Mojo Monday Sketch #75

I am REALLY getting into these Sketch Challenges lately!! I like them so much better than the color challenges. I have enough Designer Paper to put the colors together, but the sketches give me that little push toward creating something original. And how can you not love all the layers on the Mojo Monday sketches?!? With this sketch, I wanted to create a card for a family in my Sunday School class who recently adopted a baby boy. Using a monochromatic color palette is outside my comfort zone, but the Bashful Blue patterned paper seemed perfect for a baby boy card, and I think the sketch really helped. The scripture is from my very favorite I Corinthians 13, the Love Chapter in the Bible, and is appropriate for any occasion. I added the little blue bug to make the card more boyish. It's early on Saturday morning, so if you're up and stopping by my blog, thank you!!! I will eat a Lemon Chalet Creme Girl Scout cookie in your honor . . . right . . . now!!!

Kristina's Color Inspiration #43

I really, really, REALLY like the colors in Kristina's Color Inspiration this week, but you'd never know it by the card I made! I was trying to channel Dawn McVey's simple and beautiful style, but my card just turned out plain and mismatched. I'm posting it as a cautionary tale - FIND YOUR OWN STYLE!! You'll notice that the cards in my previous post for the Stamps and Smiles Sketch Contest are so much better and it's because I went back to my own personal style of creating cards when I made them. Dawn does an amazing job on her projects, but her style just isn't for me - when I'm creating, that is!! So, stay true to your own style and the colors and patterns that you love the next time you're creating cards or other paper projects - you'll be glad you did!!

Stamps and Smiles Sketch Contest

My dear friend, Cele, told me about the adorable bunny stamps on the blog Stamps and Smiles, and when I went to that site today, not only did find these precious creatures, but I found four wonderful Sketch Challenges as well!! I'm a little behind on my creating :) so I gave them a try. Love them!! Before I knew it, I'd completed all four challenges and had four beautiful cards to add to my stash. What's even better is that I have a chance to WIN those sweet bunny stamps. Of course, I'll share with Cele if I do win . . . cross your fingers and have a great weekend!!!

A Wee Little Project for Ya!

I'll be the first to admit that I am not a St. Patrick's Day person. It's my daddy's birthday, so that makes it a special day, and it's the day before our wedding anniversary, but I think I've only made one St. Patrick's Day card in my life and it wasn't very impressive. For some reason, though, once Valentine's Day was over, I became obsessed with the next holiday - St. Patrick's Day. I've been making shamrocks using SU!'s new heart punches (I'll post those later!) and they are super cute and easy! But this leprechaun's hat by Crafty Caro that I found on SCS was WAY too cute to ignore!! It took 2 tries but I really like the result! Caro used an empty packing tape roll, but I used one of the little favor tins I bought at A.C. Moore forever ago and never used. I didn't use the lid, so I'll have to come up with something clever to do with it! The tin is actually too short to be a good hat, so I extended the cardstock above it and it worked nicely. The Gable Green CS is 2 inches wide and the black CS band is 3/4 of an inch wide. Instead of threading the band through the buckle (which didn't work the first time!), I cut a 3/4-inch square and glued it to the buckle - MUCH neater and easier!! Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend!

I've gone rogue . . .

I think I've been watching too much "NCIS!" By rogue, I mean that I have used mostly retired SU! or non-SU! products on my card today (the Eyelet Border Punch is current :). Scandalous, wouldn't you say? The stamp set I used is a little $1 stamp set from A.C. Moore that caught my eye recently. Usually, I don't buy those sets because they are so small, but this little bunny was too cute to pass up. I CASEd the format of this card by Jen del Muro and used one of my favorite retired papers, Ginger Blossom. I stamped the Easter egg and grass first and then I masked them while I stamped the bunny. The bunny's little tail extends a bit above the Easter eggs, so I used Liquid Applique to make it look fluffy. The set included the sentiment, "Hoppy Easter," so I used that, too. This is a very simple card with a format that could be used for any occasion. Thanks for stopping by today. Have a good one!

Kristina's Color Inspiration #42

When I first saw the colors in Kristina's Color Inspiration (Really Rust, More Mustard, Kiwi Kiss, and Whisper White), I immediately thought of my favorite go-to set, Branch Out. It is truly the most versatile set ever with possibilities for any color combination. I tried to keep it simple, since I tend to overthink my cards, and I really like the result. I used Kiwi Kiss with a little touch of Really Rust for the branches and then I stamped the three colors for the leaves. I stamped the sentiment and boots in Really Rust. I really like using the Top Note Die to create a mat for my focal point - super simple and very lovely. Thanks for stopping by today!

