Retro Sketches #43

In my typical fashion, I jumped on a card challenge and made a card - but have been staring at it for several days without making a photo and blogging it! In my defense (this time),  I was awaiting proper lighting to make a good picture but Mr. Sun is being ornery. No sunshine in TN this week! Just gray, bleak, cold, and wet. Yay- Falalala! (Sarcasm)

So, I took the bull by the horns and just found some lighting to work tonight and snapped a quick photo so I could post my card.

Here is this week's Retro Sketch challenge:



And here is my card using this great sketch:

This is using Bazzill dark brown cardstock, Patterned Paper from Recollections (a Christmas stack!), and Juniper cardstock from CTMH. The stamp, ink, button, waxy flax, and paper butterfly are all CTMH. The chocolate tulle ribbon is newly added to my collection from a website my sister uses to order supplies for her home-based business. (That was a fun find!)

Thank you for visiting -- Happy New Year to you and yours!



Pin It

CASual Friday #83 & 10 Minute Craft Dash #9

 

10 minute craft dash is this challenge's theme over at CASual Friday. This one is in conjunction with the new crafty challenge 10 Minute Craft Dash! What fun -- I have to add them to my list of challenges.

I love clean and simple and everyone loves fast! Just gives us time to make more! This one took only 7 minutes to make.

CFC83: Create a CAS holiday card in less than 10 minutes!

Gather your thoughts, then gather your supplies, and when you're ready, set the timer for just 10 minutes and

 GO!

I squeezed this card in right before Christmas because I needed one more to mail out. (Never mind, I have yet to stick it in the mail! And it's rainy now, so I sure ain't walking to the mailbox this morning!) :)

 

 

 

 

 

I used my CTMH "Simple Memories" set and Desert Sand ink to stamp the medallion. Cranberry ribbon and ink for the PaperTrey Ink Christmas sentiment. (from "Think Big Favorites #8")

 

Very simple and very fast! I love how it turned out.

 

Thank you for visiting. Happy Holidays to all! 

 

Pin It

Friday Mashup #89

Merry Christmas from wet and chilly TN! We are seeing a "wintry mix" today and my kids are so excited that they have seen a snowflake or two. :) Never mind it's 40 degrees and it will never stick - they are excited to see it.

I took a break from organizing my room last night to make a card and have a little "down time". The Friday Mashup challenge this week is to use heat embossing on a clean and simple card.

So here is the "Mashup" Challenge:

1. Make a project using" Heat Embossing".
2. Or Make a project that has a "Clean And Simple Layout".
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a "CAS project using Heat Embossing".

 

 

I went way outside my "comfort zone" and made a Valentine's type card. (They are not my favorite.) But I really liked how this one turned out.

 

 

I heat embossed the black stripes on the side using my "It's Your Day" CTMH stamp set. The "love u" bubble is from my new Artiste cartridge set (chipboard bubble and coordinating stamp set). The heart is also from the "It's Your Day" set. Added a little red twine and silver pearls from Doodlebug Designs and I was finished! I love clean and simple! I don't always make this style, but it is definitely one of my favorites.

 

Hope everyone has had a wonderful holiday season and thoroughly enjoyed their Christmas festivities! Thanks for visiting. 

 

Pin It

CASual Friday 82

I'm throwing out another quick post for one more card that I made this weekend in my quick sneak attack and break from Christmas chores.

The CASual Friday challenge this week is to use scoring on your project.



I went with a very clean and simple card!

Scored lines on the upper left-hand and lower right-hand corners of my white cardstock panel. I tied cocoa colored twine (from American Crafts) on each side and added a sentiment and some matching cocoa colored pearls by the sentiment.
Very simple!

Thanks for visiting! Hope you are enjoying a peaceful week right before Christmas. Pin It

Retro Sketches #42

I made a few Christmas cards this weekend to go along with teachers gifts this week and took advantage of sketches and color challenges.

