Colour Q #182

Ok - last post this morning! I'll have to make more if I want to keep posting. That's a good "caught-up" feeling.

Colour Q this week is all spring-y. I'm SOOO ready. I've blamed my defunct mojo on the gray, cloudy, rainy, dreary skies the last several weeks. It's sucking the life outta me!

 

I used my "Trellis" stamp set from CTMH (one of my favorites) and "Card Chatter - Sympathy" stamp set (another favorite). My CTMH colors are Sky, Lilac Mist, Olive, and Sweet Leaf. The ribbon is PaperTrey Ink (Blueberry Sky).

 

Thanks for visiting!

Pin It

Unscripted Sketches #203

I'm back with another quick post before I'm off to finish up some housework. Really, it's bad that I've stopped and sat down! I'll have a hard time getting back up and going again. :) But a girl HAS to eat and this one has to eat a lot.

I loved the fun, simple sketch over at Unscripted Sketches this week.



I decided to play with some patterned paper from my gift card purchased 6x6 pad from Authentique. Warning: All of their paper pads are cute -- It's so hard to pick just one!

 

 

 

 

The stamp set used is from Technique Tuesday. I used CTMH Honey ink, Creme Brulee twine, and Black Shimmer Tape.

 

Thank you for visiting! 

Pin It

Dynamic Duos #45

Good morning!

I'm slowly but, I hope, surely getting  my mojo back. I'm working on it, anyway. :)

I made three cards last night AND for challenges. That's unusual for me lately. I've even completed yucky housework this morning by 9am. (Bathrooms!) I've spent the last two days practically vegging out, after a week that was TOO busy last week, even into the weekend.

My first post for this morning is for the Dynamic Duos challenge.

As soon as I checked out the colors last night an idea came to me, based on this card I've wanted to CASE.



Here is my card based on the fabulous inspiration:

 

 

My balloon stamp is from my CTMH Artiste collection stamps. I used Cotton Candy, first and second generation, for my challenge colors. The sentiment is from my CTMH Art Philosphy collection stamps. The pretty glittery gems are also CTMH.

 

Thanks for visiting! 

Pin It

CASE Study #132

Oooh, I'm so going to regret this in the morning, but I'm staying up a little later to sneak in another post! (I've already snuck in "one more card", etc.)

I know tomorrow will be so busy and I'll have trouble getting to anything crafty related. Quiet time while the whole house is sleeping is hard to give up. If I were REALLY good, I would get up well before everyone and have quiet time in the morning --- but I'm not REALLY good. I've set my alarm so many times, vowing to beat everyone up and enjoy some "productive solitude" and a cup of coffee (still decaf, Gina!)  before they are up. And, I can't tell a lie -- it NEVER happens. ...  EVER. ....  I'm serious. NEVER EVER EVER. I'll turn off the alarm in my sleep, decide in a semi-conscious state that it's really not that important and snooze for an hour then wake up all mad that I didn't get up!, and I've even just flat out woke up and said "no way!" and gone back to sleep. So, the only mature thing to do is to accept the fact that I probably won't get up early to do anything and just stay up a few minutes later and do what's on my brain!   ; )   Sometimes I'm glad I did, sometimes Morning Mandy hates  Night Mandy, but what are you gonna do?!

Oh yea - CASE study. I am digging on the inspiration piece from this month's muse! I had some ideas pretty quickly when I saw her card. I have yet to check out her blog, but the two we've seen through CASE Study so far are really floating my boat.


Here is this week's inspiration:


My daughter is having a birthday this coming Friday and we've agreed to let her have a little get-together at the house to grill out and have cake & ice cream. We've never done parties outside of our family (that's more than enough, believe me) but now that she's older, I can understand wanting to have a little something with friends from school. (Our piglets have a slew of cousins.) So, I agreed and she proceeded to go to school asking her friends if they could come to her party and she spouted off dates and times and who knows what else, to be perfectly honest. A couple of the kids said their mom's "needed an invitation".  Or that's the story I got from her anyway! Ha! .... I completely understood and promised her that I would make something up. Now remember, this is a first for me -- And, she's turning 9!

I decided to make her little invitations based on casing this card. We only needed a handful, so it wasn't overwhelming. We had an afternoon at home for Early Dismissal and she supervised as I made the first 4 cards. (We remembered a 5th AFTER these four were finished. But Mommy graciously took care of it that night after bedtime. Ahem. I'm sure you've ALL been there!)

 

The cupcake was die cut from my (again) CTMH Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge. I stamped the cupcake flourishes on the background paper so that it would show through the "window" from the back piece. I really liked how it turned out. All of my other sentiments stamped (front and back) are from the same set, one that came with my cartridge and one I was so happy to actually use!

 

Princess Daughter wanted to write in the information on some of them. HISSSSSSSS!   I let her. I got my knickers out of a twist about my little project and let her do it! She's so excited - hard to take that away from her, even if I am a raging perfectionist with "control issues". She had a lot of input on this and really was a joy to have in on it with me (even though I didn't offer to let her stamp, cut, tie, or glue anything.  - I'm not THAT loosey goosey with my projects! Baby steps, baby steps.) She really loved the end results and beamed proudly as she filled out the envelopes.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by to visit and baring with my long post full of stories (if you did so. This is so long, I'm not even sure I'll proofread it.   JK! 'course I will.   #ragingperfectionist).

