Kraft, Lemon Tart, Father Knows Best PP
ink:  PTI--Classic Kraft
other:  Embossing Powder--Filigree Clear; Dies--Spellbinder Labels 15 &  MFT--Rolled Roses; Ribbon--Stash; Embossing Folder--Cuttlebug; Border Punch--E.K. Success

SSIC #135

Welcome!  Today I have an entry in this week's Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge #135.  The challenge is to use something transparent on your project, to go along with this thought:  What if people could hold us up to the light and see what's inside?  Would they see the image of Christ?

I don't think I've ever used something clear before, unless vellum counts.  :-)  So, I searched through my stash for these cool clear flowers that I've been hoarding, and had fun trying them out.
  

I thought it was semi-clever to use the journaling card and stamp "soon" for the date. :-)  Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by my spot on the web!  I hope you're having a great day!

Supplies
stamps:  Daisy Bucket Designs--Feel Better; Inkadinkado--Good News; PTI--Paper Tray, Healing Touch Sentiments
paper:  PTI--Aqua Mist, Green Boutique PP; DCWV--Glitter Stack
ink:  Versafine--Onyx Black; PTI--Hawaiian Shores
other:  Embossing Powder--Filigree Clear; Ribbon--PTI Aqua Mist; Clear Flower--Heidi Swapp; Embossing Folder--Cuttlebug; Circle Punch--EK Success; Pen--atyou Spica Clear; Corner Chomper 

Card Patterns Sketch #161

Hello, I'm back with an entry for Card Patterns' Sketch #161 challenge.  Why?  Because they picked me as a "Super 6" for #160!  Woo hoo!  Unfortunately, I put the wrong link in the Inlinkz--the one to my blog overall, instead of to the card I entered--so the card highlighted is from the next entry, and I think that when I publish this newest entry tonight, it will change to that one, LOL!  How embarrassing!  So, I *think* the card honored was the Raspberry Fizz polka dot one, but it might have been the strawberry card!  In any case, I love them over at Card Patterns, so I hope they forgive my gaff!  (Also, I won the random drawing for a gift certificate to the sponsor, Prickley Pear Rubber Stamps, how cool is that?!  First time ever.)

Here is the sketch for #161:

And my card:

A bit different for me, but I thought the papers were so fun!

Supplies 
stamps:  Cornish Heritage Farms--The Birds and the Bees (Kim Hughes)
paper:  K & Company--Sweet Nectar; PTI--Vintage Cream; stash
ink:  Versafine--Onyx Black; Ranger--Spun Sugar Distress Ink
other:  Embossing Powder--Stampendous Crystal; Die--Spellbinders Blossom; Flowers--Marcella K; Copics--E41, E42, E57, RV32, RV 91, Y11, T1, T4; atyou Spica--Clear; sewing machine; Corner Chomper

CFC48

Today I have a CAS card.  No, really!  When the CAS-ual Fridays challenge blog recently announced their latest design team, I recognized a few familiar names and wanted to join in on this week's fun, no matter how hard it might prove for me to make a CAS card, LOL!
 

The challenge issued is to use colors that are opposites on the color wheel.  I *knew* I wanted some form of orange and blue, since that's one of my favorite combos.  In looking through my stash, I found a patterned paper that I was hoarding saving for something special in a yellow-y orange and I paired it with an aqua button that looked about the same place on the opposite side of the wheel.  Then I added a sentiment from The Craft's Meow.  (Since they are the sponsors this week, I thought it was the polite thing to do.  Also, it was an excuse to finally get my first TCM stamps inky!  I only have two sets, but a long wish list!)  And here it is, a CAS card outside and in:

Hey, maybe I can do this once in awhile?  :-)

Supplies
stamps:  TCM--Simply Delightful
paper:  PTI--S.S. White; MAMBI--Tropical
ink:  PTI--Summer Sunrise
other:  Button--PTI Hawaiian Shores; Twine--Divine Twine 

Paper Dolls #47 & Freshly Made Sketches #30

Hello!  I have been sneaking in time whenever I can in my craft room, just having a blast.  I feel like I have all this creativity stored up and now that there's an outlet again, it wants out!  :-D  Today I have a card that qualifies for two current challenges.  First up is the Paper Dolls, some gals I love to hang out with in the card blogging world, and second is Freshly Made Sketches, a blog of challenges based on, you guessed it, sketches!  But with a difference--they are looking for cards in a certain style, that of "clean."  From their blog: "We are looking for clean-lined creations but unlike Clean and Simple challenges, we encourage lots of detail and embellishments as long as they maintain a "clean" look to your card."  This is a new blog to me,  found through Jen of Jen's Ink Spot (who happens to be a Paper Doll), looked through the cards posted, and thought, "I think I've found my style!"  I've never been able to say that before, but when I saw the FMS guidelines and examples, I knew I had found my tribe, LOL!  Since the Paper Dolls' challenge was to make a "fruity" card using a sketch, I used the latest Freshly Made Sketch and combined the two:

Supplies
stamps:  PTI--Fruit Fusion: Berry
paper:  PTI--Rustic White; Making Memories--English Garden; stash
ink:  PTI--Pure Poppy, New Leaf; Ranger--Antique Linen Distress Ink
other:  Embossing Folder--Sizzix; Die--Spellbinders Classic Circles; Button--Foof-a-la; Twine--PTI  

SSiC 134 & CP Sketch 160

I've been singing that '70s song "It Never Rains in Southern California" tonight:  "It never rains in Southern California, but girl don't they warn ya?  It pours, man it pours . . ."  We are having some major thunderstorms today!  I'm actually enjoying it, now that I'm off the freeway.  :-)

It's been so long since I've done a challenge that I guess I wanted to jump in with both feet and do two-in-one!  This week, Card Patterns has a great sketch (as usual), and Stampin' Sisters in Christ a challenge to make a joyful card--after all, we've just celebrated Easter!  Here's my card:

I left in blank inside because this card is going to be a part of a new venture: I am going to offer some of my cards for sale in my church office with the proceeds going to our Women's Ministry.  It will hopefully be a blessing to lots of women and it's the perfect excuse to make cards!  :-D  And here is the wonderful sketch the card is based on:

Supplies
stamps:  Verve--Serenity
paper:  PTI--Raspberry Fizz, S.S. White, Funky Town
ink:  Versafine--Onyx Black
misc.:  Embossing Powder--Filigree Clear; Rhinestones--Recollections; Flowers--Marcella K; Border Punch--E.K. Success; Embossing Folder--Cuttlebug; Die--Spellbinders Big Scalloped Squares SM

Thank You!

Today I have a thank you card to share, and it's fitting as I'd like to say thank you for the lovely comments you have left!  Papercrafting people are definitely the best people!

The card I'm sharing was a thank you for a friend who did a special thing.  She gifted me with an adorable necklace from Brighton that I dearly wanted but couldn't afford.  She surprised (shocked) me with it for my birthday this year, and I wanted to make her a special, pink-y card (her favorite color) to say thanks.  (Forgive the photography--there was a time I couldn't get my photo studio thingee set up!)

It had been so long since I made a card I was a little nervous, but it's like getting on a bicycle, right?  You never forget.  I was really inspired by the patterned paper--so fun and yet soft.  Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies
paper:  Aunt Gertie's Kitchen (I think it's SEI, but I'm not sure); Girl's Paperie--Whimsy; PTI--Fine Linen
ink:  Versacolor--Brown, Bamboo; PTI--Berry Sorbet; Ranger--Antique Linen Distress Ink
stamps:  PTI--All About You, Fresh Alphabet, Fillable Frames #11; Verve--Thankful Accents, Bloom and Grow
dies:  PTI--Mat Stack 3 regular and layerz or mega (which ever one's next in size)
misc.:  circle punch--E.K. Success; Corner Rounder; sewing machine; ribbon--Ellen Hutson; Embossing Powder--Filigree Clear; Distress Stickles in Picket Fence--Ranger

Hello!

I'm back! Yep, disappearing-off-the-face-of-the-earth Jill is posting again! If you are still following me, I thank you, I apologize for disappearing, and I say that you are awesome! First of all, I truly do apologize for just dropping away like I did. I know I myself get worried when that happens on a blog I frequent (Is s/he okay? What's going on?) so I am not proud that I did that very thing myself.

I have not shared this before, and won't go into all the nitty gritty details, but I share caretaking duties for my very ill mother. I work during the day and take the nights, and my father works at night and takes the days. Last August, her condition got dramatically worse, and literally overnight, I had no time for papercrafting or much of anything else. I was scared for my mom, and depressed about the situation, so I even stopped visiting others' blogs because it was so painful to see all the creativity and not be able to participate. Things are looking up now, however. Mom is stable for the first time in months, and we have been able to hire a part-time caregiver three days a week! She alternates mornings and afternoons so that my dad and I each get a little respite. This means that I feel comfortable saying that I will have some time for card making again and will be posting at least once a week!

I don't regret any of the last 7 1/2 months--I would do anything for my mom, and am so blessed because her mind is not affected--but I do feel such joy at the prospect of having a creative outlet again! I can't wait to dive back into my "must see" blog friends' creations and to be a part of the community again. If I ever do disappear again, you know why and that I will eventually be back!

Now, for a card.

This is one I made for my niece last year for her first birthday and never posted.  It was the first time I used Papertrey Ink's "By the Numbers" dies, but certainly not the last.  I think I may have used those dies on most of the cards I've made since!  I have (temporarily, I hope) misplaced my sheets with my supply lists on them, so I will add that when I find them!

Maya is a doll, and she didn't know quite what to make of her celebration.  Here's a shot of her eating her cupcake with no hands (she didn't want to touch it, LOL!)

 Isn't she cute?  I may be a little biased!  ;-D

Thanks for stopping by!