This card is for the cute Retro Sketch challenge:



I used black cardstock, patterned paper from Making Memories, the Peaceful Pinecones set from PaperTrey Ink, chipboard atrisan label and ink from CTMH along with the Red Glitter Glitz Gel. The organdy ribbon is also CTMH.

 

 

Thanks for stopping by! 

Pin It

PDCC#161

Hello there.

I'm throwing out a quick post for a card I stamped for this week's Play Date Cafe. I loved it (even though my photo didn't turn out all that great.) It's going to a teacher tomorrow at school so a quick snap in the kitchen tonight was the best I could do at the time.



And here is my clean and simple card with these darling colors:

 

 

I stamped the snowflakes from the CTMH Holiday Trinkets stamp set in Cotton Candy ink, added green pearls from Doodlebug Design, the sentiment is from Amuse Studio, and lastly, Cranberry grosgrain ribbon from CTMH. The card base and decorated panel is white cardstock from PaperTrey Ink.

 

 

Hope you are having a good week with the last mad dash before Christmas. I just told my husband today that I am actually tired of smoking up our credit card! I'm ready to let it rest for a while. :)

 

Thanks for visiting!



Pin It

Freshly Made #64 - Revisited

Hello - one more quickie post today and I'm off to tackle some Christmas decor! (Yes, that's right. We haven't finished any of it yet. Just a bunch of half-way completed stations in our house. It's maddening if I let myself think about it. .... Fortunatley for me, it's not too hard to NOT think about it.)

I had more ideas for the Freshly Made sketch yesterday. It was a terribly gray and dreary day here, even though it was a balmy 66 degrees most of the day. I wanted some color and pizzaz to cheer myself up after Darling Son's Flu B diagnosis.



I'm still working my way through my coveted CTMH "Dotty for You" paper packet, as evidenced with this card:

I used the "Its Your Day" stamp set to stamp the patterns on my CTMH Paper Butterflies. Then sponge inked Blush ink atop it all. The white butterflies were still blending into the background. Some green glittery Twinkle Brads that match my Michael's ribbon (always exciting to match the good stuff with my "cheap" stuff.  It's hard to be a born & bred tightwad and have this hobby.) My sentiment is stamped in Lagoon ink using the celebration stamp set that came with my Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge.

Thank you for stopping by! Pin It

Colour Q #166 -- Second Pass

As promised, the second card I made with Colour Q colors this week. And, who knows, if I can sneak off and hide in my room some more this weekend, I just might whip another one out. I'm wild and crazy like that.



I'm using one of my own card patterns from a Halloween card I made for Colour Q this year.

It turned out okay. Not as in love with it as I was the Halloween one, but I'll claim it.

Again, I used my Remarkable Wreath stamp set. This time, I stamped the twigs in Grey Wool and used Sky Blue berries. I added some Crystal Blue snowflakes from another stamp set for the winter effect. I'm addicted to this stamp set! I love to change the wreath up - there are so many different ways to do it.

My papers are BoBunny Winter Frost (the dark blue at top and patterned banner strip), CTMH Aspen (the snowy piece on bottom and twilight cardstock banner strip). Again the silver sparkly tape (I might put that stuff on my kids somehwhere I like it so much!) and Outdoor Denim twine, all CTMH.

The "joy" stamp is WPlus9 Iconic Christmas stamp set (as well as the snowflakes I referenced on the wreath.)

Thank you for stopping by! Hope you are enjoying a blessed holiday season thus far.
Pin It

Colour Q #166 -- Winter Blues

Good morning!

I've had a crazy week and took some much-needed therapy time in my craft room yesterday afternoon. Never mind, the house was crumbling around us and I have to double-time it today to get some things cleaned up -- but I feel better and that's what counts! ; )

I've got a little boy home sick AGAIN this week! He was home all last week with a virus. Went back to school Mon-Wed and Thursday had to take him back to Dr. and find he has the Flu! I'm all discombobulated and feeling sorry for him.

At first glance, I wasn't so sure I'd get into the Colour Q colors, but then after some thought I had more ideas than I had time to put them to paper. I made 2 yesterday and will post them both in quick posts then get back to work around here.