 

Happy weekending!

Pin It

Merry Monday #53

I'm back with a quick post for another crafty inspiration challenge - one of my new faves, Merry Monday.

This week's challenge is a sketch:


I changed it up just a little bit and used some of my Mom's favorite Christmas colors. :) She's loving on some Icy Blue these days.

 

 

My blue patterned paper is from Authentique (Essentials 6x6 paper pad), as well as, the patterned paper for the banner and the gray patterned paper creating the ornament's top layer. I cut the ornament out with my CTMH Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge and I LOVE it.

 

I  matted the whole piece in gray striped paper from my CTMH Bliss paper packet and added the Silver Shimmer Trim and white Seam Binding bow, all from CTMH. The sentiment is PaperTrey Inks Think Big Favorites #8.

 

Thank you for stopping by to take a peek!



Pin It

Colour Q #180

Happy Spring-y Saturday.

We are enjoying beautiful weather here in TN and it's done wonders for our morale. :) The Hubs is fishing, the kids and I are hanging out, and I'm determined to catch up on some blog posts!

I've managed to squeeze in a few cards this week and I want to get them posted! At least the ones I really like. :)

I played along with Colour Q. The colors jumped out at me and I love how this turned out.

I stamped the lattice pattern in Topiary green over a lighter green cardstock using my Alley Way Stamps "Pillow Talk" stamp. I've already wanted to use it a TON. I've been wanting a stamp in that pattern for months! I was so excited when I saw this come out. 

My sentiment is from Card Chatter - Birthday. The paper butterfly is also CTMH, one I pulled out of my stash. I sponge daubed Grey Wool ink over the top of it and then tied the gray twine around it. This one was very simple and I made it quickly! 

Thanks for visiting! Hope you are enjoying a beautiful weekend, too~

Pin It

Merry Monday #52

Last post for the afternoon, then I'll have to find myself another means of entertainment while hanging out with Adorable Son (sick, see previous post! :) )

I was a few weeks behind playing with a Merry Monday challenge and wanted to participate. I've learned in my albeit, short, but productive card-making career that Christmas cards are probably my favorite to make. So I was quite jazzed to stumble upon Merry Monday.

This color combination is the challenge for this week:

I stamped the chevron background with Cranberry ink on Vintage Cream cardstock (PaperTrey Ink). I then added a rectangle panel of Ponderosa Pine (I think-- it's OLD!)  The sentiment is from Think Big Favorite's #8 Mini Stamp set (also PaperTrey Ink), heat embossed in White Daisy. I stamped the swirl in New England Ivy (I'm sure about this one.) and then added my paper poinsettia. (I've got a sweet little stash of those hoarded in my crafty space.) This panel is all ontop of some wood plank paper salvaged from the remnants of my old Moon Doggie paper kit! That takes you back, doesn't it?

A fun little card!

Thanks for stopping by to take a peek! Pin It

Colour Q #179 and Mojo Monday #283

I haven't played along with a Mojo sketch in eons and I always like them. Not sure why I don't get to it, but I was on a mission this week. Actually, same could be said for Colour Q -- I tackled them both at once this time.

   

Here is my card using the inspiration pieces:

I used Kraft cardstock and stamped the chevrons from a Hero Arts/Basic Grey cling background stamp. The sunshine is cut from my Artiste cartridge (a must-have!) I also die-cut the the label and stamped the sentiment from my "Words of Comfort" stamp set. (another must-have). Smoothie colored twine to finish it off. 

Thanks for stopping by to visit! Hope you are having a great weekend.

Pin It

CASE This Sketch #18

Well, you wouldn't know this, but I'm actually posting blog entries during, what would be, my normal "crafty time". In the grand scheme of things, it matters not, but I feel somewhat cattywampus!

 My baby boy is very sick AGAIN. Probably another virus. He's been plagued with them this winter. Several times this winter, he's come down with a fever, seemingly out of the blue. It's been two full months with no signs and I thought we were clear of "sick season" and done with this until next year! LOL. NOT the case. As I zipped up the last suitcase last night, getting ready to make the three hour trek to my parent's house, he came to me and complained of being cold. Since he'd already exuded other suspicious behaviors (turning down a chocolate chip muffin [his favorite], not wanting to play outside with a friend, and not eating snack after school), I immediately told him to take his temperature. He started grinning and exclaimed he "wasn't sick" -- as any Mom knows -- a sure sign that they ARE, in fact, sick! So we cancelled our plans to visit the family and by this morning his fever was raging. He's taken over our bed today, watching TV and actually just asked for some of his toys and is finally playing, but he wants Mommy in the room with him. LOL. He's adorable! ; )

So, long story not-so-short, I decided to catch up a few blog posts while I'm held captive. The Hubs and Darling Daughter are living it up running all over town and enjoying themselves, so the house is nice and quiet. (Son and I are the quiet ones. Ha! The other two probably would NOT corroborate our story, but we're sticking to it.)

