Yep, it's another challenge...

Well, I'm home from church today with sick kiddos, so snuck in a bit of stamping while the kids dozed/watched a movie. When Denise's challenge wrapped up on Friday, she asked each of us to challenge HER. Well, I had fun with that one and got a bit obnoxious. My challenge was to make an "odd" card: 7 papers, 5 embellishments, 3 stamps, and 1 ink color. Oh, and no ribbon! That's pretty tough, right? Well, it didn't even slow her down... She posted her card yesterday, and then challenged us to do it, too. No fair! ;) I was blurfing earlier this morning and noticed that the new "Sketch For You to Try" was posted - and just happened to have 5 brads on it. I'll take that as a sign!

Here's my creation - the papers are from the Cosmo Cricket Little Girls collection, and I had fun picking which of the seven I would use (and where!). For my three stamps, I grabbed a sentiment and row of circles (both Paper Trey), and then the French Script background stamp (SU). I used Versafine sepia ink, but did stamp off once first on the circles and the script (which is across the floral paper on the bottom - it didn't photograph all that well).

So how did I do on my own challenge? It wasn't too terrible - keeping the embellishments simple and using coordinated paper definitely prevented it from being a killer. So anyone else want to play along? :)

Last Challenge Card

Well, today is the last day of Denise's Spring Fever Challenge. I'm actually kind of sad that it's ending - it's been fun to make myself stamp every day :)

Today's challenge was pretty simple: personal monogram, favorite color for the card base and any patterned paper, ribbon, and scallops in some way. You might be getting sick of this layout - I've used it quite a bit over the past few months. But it goes together quickly, is a great way to use scraps, and I just love the look! Anyway, the papers are from the BasicGrey Lily Kate collection. The base actually matches the stamped t, but for some reason my camera decided it should be bluish. I layered on a few strips of paper, then the scalloped green circle (SU punch) with a bit of ribbon, and finally my monogram (Hero Arts).

And just to show you another card I cranked out this morning... A friend recently underwent surgery for breast cancer, so I just wanted to send her a little note to let her know that we were still praying. Layout look familiar? Sentiment is from SU (retired "Hope for Comfort").

Head over to All Things Stamped to see what everyone else has created for the final challenge!

I'll probably be pretty quiet over these next few days - our son turns 5 today, and we have a busy weekend planned. Back later!

Another Double Challenge!

It's day four of Denise's Spring Fever challenge, and today we were to incorporate a tag, bling, and the color red. Definitely easier than yesterday :) Well, as I was cruising through my google reader, I also noticed that there was new challenge on Salt, with the theme "believe." As I read the post, I was struck by Esther's statement: If only we truly believed in God's promises, we would worry so much less. How true! I can say I believe, but is my life demonstrating that trust?

Anyway, when I actually snuck off to my craft space, I pulled out this cross paper (Flair Designs). I played around with a few ideas, and finally wrote out the word "believe" (using Heidi Swapp masks), then sprayed the card with gold glimmer mist. (Have I mentioned lately how much I love that stuff? I really wish you could see it in person to see the rich shimmer created!) I let it dry slightly, then pulled the letters back off. I stamped the verse (Ps 31:14-15) onto a piece of ivory cardstock, then trimmed it to a tag shape and tied on a couple different ribbons. I adhered the cross paper to a base made from the same ivory paper, then mounted the tag. Simple, but a great message! (Card measures 5x7)

This second card is a "Take 2" on my idea from yesterday's card. I am soooo much happier with this one! Same three sets: Accents #1, Blossoms Lg, and Flowers Everywhere. Softer colors and a smaller size come together for a cute little card (3x5). Soothing rather than seizure inducing :)

Wanna see what the other challenge chasers are up to? Then go to All Things Stamped and Salt for guaranteed inspiration.

Double Challenge!