The first one is my favorite.

I used the Grunge stamp set from Skipping Stones Designs. The greeting is from Amuse Studio. I used snowflake punch for my glitter blue snowflakes and stamped in Grey Wool the little swirly lines from CTMH's "Love Life" set. Added some bling center-snowflake and on my greeting banner; CTMH silver sparkly tape and dark blue fibers from EK Success and it was done!

(I had seen the Grunge background stamped used in a similar way on Pinterest. I wish I had come up with that on my own!) Pin It

Freshly Made #64

Hello! Long time - no see.

I've been absent from blogland, but still getting crafty regularly. It's been crazy for the past couple of weeks -- a sure sign the holiday season is here!

Today - I was determined to squeeze in a card "for fun", even though I needed this one for my sister. She and her 2 1/2 yr old daughter have been battling the flu this week. Poor thing - lo and behold, I got a text today that says her DH is now home sick with something. When it rains it pours!

So now the card is for the whole house!

I always love the Freshly Made Sketches, this week was no exception.



Here is my card using my coveted new "Clementine" paper pack from CTMH. I've already confessed to a fellow scapper/confidant that it physically hurt me to cut this paper today for a card! :) (I have a little problem -- I want to buy all the pretty paper and have it close to me without cutting it. It's a sad state of affairs. I'm working on it, I promise.)

Clementime patterned paper, Sorbet ink, Brown button, Chocolate waxy flax, Flower: CTMH
Stamped sentiment, Think Big Favorites: PaperTrey Ink
Hand-dyed crinkle ribbon: My Craft Spot
Cream cardstock, Brown adhesive gem: Recollections Michaels

Thank you for visiting my blog and checking out my creation. Hope you are enjoying a wonderful holiday season! 

 

 

Pin It

Dynamic Duos #29 and Mojo Monday #268

I LOVED the Mojo Monday sketch today! I didn't get to play along with Mojo as often and it's just perfect for the Dynamic Duos color & snowman theme.

 








I used my remaining pieces of "Wonderland" paper from CTMH and my BRAND NEW "Flakey Friends" stamp set. I LOVE it! I think it's my first snowman stamp set ever. I'm almost positive. The sentiment is from the October SOTM, "Very Merry Christmas".  I colored in the adorable snowman image with General's Chalk Pencils and then smoothed with a blending pen.

 

 

 

I also broke out my NEW Silver Trim. That was exciting. :)    The black ribbon, bling button, and twine are all from my stash and agreed to coexist peacefully with my new goodies. I was pleased with how it all went together. 

Thank you for visiting! Have a great holiday week with family and friends. Pin It

PDCC #158 and CAS(E) This Sketch #6

I loved applying the Play Date colors this week to Christmas! Anytime I can throw in non-traditional with something blatantly Christmas, I'm enjoying myself. (Yikes - I just realized how nerdy that sounded after I typed the period. Sadly, I still mean it, so it shan't be stricken from the record.)



The stamp set I wanted to use, I thought, went perfectly with this week's sketch from CAS(E) This Sketch.



Here is my card using these colors, this sketch, and PaperTrey Ink's "Mistletoe and Holly" stamp set, a favorite "impulse internet purchase".

 

 

 

I used CTMH colors of Blush, Juniper, and Grey Wool. The gray twine was an add-on courtesy of Doodlebug Design. (I've been wanting an excuse to use it on something.) I also added dots of GlitterGlitz gel, by CTMH. I liked the little pop it added to the berries.

 

Thanks for checking it out - please have a safe and happy holiday week! 

Pin It

CFC79: Winter Blues

CASual Friday is

CFC79: Create a CAS winter project featuring blue.

This one is too easy for mojo! I may have to play again - I love doing anything in all blue. ESPECIALLY a winter project. (The only way this could get better is if it were for a baby boy IN the winter project. But that doesn't make sense, so probably as good as it's going to get.)