Dawn's Favorite Color Challenge

This is a last-ditch effort to win SOMETHING from PaperTreyInk's amazing collection of anniversary prizes. So far, it's been a no go, so this is my last chance. I was to choose one of Dawn' McVey's color schemes from the past week that I really like and use it in a creation of my own. Well, I really liked her hot pink and brown dot card, but I don't have any of those supplies so I improvised! I found this card on SCS on one of the Leadership Boards. Love those pinks and browns! Thanks for stopping by on this Valentine's night, now go do what you're supposed to be doing . . .

Branch Out a Little More

If these cards look familiar to you, it's probably because you've seen them on Inking Idaho's awesome blog! My love for Branch Out has not diminished and I am looking forward to using it today to make a few more cards to add to my collection! Have a wonderful Valentine's Day - thanks for stopping by.

My very own Cupcakery!!

I know what you're thinking - those are some DELICIOUS-looking cupcakes! They must be from The Cupcakery or Magpies or some other professional bakery. Nope! I made them myself and they are amazing! Sinful devil's food cupcakes with homemade white chocolate buttercream frosting - wowee wow wow! If you've never used the Pampered Chef Easy Accent Decorator, you really need to because it is super-easy. I used it to frost the cupcakes and my daughter really enjoyed sucking the remaining frosting from the tube! Sadly, there are only three of these spectacular little morsels . . . but I also made a very large, heart-shaped cake that my family is going to devour after a wonderful Valentine dinner tomorrow night. I am really excited that my sweet parents are coming over to eat with us. Have a wondeerful Valentine's Day and be sure to enjoy all the treats you can get your hands on :)

HAPPY VALENTINE'S EVE!

My dear, sweet friend, Cele, made me the most beautiful note pad holder for my birthday and it was the perfect project for a last-minute teacher gift! I love Valentine's Day and have had all these ideas floating around in my brain for weeks, and yet, I was furiously crafting this morning to finish a few gifts and cards. The note pad holder is surprisingly easy to make but very impressive. You can click here for the video tutorial of the bottom of the box - it's very easy to follow. For the top decoration, I used my favorite scallop circle Nestabilities and layered 4 pieces together. I love, love, love the Bella Rose paper and it makes beautiful projects!! I also used strips of its to make a belly band for a little box of chocolate-dipped strawberries. The hearts were made using Stampin' Up!'s new heart punch and it is fabulous, just like all of SU!'s punches :) This is one of the simplest gifts I've ever made, but also one of the loveliest. Bailey's teacher was thrilled! Have a wonderful Valentine's weekend and thanks for stopping by.

Thoughts and Prayers, part 2 - LOVE THIS SET!!

Even though I've been sick forever :( I have had lots of crafting mojo lately! I found this card on SCS, and immediately fell in love! It's a long card (12" x 4" with a 3" foldover), which is different for me but a style I will use again. And how could you not love Chocolate Chip and Baja Breeze together? The flap didn't want to stay folded, so I had to photograph it in two parts - sorry the pictures are shadowy. I couldn't believe that I hadn't opened my Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware! I love how it looks on this card. I also used the *NEW* Parisian Breeze DSP - it's heavier than typical designer paper and very luxurious. I'm using it very sparingly so it will last a long time! Thanks for stopping by and happy stamping!

Happy iPod Valentine's Day!

Do you ever have one of those moments when you can literally see your marbles rolling all over the floor? You know the saying "She's lost her marbles?" Yep, those marbles, rolling all over the floor! Anyway, I saw these cute little iPod Valentines in Family Fun Magazine and decided to make them for my daughter's class. She had no interest in making them (she's the smart one in the family!) so I did all 22 myself. They are super cute, but very tedious. Seriously, I attached string to 44 Hershey's kisses - those are the earbuds - see the marbles now? I hope the kids like them and don't tear them up after only 10 seconds!

