CASual Fridays #126 -- revisited

I was SO inspired by PaperCrafts latest issue of Stamp It! Techniques Vol. 2 that I actually bought a couple of things this weekend to play around with, excited to learn something new. I'm pretty nerdy that way. I was out having fun with my sister all weekend, so the tight-wad nerd side of me was somewhat squelched. She and I get together and get our creative juices flowing and it's "Katie Bar the Door!" ...Soooo, I wore out some JoAnn's and Micheal's coupons. I have been curious about gelatos for some time and decided "why not?" and bought some this weekend.

I had to experiment with them and had an idea that I thought worked well with CASual Friday's Color Block Challenge.



Here is my card using metallic gelatos:

 

 

I used the backside of a label stamp to produce the solid shape for my "blocks" and colored it with the gelatos. I spritzed a mist of water prior to stamping. After it dried (I might have been impatient and blasted it with my heat gun.....but then again, I might not have.), I stamped the sentiment from Simon Says Stamp Apothecary Labels stamp set in VersaFine Black ink. I then matted it in black paper from a Crate Paper 6x6 pad (DIY Shop) and wonky stitched around the edges. I want the trademark on that term, BTW. Big Daddy asked, of course, did you mean to stitch that straight? Now, I'm going to tell him -- it's a "wonky stitch". After that, a little distressing and added some enamel dots and veneer stars. It was a lot of fun to play around with and I liked how it turned out.

 

Thanks for stopping by to visit!

 

God Bless,

Mandy

Pin It

Freshly Made Sketches #120

Good morning!

It's Monday and I'm buzzing with energy (mostly thanks to McDonald's and their scrumptious Caramel Mocha), but also because I had a fabulous weekend away from home with my sister. I got to spend time with my sweet sister-in-law and my sister's friend. It couldn't have been more fun. I'm so grateful I got a little "boost" amidst the gloomy winter doldrums that seem to sneak up and grab us all from time to time. The break did me good!

I spent some time in my crafty space yesterday afternoon and chill-axed, while The Piglets and Big Daddy enjoyed the brief warm snap. (The wind and quick weather change wreaked havoc on my headaches and banished me to the indoors, so I had to make the best of it!)

Here is the sketch this week over at Freshly Made -- I always like them but am not always the best at designing based on a sketch. I'm not sure why - but I have trouble with them.

 

Here is my card -- using a new (to me) 6x6 Crate Paper pad. I believe it's called DIY Shop.

 

 

I used my CTMH Art Philosophy cartridge to cut the butterfly and pinked edge circle. I stitched them together before adding the button and twine. The sentiment is from my CTMH set "Sincere Expression".

 

 

That's pretty much it for this one! :)  Thanks for stopping by to visit!

 

God Bless,

Mandy

 



Pin It

Runway Inspired Challenge #52

Hello!
I hope everyone is having a wonderful week -- almost made it through January. =) We are having cold weather and some snow here in TN, even though it's not enough to stick, it's so beautiful to watch falling. I'm sure those who see it all the time and get so tired of it, think that probably sounds crazy. But I love to see it! Since I do about anything to avoid leaving the house anyway, I guess I have the luxury of loving it.

I have a card to share that I made this week based on the Runway Inspired Challenge photo.

I lerve the colors with my "Bigger Blooms" from PTI. I used a lightly penciled circle and stamped around it, to mimic a happy wreath. I used CTMH colors of Sorbet (2nd generation), Sweet Leaf, Sunny Yellow, Baby Pink, and Hollyhock (for the sentiment).

I mounted the panel on colored cardstock using foam tape and then adhered a few matching enamel dots to balance out the design. (Since I'm about as good stamping in a circle as I am cutting in a circle. [eye roll])

Thank you for stopping by to visit! 

God Bless, 

Mandy

Pin It

CASual Friday's Color Blocks Challenge

I have been working on restoring my craft groove these past few weeks -- fighting my natural desire to hibernate. The cold weather and gray skies suck the life out of me, plain and simple. (That and multiple circumstances which hinder sleep more than one night in a row.) So, when I crank out a card that my picky, picky self actually likes, I'm pretty pleased. I have loved how this one turns out - so much so that I keep it out where I can see it! I have to remind myself, "You can do it!".  =)

This week's CASual Friday challenge is to use Color Blocks. I rarely get to play along with this challenge as much as I'd like.

Here is my card using a Crate Paper strip that was all blocked off for me. It was large chevrons, so colorful and happy and once trimmed down it worked perfectly for what I wanted.