I used snowflake stamps from the Wonderland stamp set from last winter. These are great snowflakes and pretty much all I use for this theme.

 

 

I used CTMH colors of Lilac Mist, Sky, Heavenly Blue, and Moonstruck (sentiment). The adhesive gems are from KaiserCraft and the glitter paper (mat for banner) is from DCWV. Everything else is CTMH.

 

 

Thank you for visiting! 

Pin It

Friday Mashup #85 - A Thankful Fall

This week's Friday Mashup challenge appealed to me, because I felt I could apply an idea I've been banting about for several weeks. I don't have near enough time to play with all my ideas, challenges, projects, and layouts I have in mind! So, I'm prioritizing somehow - not sure there is a method to the madness...but I'm surviving. As my sister says, "Everyone's still alive. So I guess I'm doing something right."  :)

That being said, this week I prioritized all the challenges I wanted to participate in by first selecting the ones for which I actually already had an idea. (I wish I could do them all!) After an overly long week's hiatus from my craft room, (GASP! I know - I've NOT been happy about that) I went into turbo mode today!

1. Make a project with "Leaves".
2. Or Make a project saying "Thank You".
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a "Thank You project with Leaves".

 

 

I wanted to use a small leaf stamp to form a wreath. (yes, I managed to pull out a stamp set that had a small leaf on it. Wonders never cease!) These two stamps from my "Timeless" set that came with the Olivia WOTG kit a couple of falls ago. (If it was more than a couple, don't tell me. I don't want to know.)

 

 

 

I had to monkey with it 2 or 3 times to get it to look the way I wanted, but I finally was quite pleased with this one. (I traced a circle onto my card base first for a pattern.) After the wreath was stamped, I stamped the small "berries" from a dot that came in another set. Whenever those randomly appear in a stamp set, I wonder what they are there for -- I was quite glad to make good use of one.

 

I finished it off with a twine bow and button just because it needed a little something else. Otherwise, this is a very simple card -- all stamped on the card base.

 

Thank you for visiting! Have a great Turkey Week and drive safely!

 

Pin It

Merry Monday #41

I'm getting another post in for the weekly Merry Monday challenge, an excuse to indulge my guilty pleasure of making Christmas cards. (It's a guilty please becuase I will never use these cards -- but probably give them to my Mom for her to send out. She loves it - I get to make cards. It's a win-win.)



I wanted to do something with my card other than the circles. I've thought about this sketch off and on for most of the week. Today I finally thought of some of my trusted CTMH Christmas ornament stamp sets. This particular set - Holiday Cheer.

 

 

I used a patterned paper strip from my "Jingle" paper kit (I'm STILL using that stuff! I think it's mulitplying in my desk drawer.) The patterned background paper is from a K&Co. mat stack (perfect size for cards) The twine is Doodlebug Designs.

 

Thank you for visiting! Hope you have a great Thanksgiving Holiday and travel safely!

Pin It

Fun Play Date Cafe Colors (#157)

I'm getting wild and crazy with some Christmas card colors, thanks to the Play Date Cafe!

I loved these colors and thought it would be fun to do something "gradient" with them. (I never really try that.)

 

 

 

This one was pretty simple -- stamping the Peace & Joy sentiment from my PaperTrey Ink "Peaceful Pinecones" stamp set in each color. (CTMH: Moonstruck, Gypsy, and Orchid Bouquet [retired]) I added a matching bow and Opague Pearl, and then stamped the 3 Harlequins from my Happy Harlequins set (also PTI). More pearls there, an additional sentiment, matted with a dark purple cardstock and it's done!

 

Thank you for visiting. Please check out the wonderful inspiration over at PDCC!!

Pin It

CAS(E) this Sketch! #5

I'm excited to have found another Sketch challenge blog. And, I love working toward the more CAS designs so this is fun for me.

I have a brief post for this week's entry. I've already given away one set of Christmas cards for a birthday gift this week and have one more to go. :) This card was made to go with the second set.