Thoughts and Prayers

If you follow my blog, you're probably thinking that my obsession with SU's new tree sets borders on mental illness and it's true! Thoughts and Prayers is a very versatile set and when I saw this card by StamperJen0 on SCS, I knew I'd have to CASE it! One of the demonstrators in my group recently had emergency surgery and I'm going to send her this card to cheer her up. I hope she likes it! I can't wait to make more cards like this one with different color combos. I never, ever use use purple, so this color scheme is a real departure for me, but I love it!! I only had a tiny scrap of Mellow Moss CS, so I used Always Artichoke as a base and layered that scrap over the left side. The artichoke DSP on the right side came from the hostess paper pack that was in the last catalog. Thanks for stopping by to see my second post of the day - be still my heart :)

Ribbon Flowers ROCK!!

I had the best time at the demo meeting last night! There were so many amazing swaps and I couldn't wait to get home and create some of them! But first things first . . . my dear sweet friend, Cele, gave me this card for Valentine's Day along with lots of beautiful K & Company Valentine goodies! She made the flower from a piece of ribbon using this technique from Lisa M. Pace. I haven't tried it yet, but I can't wait to - it's so beautiful!! And here is another card using my very favorite Branch Out set!! I CASEd Inking Idaho's beautiful creation and I love how it turned out! I could use this set every day and not get tired of it - it's THAT versatile! Sorry for the glare - I put all my cards in cellophane envelopes before taking them on the town!

Papertrey Ribbon Giveaway

OMGosh!! As soon as I saw a chance to win Papertrey's *NEW* New Leaf Ribbon (the most beautiful shade of green I have ever seen!) and all their other ribbon, I had to enter their latest contest!!! Can you imagine winning 95 SPOOLS OF RIBBON?!?!? I will truly flip if my entry is randomly chosen. Think lucky thoughts and send all your mojo my way, please!! I could probably be convinced to share if I win 'cause that's a lot of ribbon, so keep that in mind. This is my entry that corresponds to the connect-the-dots sketch, which was a fun twist. Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to send that mojo :)

Card Positioning Systems Sketch Contest Entry

As I was blog-stalking :) this morning, I saw on Annie B.'s blog that Card Positioning Systems was having a sketch contest and I just had to check it out! I was already planning to make a card using the Branch Out stamp set and Raspberry Tart paper, so I just made it using the contest sketch. The winner's entry will be published in CardMaker Magazine, which would be such an honor!! Thanks for stopping by today and have a wonderful weekend!

Hubba Hubba!

When I saw this card on Dawn McVey's blog, I knew I had to make it for Chris for Valentine's Day! It's so perfect for him! We're very loving & playful & make each other laugh, and this card perfectly conveys that playfulness! I've seen so many cards lately that include black & white patterned paper with bright colors and I LOVE THIS COMBO! Annie B. posted this card and I love it, too (and will CASE it soon :) Check out Hobby Lobby's selection of black & white patterned paper and let them inspire your next creation! Have a wonderful day!

Color Challenge #40

Do you ever wake up in the middle of the night determined to create something?!? Yeah, me neither! But tonight (well, this morning, by now ;) I woke up to check school closings, and then decided I was hungry, so I toasted an English muffin and drank a diet Coke. While I was finishing my diet Coke, I sat down with the laptop to check the blogs I follow* and, lo and behold, Kristina Werner had posted a new color challenge!!! Usually I am not very good with challenges, but I am trying to break out of my comfort zone and challenge my creativity! So here I am, at 4 a.m. working on a card. As I've said before, rarely do ideas just pop into my head. I usually have to look at all my favorite blogs, Stampin' Up!, and Splitcoaststampers to find inspiration for a particular project. But for some reason, perhaps the haziness of my brain at 4 a.m., I immediately visualized what I thought might be a good layout for this challenge. I stamped the trees from Branch Out (my new favorite set) in Old Olive Craft ink and then embossed with Crystal Clear Embossing Powder. Then I brayered on So Saffron, More Mustard, and Taken with Teal beginning at the bottom of the card and layering as I went up. I stamped and embossed the sentiment on a scrap of brayered paper and layered it with a circle of Taken with Teal cardstock. I also added a few teal butterflies. I hope I will like this card as well at 10 a.m. as I have at 4:30 a.m. . . . and I hope you like it to! Back to bed for me! Have a great day!

*This little story makes me think I could write a children's book along the lines of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. Maybe I should call mine If You Give a Mom a Laptop!!! Or perhaps a diet Coke!!