Well, today I did a dual challenge - it's time for another Tea Party with the smART Cookies, and this time Heidi challenged us to use some "Petal Power." You know I definitely love my floral images! Well, to make things just a bit more interesting I combined that challenge with Day 3 of Denise's Spring Fever Challenge, in which we were to use an unusual fold, decorate it inside and out, word spelled out with stickers, die cuts, stamps, etc. and incorporate polka dots.

I made this purse card with the Chatterbox scrap kit that I'm still trying to use up. I didn't have a template or anything - I just folded, trimmed, etc. until it looked right. I added a scalloped edge to the flap, and then accented it with the smaller of the Blossoms Lg. I colored the center in with a prismacolor pencil, then filled with glossy accents and then accented with glass glitter. It really looks great in person! For the inside, I added polka dot paper to the center panel, spelled out happy with the alpha stickers (also from the kit) and stamped birthday (from Combo Sentiments). The final embellishment was a swirly grungeboard accent that I colored with denim blue glimmer mist - I just love the shimmer that stuff provides!

This second card was actually the first one I made, and I'm providing it as comic relief. I had an idea that I thought would make a nice card... Um, that wasn't the case. I created my own polka dots with Accents #1, and then overstamped with the blossom. It was a bit busy, but I persevered and created the gatefold card. I accented the flower centers with stickles, and used a sentiment from Flowers Everywhere. I used Sizzix die cuts for joy. I still like the general idea of this card, but I think it needs lighter tones, more white space, and a layout that doesn't cut the circles in half.

So are you inspired (or just horrified by the psychadelic colors?!?) Pop on over to the other smart cookies' blogs to see what floral magic they've created: In the Works, Mama Dini's Stamperia, Dee's Studio, & Sweet Somethings!

And you can visit All Things Stamped to see what others have done for her Spring Fever challenge.

Simple Sympathy

It's Day 2 of Denise's Spring Fever Challenge, and today we were to make a 4x4 black and white card - using only black ink, any stamps, but no patterned paper. Well, I've needed a lot of sympathy cards these past couple weeks, and I thought I'd use today's challenge to help replenish my supply. I kept it extremely simple - the sentiment is from an old SU set (Hope for Comfort), and the flower is smARTworks (Sunny Delight). Went together in less than ten minutes, and I'm very happy with the outcome.

Check out All Things Stamped to see what others have created!

Spread Your Wings!

Denise is having a week-long Spring Fever challenge, and I thought I'd play along. Today's challenge was to incorporate a bird. OK, I can do that! I pulled out a Technique Tuesday set with branches, leaves, and a few little birds to set the stage, and then finished it off with a Studio G sentiment. I know my colors aren't exactly spring like (all the papers are from a 6x6 BasicGrey Stella Ruby pad) but they still seem cheerful to me. And I promise the ribbon coordinates better in real life - it picks up the pink tones from that base layer very nicely. The final touch was a bit of bling, and I'm ready to fly!

Rejoice!

I made this super simple card to send out to a couple family members - I just pieced some paper scraps (DCWV Old Word Stack) to form the cross. I did miter the center just to make it look a bit more "finished." The sentiment is from the dollar bin at Michael's back at Christmas - but Easter always seems to me to be the real time for celebration!


"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God." Romans 5:1-2

Simple Thank You cards

Since my FIL passed away, we've been blessed by many dear friends. I wanted to make some simple notecards to thank everyone for their kindness; due to the nature of the occasion, I also wanted to go with a darker color scheme and avoid flowery motifs. Well, the ChatterBox scrap kit came to the rescue again. I pulled out a couple DCWV card bases and layered on bits of patterned paper and minimal embellishment. The "Thank You" is from Stampington - I love that script style!

Lovebirds

I'm still trying working my way through the ChatterBox scrap kit, plus when I was cleaning off my workspace I found this one, lonely shipping tag. So yesterday's "Ways to Use it" challenge of a tag was perfect. I stamped the cute little lovebirds (Inkadinkado), clear embossed, spritzed the tag with denim blue glimmer mist, and scalloped the edge with decorative scissors. It still needed more, though, so I added the word (Stampington), a flower, and some ribbon. I layered it onto a burgundy card base, accented with some paper and lace. I'm really happy with the final result, and it will be perfect to give some friends who are celebrating their anniversary soon.