 

 

Originally, I had an image I intended to use in place of the three scalloped edges. But after stamping it, coloring it, and trimming it (that's right ALL THREE steps were complete), I just didn't like how it turned out. I knocked it down and use the sentiment there instead. I used 3 mini-adhesive pearls to give homage to the 3 scallops, but without busying it up. I also intended to only use the red paper strip, but really loved having that pop of green stick out. I love this pattern and plan to repeat it in the future. It's quick and easy but with a lot of "zazz" -- Sheldon Cooper fans --> "It's ZAZZY!".

 

Thanks for visiting my blog -- please check out the amazing entries and DT work over at CAS(E) this Sketch! challenge blog. 

Pin It

Dynamic Duos #27

Good afternoon.

I'm splurging with my time management today and posting mid-day! An activity usually reserved for night-time when I have energy levels that don't get me very far.

I played with Dynamic Duos this week because I had this (what-I-thought-was-a) great idea for the colors and one of my favorite floral stamps from CTMH, Trellis. It turned out pretty, but for some reason, just not exactly what I pictured.

 

 

 

I cut a window out of my card base using my Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge. I stamped the rose and sentiment on the inside of the card. Then, stamped the rose and leaves on scrap paper, trimmed, and adhered to the card front, lining up the rose so that it was over the stamped image peeking through the window from the inside of the card. I lined it up so well, you can't even tell there is an inside image in my picture. :) (FOR ONCE, I line something up perfectly. Whatever.)

 

I broke open a tube of  Colonial White ribbon and used it to give more dimension to my card. (In reality it seemed much plainer than I had imagined.) Those are mocha pearls in a light tan in the center of my rose.

 

Thanks for stopping by. Hope you are having a great week! 

Pin It

Play Date Cafe #156 and Retro Sketches #36

Good evening -- another post -- 2 in one night. I'll have to go to sleep now!


This week I combined Play Date Cafe's color challenge with the sketch from Retro Sketches.

 



I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the Play Date inspiration photos and colors. They scream fall and natural tones/textures.

I used Kraft paper and an Olive kraft paper for the base of my card. The stickers are "vintage" CTMH from the Enchanged set (GREAT colors in it). I stamped and trimmed the leaves and acorn from my stamp set Many Thanks, also using the sentiment from that set. The burlap ribbon, autumn terracota colored twine are also CTMH. Ivy Green Stick pins from Little Yellow Bicycle and dark cocoa pearls from Recollections (Michael's) finished it off.

Thank you for visiting - hurry back now!

Please remember to check out tons of inspiring artwork at both challenge blogs: Retro Sketches and Play Date Cafe.
Pin It

Merry Monday #40

Good evening!

I'm excited as a first time Merry Monday challenge poster. I've played along for several weeks, but never managed to post.

I loved this week's sketch and prioritized since I'm using a stack of handmade Christmas cards for an upcoming birthday gift.



I turned the sketch sideways and shortened the main image to suit my patterned paper. This piece is retired Jingle paper that I love, but it's busy enough that I didn't want it covering the base of the entire card.

The patterned paper has its own strips and it's a timesaver. I opted not to trim them seperately but to use a solid piece and break it up with ribbon and bow. (I don't feel any project is complete without a bow and some hardware. Squee! That's always my favorite part!)

I backed the patterned paper piece and the sentiment label with coordinating Jingle cardstock (Tulip) and rounded the corners. The ribbon is from my CTMH Cranberry collection, but it's close enough, I wasn't worried about the color difference. Those two mix pretty well, actually. (For future reference) The stentiment stamp is from my Holiday Trinkets stamp set. The ADORABLE red bling is Doodlebug Designs. I snatched up off a Christmas display at a nearby scrapbook supply store. (One of those run-in-for-one-thing raids.....It's NEVER just one thing!)

Very simple, but one of my favorites.

Thanks for visiting my blog - please visit again soon. Hope you have a great week! Don't forget to check out the beautiful Christmas cards and inspiration over at Merry Monday.



Pin It

Colour Q #161

Good evening!

