Friday, January 28, 2011

HEC #13

Hi! Here's my card for Ted's Happily Ever Challenge #13 . . . just a day or two too late! I, um, have had the card done for a couple of weeks. I forgot I didn't have until the 31st to post it, and I lost out. :-( The challenge is closed, and I saw that Kim O'Connell won the gift cert to PTI--congratulations Kim! (Pop on over to her blog, she has some cute cards!) Ted's January challenge was super challenging to me: 1 of everything--1 base card; 1 embellishment; 1 stamp image; 1 patterned paper; 1 ink color. What?! Surely he meant 11 of everything? I didn't think I could do it, so of course I had to try to do it! It was the fastest card ever--10 minutes max, and I actually like it. I *may* add a doodad or two before using it, but maybe I'll be able to resist temptation and leave it CAS, who knows? ;-D

Supplies
Stamps: PTI--Scattered Showers Additions
Paper: PTI--Dark Chocolate; Making Memories
Ink: Watermark w/white embossing powder
Ribbon: Michaels
Misc.: Score Pal

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

WMSC #30 Celebrate!



Welcome! Today's card was made for Waltzingmouse's latest sketch challenge, #30. I went a completely different direction than I usually do for this challenge: CAS! I also tried paper piercing for the first time--if you look closely, the pattern in the sketch is paper pierced on to the 1 layer card. One layer! I can't believe I made a one layer card! The concept for this card was one of those that popped whole into my head the minute I saw the sketch, and I was a bit nervous trying to carry out my "vision." I even inked the flowers with two different colors on one stamp to try to get a varigated look, not something I'm real experienced at. But I'm happy with the results and happy that I ventured out of my comfort zone!

Supplies
Stamps: WMS--Asian Gardens & Asian Gardens Additions
Paper: PTI--SS White
Ink: PTI--Dark Chocolate & Hibiscus Burst; VersaColor--Camellia
Other: Rhinestones--Stamper's Dream; Paper piercer--Ellen Hutson; Embossing Powder--Ranger Super Fine Detail

Monday, January 17, 2011

SSIC #72: Happy Birthday


Hello! Firstly, thank you so much, all who commented on my last post, the sympathy card! Each of you brightened my day immensely by your generous remarks! (And it actually got awarded a Shining the Light award!!) Everyone of you please consider yourself hugged!

Today I am happy to post a card I made for my sister's birthday. I used one of the most beautiful stamp renditions of a rose ever--Papertrey Ink's Year of Flowers: Roses. It was a joy to color! I'm entering it in Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge #72, which has the theme of "new," interpreted how you'd like. The scripture is 2 Cor. 5:17: "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." My "new" element for this challenge is the self-adhesive crocheted trim. It's so cool! You don't have to worry about adhering it, just cut to size and stick on--yay! :-) I will be buying more, I'm sure!

I also want to mention the wrinkled seam binding I used on the card. I won it as blog candy awhile back, and I just had to show you how deliciously it was packaged. Here's how the goodies arrived, in decorated box with card:


Sorry, not the best picture, but you get the idea. And when I opened the box up, look at what was inside:


Isn't that clever?? She (Michele) calls it "Ribbon Candy!" I just love the cleverness and care with which this selection of ribbon is packaged & presented. You can find some yourself at Willy Nilly Art & Whimsy on Etsy. (I have no affiliation with Michele, I just loved her product!) Thanks for stopping by today!

Supplies
Stamps: PTI--YOF: Roses & Birthday Bash Sentiments
Paper: PTI--Vintage Cream; October Afternoon--Thrift Shop; Melissa Frances--Kitschy Kitchen
Ink: Versafine--Onyx Black
Embossing Powder: Ranger--Super Fine Detail
Ribbon: Willy Nilly Art & Whimsy
Trim: Hero Arts
Copics: R20, R22, R24
Misc: Sewing Machine