Earlier this week during stolen crafty time, I played along with CASE This Sketch, a relatively new challenge blog and I love it.

I snapped my photo right before I put this baby in the mail and then later realized my twine bow was covering part of my sentiment. Figures! But, I made it with a use in mind -- for a friend who just had surgery. 

I used my stamp set from My Mind's Eye, Miss Caroline set. I use this set alot. The sentiment is from Amuse Studio Breast Cancer Awareness set. I stamped the wood strip in chocolate, then colored it in with a watercolor pencil/blending pen using same color. The tulips are stamped in Cotton Candy and colored in with a Bubblegum watercolor pencil/blending pen. Easy and fun! Everytime I make one this simple, I wonder why I don't do it more often. 

Well off for another post. I'll be rambling all day if I don't cut myself off! Thanks for stopping by to visit. 

Pin It

Moxie Fab World: The Washi Tape Challenge

Another fun Moxie Fab challenge  in honor of  Card Creations Vol. 11 issue of Paper Crafts Magazine. I picked up my copy this week and it's fantabulous - as always!

I must admit I "resisted" the Washi Tape craze for some time. Not becuase I didn't like it or anything, but it didn't exactly blow my skirt up either. I was impartial  - neutral if I must label it. And I feel I must to avoid sounding anti-washi. I assure you I am not anti-washi. And, of course, now that I bought some, I daresay I am pro-washi! It's just fun to play with and I do like the effects of it on my crafty projects.

Here is my inspired piece that I whipped up earlier this week during a crafty moment. I seem to do better if I make several at once.

 

 

I used two different washi tapes by Dress It Up, an Artiste catrdige cut shape, and clouds stamped and trimmed from my A Rainbow  stamp set. I stamped on my air baloon from my You Are... stamp set. I also used that stamp set to create the sentiment in the middle of the card. This one was fun to play around with - I think mostly because I did just that -- played!

 

Thanks for stopping by to visit!

Pin It

Paper Players #135 and Moxie Fab Emphasize the Negative

In the spirit of my combined challenge series, I've got another post with more than one challenge!

I wanted to play along with the Moxie Fab "Emphasize the Negative" challenge, celebrating the release of the latest Card Creations issue (No. 11). I can't wait to pick up a copy!

I just so happened to add some hand-drawn stitching after I finished my "negative" panel and decided that it would work great with this week's Paper Player's "In Stitches" themed challenge. I was actually inspired by my sister. When I showed her the card via FaceTime, she mentioned "reverse applique" was the term from her world. THIS made me think of the stitching -- and I love what it added to the card. Thanks Sastor!



Here's what I came up with after having fun playing around with my CTMH Artiste cartridge (again!).

It turned out to be a good use for scrap paper pieces. (I'm not running out of those anytime soon.) I used PaperTrey Ink Kraft cardstock, CTMH Natural Hemp twine, and PaperSmooches Sentiment Sampler. The stitching was added with my CTMH Desert Sand marker and stamped ink is VersaFine Vintage Sepia. The panel is popped up on 3-D Adhesive Foam tape for dimension. 

This one was a lot of fun. Thank you for stopping by to take a peek! 

Pin It

CASual Fridays #92 and Dynamic Duos #42 Simon Says Stamp

I've been combining challenges with a vengeance the past two days! As busy moms, we have to be as efficient with our time as possible...... I know you're feeling me...... So, the last couple of days when I've actually snuck off to play with challenges, I've had good luck with combining and getting double the crafty inspiration. (Footnote: I'm usually not that good at combining; even though I do consider myself quite the accomplished multi-tasker. Of course, I feel like an accomplished multi-tasker because of being around The Hubs, who is TERRRRIBLE at it. So, could be that I'm not as good at it as I think! After all, everything's relative. BUT - I digress...)

This card is for the CASual Friday challenge of stamping your own background and Dynamic Duos color challenge of Green and Yellow.

                     


I chose to make an Easter Egg card. I've been using my CTMH Cricut cartridges a great deal lately. They are even in an easy to reach location right near my Cricut. (I'm constantly bouncing between the two!)

So, playing around with different card shapes has become a new little experiment for me and it's been quite fun.

All supplies are CTMH except the green cardstock (DCWV), Pearls (Michaels) and the background stamp (PaperTrey Ink.)

I stamped the wood grain pattern using Honey ink on the reverse side of Honey Textured Cardstock (so as to have the lighter yellow.) The "Easter" die-cut is also from my CTMH Cricut cartridge (this one from Artiste; egg shaped card Art Philosophy.) I used words from my Card Word Puzzle stamp set to stamp "Happy" and "Wishes".

I am also entering this card for the Simon Says Stamp Challenge of using green in your project! This will be my first Simon Says Stamp entry. Yay! (I really  need more challenges to be addicted to! )

Thanks for stopping by! Hope a great bit of spring air is coming your way soon - I know everyone around here is looking forward to it!

Pin It