Nothing like pushing one in close to the wire. In my typical fashion, I made a card for the Colour Q color challenge DAYS ago, but here I am posting it right before I go to bed on the night of the deadline! I almost forgot about it! (Which would be even MORE typical.)



Since I made my card after I had mailed out my Halloween cards, I decided to ink up a new stamp and try something different.

I used PaperTrey Ink's Happy Harlequin set.  I couldn't resist buying this set because I loved my Happy Hexagons set I purchased several months ago. Technically, it might be categorized as a somewhat-frivolous purchase since I really could do the same things with the Hexagon set... Not like it's that different. But in the words of my Papaw(-in-law), "I didn't need it. But I wanted it."

So I made sure that I'm putting it to good use already!

 

 

I "lifted" my card sketch idea from something I've seen recently on Pinterest. (I'm a recently converted junkie. TONS of inspiration out there - It's like a continuous free magazine subscription!)

 

The harlequin shapes are stamped in Sunset, Autumn Terracota, and Creme Brulee CTMH colors. Matted in black cardstock with a black accent piece on top. Sentiment is from Paper Smooches. (Oh yeah. That was another one. I've gotten stamp happy lately. I'd give my recent behavior a "yellow light" --- but it's SO fun.) The twine is CTMH Autumn Terracota also. Black Bitty Brads are used on the top corner.

 

 

Thank you for visiting my blog - please come back often and please check out Colour Q for tons of inspiring artwork!

Pin It

CASual Fridays #76

Last post of the day! (unless I get wild and crazy this afternoon -- there's still time for that to happen)

CASual Friday this week is to create a clean and simple project using Kraft paper. (one of my go-to supplies) I knocked out another November (Family) Birthday Marathon card.





I used PaperTrey ink Kraft, Botanical Silhouettes stamp set, and Think Big Favorites # 16 stamp set.

I embossed the flowers using Stampendous Lupis colored powders. The stems are stamped in CTMH Olive ink and embellished with the same color twine. The Lilac Mist cardstock panel is also CTMH.

Thank you for visiting! Hope you enjoy visiting other blogs from CASual Friday's challenge blog. Pin It

CASE Study #114

Three down - one more to go!

....on my way to finishing the challenge marathon. :) Sometimes, it's better to just sit down and knock it all out at once. The kids are playing quietly behind me, so I'm tackling it now while I can. (I'm sure no one else has to worry about such timing magic!)

My first CASE Study challenge in a while. This one was great fun for me because it actually inspired me to pull out my felt. I'm surprised I even remembered where it was. Once I got it out, it was like Christmas -- "I didn't know all of this was in here!" Yikes. Both exciting and sad. But, positive that I'm continuing on my personal journey to "use my stash and get results"! (And, yes, I've been totally cheating and eBaying some stuff - too impatient and wanting to buy new goodies!)

If you're noticing a pattern and getting the vibe that I get as excited about hoarding the goodies as I am about using the goodies, you would be 100% correct. I am a self-diagnosed "papercrafting goodie hoarder". Those closest to me have learned to laugh about it and shake their head. I have more stuff than I can use, yet I'll still have trouble cutting into a new pack of CTMH paper ("But it's too pretty to cut!") or attaching an adorable new embellishment ("but what if I need that later, for a REALLY special project?") .. but alas, I am working on it!

And case in point, as seen below, you get results when you actually use what your hard earned money has purchased! This card is one of my favorites and I've decided it will be perfect for my great aunt. It's time to send her more pictures of my kiddos. She keeps up with all of them and knows what's going on -- on top of having scads of her own grandchildren. Since she's 3 hours away, I don't get to visit as often as I like so she gets homemade cards with pictures.

Here is the inspiration piece from the CASE study challenge:



And here is my card using that "newly discovered" felt:

 

 

All products are CTMH with the exception of the Kraft Cardstock (PaperTrey Ink) and the stamped sentiment (Skipping Stones Design).

 

Thanks for visiting -- don't forget to say "hello" over at the CASE Study Challenge blog.

Pin It