I added a simple sentiment from Simon Says Stamp "Apothecary Labels" set and embossed half in white, layering over an identically stamped black image. Added a few matching enamel dots, matted it with a black card base and Voila! A fun little card that I really like. It would be a good one for Big Daddy but he's already seen it. Drat. (The dangers of leaving them out in the kitchen so I don't forget to blog them!)

Thanks for stopping by to visit! 

God Bless,

Mandy

Pin It

Make It Monday #149

I'm not 100% positive, but I think this is my first time to play along with Make It Monday. :) I'm excited. This week is all about adding glitter to your project. It didn't blow my skirt up when I first read it, but when Miss Priss and I were playing in my crafty space on a sick day this week, I remembered my new Tim Holtz Distress Glitter I received for Christmas. It had yet to be cracked open. Shameful, I know. AND, it's a fabulous color, Spiced Marmalade.

I paired it with another Santa gift, the PTI Bubble Talk set. I have used it a few times already. I wasn't sure I would use it much, but now that I have it in my possession, I am enamored with it.

I picked a couple of new inks, Simply Chartreuse and Rasberry Fizz. I love these colors with the orange colored distress glitter.

The card base and paper strip I found as "extras" just hanging around my room. The pink was an almost perfect match to the pink talk bubble. 

Thanks for stopping by to visit! 

God Bless,

Mandy

Pin It

Chilly Chums Little Buddy

I am tuning out the sounds of the football game and "lessons" going on behind me.  Big Daddy is entertaining The Piglets tonight and I am most grateful. Mommy's nerves are shot! =) Little Miss Priss has been battling an unidentifiable ailment since Wednesday afternoon. She never gets sick but she stays nauseated quite a bit, especially if she eats anything. And as we all know with nausea, it just comes and goes -- and sometimes seems kind of random. Sooo, after several days of it and not knowing what's causing it or what to do for it, I'm at my wit's end! We will think she's better and then relapse. So it's been a frustrating few days. Bless her heart.

 I did manage to escape to my room this afternoon for a few hours! Yay! I even had some out-of-town houseguests this weekend. I've been all out of sorts.

With this card I was able to use THREE challenges! I went from being non-inspired to having three on my brain and it was exciting.

Paper Smooches SPARKS challenge is Anything Goes this week. I picked up the Colour Q colors at the last minute (after initially dismissing them as "too hard" ha!). AND, I fell in love with the Retro Sketch this week -- it's what gave me a kickstart.




Look at that! Beautiful! =)

I picked up my newest PaperSmooches set, Chilly Chums, of course. It's still out on my desk because it makes me smile.

I flipped through my newest 6x6 paper pad, Crate Paper's "The Pier". (My mom started counting my 6x6 stash today! Whaaattt??? Ignorance is bliss, Mom- ignorance is bliss! The 6x6er's are my newest collection obsession.) I've been in love with this red chevron piece ever since I tore the package open.

The sentiment is stamped from PS set, Scripty Saying (a January release - I was super excited that I had hoarded some rewards $ when that came out. hee hee hee). I have used it quite a bit already. I colored my little fox with my Cool Grey Spectrum Noir markers. It'll do, but I feel I need to practice with the grey some more. I'm not feeling it. 

Thanks so much for stopping by to visit. Hope everyone is blessed with a holiday off work this week! 

God bless you and keep you, 

Mandy

Pin It

Freshly Made Sketches #119 and Curtain Call

I combined more challenges today. I was determined to gain some crafty time when at home alone this week. So far, so ok. Not too shabby, I think. I spent a fair amount of time in there today (BEFORE I got a call to pick up one from school early not feeling well.) She seems ok right now, but the jury is still out on that one. She's not been herself for several days so I'm not sure what she's got going on right now. She's 9, so it's hard to tell when bad attitude is bad attitude or a symptom of something else. ...and the mouth is pretty prevalent even on a good day -- so..... Needless to say, I'm stumped for now! Gone are the days when the sweet little angel acts up and you think "Poor Baby must not be feeling well. I'll probably get a call today."! Now it's more, "I don't know what's bothering you, but you better watch your tone Young Lady!" Ha. Poor kids. In some ways, they don't grow up as fast as we give them credit for doing. In other ways, it's TOO fast.

So enough blabbing, on to my sweet little Valentine card. Valentine stuff (décor, colors, cards, etc) doesn't really blow my skirt up. I like to have sweet, fun things for the kids to take to school. And I'll do a little something for Big Daddy, but I don't typically embrace this holiday. It's too much red right after Christmas or something. ? And I'm a red lover! :) BUT, I did jump on a 6x6 pack of Echo Park paper called Head Over Heels. I loved the colors because there is a lot of gray and light turquoise blue with the red, pink, and black. And, the patterns were so cute -- almost any of them could be used for occasions other than Valentine's.