Tomorrow I'll be sharing two simple thank you cards that I made using this same kit. Hopefully you're not getting too sick of it yet :)

Thinking of You

A friend was just diagnosed with breast cancer - they found it early, and the doctors are very optimistic, but it's still a scary thing. I wanted to make her a card, and yesterday's sketch challenge seemed like a good place to start. I grabbed my black & white DCWV stack (can you tell I'm making an effort to use these?) and selected the prints. The sentiment is even from the pad, so there's no stamping at all on this card. The chipboard heart is from Cosmo Cricket - I went over it with an ink pad, and then sprayed it with pink taffy glimmer mist. Final touch was just a bit of ribbon tied on - I think the final result is rather playful, and hopefully my friend will like it.

Great opportunity

I'm guessing that many of you have heard about My Creative Classroom. I think it's a very cool idea, and have been interested in taking an online class (since we have no local stores around here that offer classes). Well, I have yet to actually shell out cash... but I just found out that Colleen Schaan is offering a free altered lunchbox class. How cool is that?!? I'm now enrolled, and eagerly awaiting April 7 to see how it all works.

FREE = good :)

Bright Houses

Just wanted to share these cards I made using the House Warming set. I have to admit this set isn't necessarily "my" style, but I really love the houses. This first one would be a great way to welcome a new neighbor, don't you think? I stamped the row of homes onto a Fabriano notecard, added color with watercolor crayons and prismacolor pencils, then added the sentiment (Combo Sentiments). The final touch was some swirly black ribbon and little key charm I had in my stash. Love it!

This second card is waaay out of my comfort zone - those colors are borderline obnoxious :) It all started with the coral card base (DCWV) and then I found this stripe in one of my old stacks. It matched beautifully, so I just picked several other colors from the print to color the house (using prismacolor pencils). I stamped the sentiment (Home) on a scrap of white - had to break up the crazy stripes just a bit...

And don't forget that smARTworks still has the amazing Spring Fever special going on. A few sets are now out of stock - click here for the list. Head on over and get some rubbah at a fantastic discount!

Purple Blessings

I was going through one of my DCWV stacks, and came across this simple purple plaid that coordinated nicely with SU's lavender lace. I stamped the flowers (Lilac Blessing) and then colored them in with Pearl-Ex watercolor paints and my Prismacolor pencils. They're quite shimmery in person! I matted it with one of my rectangle nestabilities (those have been sitting around unused longer than I want to admit), then added the sentiment (Opportunity Trio). All set!

But in actuality, it wasn't quite that simple. I had planned to do some faux stitching (Accents #1). I had used a textured card base, though, so when I stamped the sentiment it looked terrible.

I wasn't about to let the entire card go to waste, so I stamped another white panel with script (Vert Love Comes), then a flower (Fragrant), and then coated it with silver glimmer mist. I mounted the panel over my messy sentiment, and then stamped the greeting (Lilac Blessing) onto the nice, smooth patterned paper.

Double the blessings :)

If nothing ever changed...

...there would be no butterflies.

Great sentiment, isn't it? I managed to stamp quite a bit yesterday, so have lots to share over the next few days.

I love the way this card came together - simple layout, clean lines and sophisticated colors (at least that's how they seem to me, LOL!) I started by stamping the script (Vert Love Comes, but only partialy inked) onto the white square, then the butterfly over that (End/Begin). I stamped the sentiment (Butterflies) onto caramel cardstock, then pierced a straight line underneath just to add some interest. I mounted that onto a dark brown card base, then tried to decide what I wanted to do with the butterfly panel. I finally settled on matting it with red, which gave it a nice pop.