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Sympathy Card




Hello! Today is 1-11-11, isn't that cool? I was at the dentist today, having a root canal, and my dentist was really into the date. He promised magical results due to all the ones, LOL! Okay . . . as long as there's no pain, I'm good. :-) Today I have a card that I've entered in three challenges. Getting my card making mojo back is slow going, I've found, so I decided to play along on some challenges to get it flowing again.
I needed a sympathy card for a friend, and Our Daily Bread Designs is a company I often turn to at those times. Their challenge this week is to use both something new and something old from your stash. My something new is the blue rose patterned paper I used on the card front, and to line the envelope. I just saw it at Michaels and fell in LOVE. I'm so excited that I used something I just bought and didn't hoard it for a year or three! :-) The something(s) old are the eyelets at the corners. I must have had those for 6-7 years or more! And I've had the sheer navy ribbon for at least 5. I'm glad this challenge gave me a push to pull out some neglected supplies!
The second challenge I am entering this card in is this week's Stampin' Sisters in Christ challenge. The scripture this week is Ruth 2:12, "May the Lord repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge." And so, we are to make a card or project which includes wings. The ODBD bird stamp fit the bill nicely. I stamped it twice, cutting out and popping up one copy so that it could rise above the top of the nestie.
The reason I included the envelope in the photo, and also added a second photo with the front of the envelope and the inside of the card showing, is that the third challenge I'm playing in this week is Just Us Girls (JUGS) Challenge #66 "Envy of the Envies." Entrants are to dress up their envelopes, front and back, to make them as special as the card inside. I need to do this more often!

Supplies
Stamps: ODBD--Lift Up Our Hands & Flourished Christian Symbols; inque boutique--Monarch
Paper: PTI--Rustic White (original); Hot Off the Press--blue rose pp; stash
Ink: Versafine--Onyx Black; Encore--Copper; Ranger--Antique Linen Distress Ink; PTI--Enchanted Evening
Ribbon: Michaels
Dies: PTI--Envelope Liner; Spellbinders--Labels 4 & Cross Collection
Eyelets: Doodlebug Design
Pearl: Zva Creative (my first Zva!)

Friday, January 7, 2011

Praying You'll Soon Be Well


Happy Friday! Too bad it's just my Thursday, since I always work on Saturday! :-) Today I have a card I made for a sick friend. It's actually pretty simple, letting the patterned paper do most of the work. And those white things behind the sentiment circle? That's raffia. I don't know what I was thinking. Kinda weird looking now that I've photographed it, LOL! Anyway, I used a new-to-me Martha Stewart butterfly punch (fun!) and one of my favorite border punches too. It should at least put a smile on my friend's face. :-)

Supplies
Stamps: Our Daily Bread Designs--Get Well
Paper: PTI--Vintage Cream, Berry Sorbet & Sweet Blush; DCWV--Old World stack
Ink: Versafine--Onyx Black; Ranger--Tattered Rose Distress Ink; PTI--Tea Dye Duo
Punches: Border Punch & Butterfly--Martha Stewart; Corner Chomper
Dies: Spellbinders--Blossom
Misc.: Embossing Powder--Ranger Ultra Fine Detail Clear; Pearls--Recollections; Raffia--Plaid Enterprises

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Happy 2011!

A wonderful new year to each one of you who've popped in to my blog! I'm filled with that new year optimism that takes a hold of most of us at this time, chock-full of card making resolutions and plans! In 2011, I'm hoping to blog weekly, do at least one challenge a month, make all my birthday cards a month ahead of time, comment more regularly on others' blogs, and make Christmas cards all year long. What about you? What special resolutions do you have for your crafting time this year?


I'm starting the new year off with a card that is one of the few custom creations I've been asked to make. Remember the 80th birthday card I posted here? I call this the "companion piece" because a dear lady at church saw the other card and requested one for her friend in a similar style, in peach tones. I had just figured out what I'd done wrong threading my sewing machine (the bobbin was in backwards, of all things!), so I wanted to add some decorative stitching and she really liked that touch. You'll notice the classic PTI stamp set Blooming Button Bits (don't worry, I tacked that far right button down further after seeing this picture, lol). I call it classic because it really is, isn't it? Flexible, non-trendy, and super useful. I love all of the Button Bits sets and hope there's another one or two added to PTI's inventory this year.

Supplies
Stamps: PTI--Blooming Button Bits & Green Thumb
Paper: PTI--Melon Berry & Vintage Cream; October Afternoon--Thrift Shop; stash
Ink: Versafine--Vintage Sepia; Versacolor--Bamboo; Ranger--Antique Linen & Mustard Seed Distress Inks; PTI--Melon Berry
Buttons: PTI--Melon Berry
Floss: DMC--Ecru
Embossing Powder: Ranger--Super Fine Detail Clear
Misc.: Sewing Machine, Spellbinder's die