Since the theme over at the Curtain Call Inspiration challenge is Love Letters, I did go with Valentine's this time and paired it with this week's Freshly Made Sketch.



I love the diagonal sketch provided this week!

I mostly let the paper do the work this time, but did add some stamping because I couldn't sleep at night if I haven't stamped at least a little something on each card.

The solid paper is lightly stamped with Hero Arts Envelope Pattern background stamp in CTMH Crystal Blue. I stamped the speech bubbles from PTI's Bubble Talk in Wild Hare pigment ink (ColorBox), and the Blush and Tulip dye ink (CTMH). I trimmed them and adhered the smaller two with 3-D foam tape. I stamped a solid stripe from PTI's Super Stripes and added a row of CTMH Ruby Chevron washi tape before I laid down the speech bubbles. 

I feel like I am finally getting back into my crafty groove and it's been the most fun! Thank you for stopping by to visit! Please come back anytime! =)

Pin It

The Card Concept #1

Just in case I haven't conveyed it enough, I'm suffering from a regretable lack of mojo right now. :(
I'm trying everything to get back in my groove, including sharing cards that I have managed to eek out. Anything is worth a try! Usually a submission deadline or good challenge is all I need to get the juices flowing. But lately that works at bedtime when I'm looking through my phone and in the light of day, I feel the desire only to read a novel and/or sleep! It's quite vexing. BUT -- not like it's the first time it's happened, so I'm optimistic that I'll be back to "myself"....eventually. :)

This card is one I made for the brand new Card Concept Challenge. It's kind of exciting to see a new one take off - and even more exciting to get to participate in the very beginning.

The first challenge is a color challenge:

 

 

I pulled out some 6x6 Pink Paislee paper I nabbed from scrapbooksteals.com, the "Cottage Farm" collection. The pinks and soft naturals were a perfect fit for this challenge.

 



I paired my "new" paper (had it for a while, but yet to crack it open!) with the PTI's December freebie, Ruby Reprise, mini stamp set. (a fun little Christmas surprise). I stamped the blooms in CTMH Baby Pink ink and then created a shadow stamp using Amuse Studio's Latte pigment ink. I then stamped the sentiment in CTMH's Cocoa ink. ---This one is my "Clean and Simple" approach - which I am quite a fan. For some reason, this one stumped me and I had to make myself leave it alone. Ha! I really wanted to do something else with it, but knew in my head it really was complete "as is". =)

Thanks for stopping by to visit!

Pin It

Simon Says "Ice Inspiration" and SPARKS

Hello!

I'm trying to fight the battle of the "lazies" today and catch up on a wee bit of blogging. Not much, but it did get me off the couch. (Even though my paperback book is over there waiting for me.) I think I have gone into hibernation mode, now that the craziness of the holidays is over and it's too cold to work outside in the yard. The housework is always beckoning, but lately I've been adept at blocking that out! I've woefully decided that sleep is a current hobby and perhaps I should just embrace it while I can. Whatever, right?! It's not the end of the world and it could be worse, even though my lingering lack of mojo is driving me up a wall.

I made this sweet little card last week using the SimonSaysStampChallenge "Ice Inspiration" with my new Chilly Chums stamp set from Paper Smooches.  Since it's "Anything Goes" week over at SPARKS, I get a two-fer!

This fun paper is from a My Mind's Eye 6x6 holiday pad I picked up for a song at Michael's. I had nabbed one Christmas pad on sale there and when I realized how cheap it was at checkout, I went back for another.

 

I inked the edges of the patterned papers with closely matching CTMH inks. I stamped the sweet little seal, colored with markers, and trimmed him out before adhering with 3-D foam tape. The dots are also My Mind's Eye and the twine is Hemptique (a stocking goodie from my mom! I was so surprised she was buying me crafty goodies)

I love how this one turned out - the colors and fun little stampiness makes me smile. It may need to go to my great-Aunt. I love to send her cards and I bet it will make her smile. :)

Hope you are having a great new year -- thanks for stopping by!
Pin It

Paper Smooches - Get Outta Town

Hello!

I'm ready for everyone here to have bedtime but me! :) Still so many things I wanted to squeeze in today from my to-do list. Sometimes I have a hard time letting the day go because I just want to do one more thing and, honestly, sometimes I have no problem at all with crashing in bed with my Bible, a book, or my phone! Tonight - I'm not wanting to give it up yet.