Back with more tomorrow! :)

Sympathy Card

Just a simple card I made to send to my MIL. Black card base, scraps of BasicGrey Scarlet's Letter, some swirly black ribbon, and SU's small scallop circle punch. Sentiment from "Hope for Comfort" (retired SU).

Being Still

I usually keep things pretty much stamp-related on this blog and save my personal ponderings for my other blog. I'm making an exception today, though.

Our family is currently in a state of shock, as my FIL passed away unexpectedly on Monday night. The kids and I have been/are sick, so we're staying here while hubby is now out in Arizona with his family.

There has been a lot of other stuff happening, too, and rather than me writing a novel right now I'll just say that I'm feeling rather overwhelmed.

So I made this card for myself this morning. A reminder to be quiet and find strength and comfort in my Savior. "Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10 What a blessing to know that whatever may happen, He is still in control and will work the circumstances to fulfill His purpose (Romans 8:28).

So if you notice I seem quieter than normal - no, you're not imagining it. Just taking care of other things as necessary. But I guarantee I'll still be making time for my personal ink therapy :)

Card details: stamps - Inkadinkado Birds Galore, SU Words of Wisdom, paper - SU, embellishments - prima flowers, dew drops.

Getting Scrappy

After yesterday's card, I had a lot of scraps on my workspace. Since everything was from the same Chatterbox package, pulling another project together was super simple. These lightweight papers are double sided, and inks don't seem to sink in too badly (the green floral panel across the bottom had a big burgundy butterfly stamped on the back, and the sentiment panel reverses to a big ol' stripe). I left more white space, added some photo corners (stickers from the same package) and this time tied the ribbon on rather than adhering it. I like this card soooo much better!

The sentiment is from Verses Rubber Stamps and actually says "Happy Anniversary" underneath, but I think it works nicely as a birthday sentiment, too.

Hope you all have a great weekend!!

Sheesh...

Ever have one of those cards where NOTHING goes right? I started out to make a card based on a sketch from another blog. Pulled together the paper and stamps I wanted to use. This should be simple, right? Well, turns out the stamp had a dead spot (which I finally admitted to myself after stamping it about 8 times with different inks, papers, etc.). Guess I'll be contacting the manufacturer about that. I tried a few other images, but nothing was clicking with the sketch. I then pulled out this swirly flower - the phone rang, startling me, and making for quite a smeary image. Dropped my ink pad and messed up the second image. Then the kids were fighting, so by the time I made it back to my workspace, I had forgotten my glorious plan. Oh, well. This is what finally came together. It looks nothing like the initial sketch, but it's done. I'll just pretend that I can't see the rough condition of that poor flower or the bumps in the ribbon from the glue dots (and I'm reminded of why I don't like satin ribbon). But I *do* like the end of the ribbon off on the side there. See, something postive! No more ink or rubbah for me today - I think it would be best for all of us if I take a break :) Stamps: Inkadinkado and Paper Trey, Paper: Chatterbox

To Perk You Up

I squeezed in a bit of stamping time this afternoon, and made this quick card using today's sketch over on SCS. I'm still trying to use up some of the paper that I've accumulated, and I grabbed the DCWV glitter stack; I think the bright colors were a reaction to the gray, rainy day we were having :) I think everything is pretty straightforward - the coffee cup is Inque Boutique, and the sentiment is Stampendous. I'm not quite sure what happened with the photo and the coloring on the cup... it doesn't look all smeary like that IRL. Anyway, it was a fun card to make and perfect to send on to a friend.

Sale! Sale!

Ah, one of my favorite words! :) Have you been debating about purchasing some lovely smARTworks stamps for yourself? Well, this is definitely the time! Susan is having a big ol' Spring Fever sale - 35% off all in-stock rubber. Woo Hoo!! Get all the details here, and browse the catalog here.

Interested in a set, but wish you could see a finished product? Well, have you checked out the smART Cookie blog? All the stamp sets we've used are listed on the right - just click and you'll see what we've created.

So what are you still doing here?!?