This week's challenge over at Paper Smooches SPARKS challenge is "anything goes".

This gave me a chance to "play" with my new set, "Get Outta Town" from PaperSmoochesStamps.com. 

I had this great patterned paper from a Crate Paper 6x6 pad, Story Teller. I trimmed the map piece for a background panel and stamped the sentiment on a blue patterned piece. The suitcases were stamped on a light patterned ivory piece and I colored the accents with markers. After trimming them, I added them using foam tape. My only embellishments are a few enamel dots. (That's hard for me -- I have to stick something else on there!)

Thanks so much for stopping by! Hope everyone is staying warm and cozy!

Pin It

CAS(E) This Sketch #58

Hello - I'm back with another card I was able to make in my brief Christmas break crafty time. We only finished all of our Christmas celebrating New Years Day due to more than one family member getting sick over the holidays. We had to postpone Christmas with my family AND with my in-laws due to a bout with the flu (3 1/2 yr old niece - so pitiful) and my father-in-law getting really down with a fever on Christmas Day.

So today was the beginning of OUR new year. Big Daddy went back to work :( and kids and I took down all the Christmas decor. An all-day job! I've even been outside in the snow flurries pulling lights off the hedges and taking wreaths down. Big Daddy puts all of that up and he does a wonderful job. But, I was cracking up at the number of extension cords I picked up! I'm glad he knows what he's doing! It's all organized and laid out according to a nice little plan. I would have that stuff so tangled and indecipherable. It would be a hot mess FOR SURE.

Now that I have caught you up, I'll show you this fun little card I made with some Christmas goodies (Thanks Big Daddy!).

Here is the current sketch over at CAS(E) This Sketch:

I love the simplicity of this sketch. It was perfect for my sweet little flower I wanted to stamp and color with my new red markers. :D 

I stamped the hibiscus flower using Paper Smooches "Get Outta Town" stamp set and colored it with markers. The sentiment is from PTI's "Think Big Favorites" #3 mini stamp set. I added a couple of enamel dots in a deeper red and that was it! 

Thanks for stopping by to visit! Hope you are all enjoying a wonderful New Year!

Pin It

CASual Friday #124

Hello!

I feel like it has been so long since my last post! I've spent very little 'crafty' time in the last few weeks due to the holiday craziness. I know I'm not the only one -- but, then again, I couldn't help but be impressed and wowed by the continued blog posts of many of the blogs I love to follow. I was tickled because I had something to peruse on my phone at night before falling to sleep, but all I could think was "How in the world is she keeping up with that?!". :)

I did spend some time in my crafty room trying out some new projects that were Christmas gifts. I had a lot of fun decorating these coffee mugs. My super crafty sister helped me with execution ideas after I told her what I wanted to make. I enjoyed it so much, I made more than I had originally planned. These were all "embellished" with an oil-based Sharpie, using a vinyl Silhouette-cut stencil. (We have Pinspiration to thank for getting the ball rolling!)

Here are some of my favorites: (Forgive me the unplanned photos! These were taken hastily to shoot to above-mentioned sister.)

I had a lot of fun and used a white marker on all projects. It showed up really well on black mugs, also. (not pictured) Each one was filled with a clear bag of "Puppy Chow" all tied up with a pretty red bow! It looked so cute. And, I'm happy to report that they went over well. :) Always the best part.

Now I've babbled long enough -- I did play in my room for a few hours on ____ oh the days are a blur! It was a few days ago. (I'll have to explain our Christmas debacle in another post.) Long story short, I made a few cards for some challenges -- trying to get the crafty mojo rolling again. I got several new goodies for Christmas (Thanks Big Daddy!) and usually a new goodie or two is enough to give the crafty side of my brain new life, but I'm still not quite there yet. Probably not until we get back to our normal routine, I'm afraid.

This fun little card is for CASual Friday's New Years challenge! I don't usually make these cards just because I don't send them out, but I wanted to try something fun and new.

I used some gold and silver embossing powders on Rasberry Fizz (PTI) cardstock. The border embossed in silver is from PTI's Boutique Borders: Thanks mini stamp set. I stamped 2014 in gold powder from my CTMH Old World Alphabet. (Love that font, but forget to use it.) I stamped celebrate in small letters underneath using Rasberry Fizz ink from the PTI Live Love Life stamp set. It's all matted in gray cardstock and adhered to a white card base. Super easy and quick. 

Thanks for stopping by to visit! Happy New Year's!

Pin It