Sweet Dreamers Challenge

Last week's challenge for the SCS Sweet Dreamers blogging group was to make a card using buttons, or in this case a button.

The clear square button on this card is attached by punching small holes in the cs image layers and threading twine through the holes and tying a knot.

Quick and easy!

Off to stamp some more!

Holiday Giftbox

My local Wal-Mart had these holiday photo lunchboxes on clearance several many years ago and I purchased quite a few, knowing that one day I would actually do something with them. That day occurred last Saturday.

I used Real Red cs and the Cuttlebug Snow Dots embossing folder for the matte. The SU stamp set Delightful Decorations and the matching punch were used for the ornaments. Two are stamped on white cs using Real Red and Pink Passion inks. The third ornament is Green Galore cs with Glorious Green ink. All three ornaments have Stickles on them, the green one more so than the other two.

Gold cord forms the hangers and is also used with red satin ribbon for the bow on the handle, which doesn't show up so much in this photo.

This was a quick and easy project - my favorite kind!

Off to stamp some more!

Sketchy Card

This poor card! I started out following one card sketch from blogland last week, didn't like the way it was coming together at all, so set the unfinished card and parts aside. Then I came upon another card sketch I was intrigued with and after tripping over these card parts decided to put them to use.

And because it has a been a l o n g week with short people already and I'm too tired to move, I can't tell you the details of this card. All that info is downstairs and I am upstairs. But if you really need to know specifics, then email me and I'll get back to you when I am feeling more energetic!


Off to stamp some more!

Be Happy

It's not too often that I make square cards, but I do like them. This one is 5 x 5. The card idea is one I saw on someone's blog last week, and if I remember correctly their card was more of a Christmas card with "Be Merry" on the front. I was in a cheerful mood when I made CASEd this card, as I finally had some time to sit down and stamp a week's worth of cards last weekend.

With this card I used up almost all of this older SU DSP. Only one full sheet left and some very small and narrow scraps! I'm getting there! The main colors are Bashful Blue, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, and Real Red.

The flowers were from a package of embellishments sent to me in a swap. The letters are from a Sizzix die set called: Pigeon-Toed Charms. They are held onto the layered squares and circles with Bashful Blue brads.

Gasp! As you can plainly see, there is no stamping on this card. Virtually unheard of from this purest stamping cardmaker! (Maybe later on the inside before I send it off, although not very likely as I always write my inside messages on post-its!)

Off to stamp some more!

Chocolate Hugs and Kisses

Today is card number three from the handmade paper set. This card is a favorite of mine, as it just looks so pleasing to the eye, both in color and design.

The colors used to complement the handmade paper are Old Olive and Chocolate Chip as cs layers and felt flowers, Very Vanilla cs to stamp the sentiment from Alphabet Soup on in CC ink, and So Saffron brads. The rick rack is a crushed velvet-like ribbon and is so yummy.

There is not much else that needs to be said about this card!

Off to stamp some more!

The Bold and The Beautiful

This card is my least favorite of the bunch I will be showing you this week, so I wanted to post it now and get it over with! This handmade paper pattern is very bold, but fortunately I had just the right flower embellishments to go with this color combo (Garden Green and Bravo Burgundy) to tone it down.

The sentiment is from an SU set called Curvy Verses and I thought this particular one fit with the vintage look to the paper pattern: "Time passes...friendship stays right where it's put!"

See, I do put a lot of careful thought into the planning of my cards, even though it may not show at first glance!!!


Off to stamp some more!

Handmade Paper

This weekend I was given a pad of handmade paper by Provo Craft. It contains several different patterns in earth tones, some bold and others in unusual color combos. This is the first card I made using these papers. I'll be showing you several others this week. (Translated to mean: I got to stamp this weekend! Yippee! Even better: I made enough cards to show you a different one each day this coming week! Woohoo!)

One of the colors in this particular piece was a cross between Bravo Burgundy and Purely Pomegranate. The background color matched a generic piece of cs I had in my stash.

I thought the bold flower from Baroque Motifs went well with the paper pattern. It was stamped in PP and then layered onto BB and then a scalloped circle from the same cs as the card base. The scallops on the circle are pierced. The flower image has a brass brad in the center.

I cut three small circles from the paper scraps and used build a brads to make matching embellishments for the side of the card.

The striped ribbon was from my stash and it is actually two pieces. One is a tan and burgundy stripe and the other is a narrow satin burgundy ribbon that was layered on top before tying into a knot.

Off to stamp some more!

Sweet Dreamers' Challenge: Ebony and Ivory

Our challenge for the SCS Sweet Dreamers' blogging group was to make a card using only black and white or black and ivory.

This card has a white base and a full card front size layer of black, which was embossed with the Lace Tree Cuttlebug folder. This is actually the "debossed" side of the image. I dabbed a white ink pad onto the folder before embossing and this is the result.; a very subtle image in white.

Pearls of two different sizes were added for accents and the card was finished off with a white dotted organza ribbon.
Off to stamp some more!

J-O-L Treat Box

I have seen these cute J-O-L boxes on several blogs now and wanted to try making my own. They couldn't be any easier to make! The box is made using the Sizzix pillow die (cut 3), a circle of cs for the inside bottom, and punches for the facial features. Some ink was sponged onto the folds, then a little adhesive, a handle, and it's "trick or treat" time!

Off to stamp some more!

Last of the Birthday Stash!

Here are the last two birthday cards in my stash to show you. Thank goodness the weekend is coming up! I plan on making some stamp time for myself, so I hope the mojo is there when I need it!

Thank you for your patience this week as I was only able to post older cards of mine.
Off to stamp some more!

Another Small Batch From The Birthday Stash

Here are three more cards from the birthday card box. I have a couple more to show you tomorrow and then I better get some stamping time in soon!
Off to stamp some more!

More Birthday Cards

Off to stamp some more!

Questioning Myself

I am really disliking the fact that I am not able to stamp daily now that school has started! I also miss not having new cards to post on my blog everyday.

So what are you going to do about that Paige? (Here's where I am questioning myself, per post title!)

Well I thought I would share some cards in my generic birthday card stash over the next few days. But I won't be giving a lot of details on stamps and papers used.

Why not, Paige?

Because I have papers to correct and teacher clothes to iron and the list goes on.

Tell us Paige, what do you mean when you say "generic birthday card stash"?

These are some cards I've made for when a birthday card is needed in a hurry. I usually stamp more individually specific cards for family members and good friends geared toward their likes and personalities. So these cards are more general in design.

Well I know you have some math papers to correct, so I won't keep you here much longer, but what kind of long term solution do you have for this personal dilemma?

I am hoping to stamp like a woman possessed on the weekends and whenever I can fit the time in. Also I need to accept the fact that I can't post every day and to not feel so guilty about that.

I wish you the best of luck Paige!

Thank you!

Off to stamp some more!

Sweet Dreamers' Challenge #7: Share A Hug

This card was made for the Sweet Dreamers' blogging group challenge, which was to make a card to send to someone needing a hug. My card is for my daughter. The layout is from Sherrod Studio, using their Sketch #1 that caught my eye yesterday while blurfing.

Here are the details:

Paper: Real Red, Yoyo Yellow, White, Black, SU Patterns Pack

Stamps: Main image: Rubber Stampede, Sentiment: DOTS

Inks: Marvy Black ink pad, Pumkin Pie marker, Signo white gel pen

Embellishments: buttons, Scrapper's Floss, brads, rub ons, ribbon, flocked flower

Off to stamp some more!

Another Sketch Challenge

This sketch challenge is from Amy @ My Creative Clutter. I needed a second butterfly card, so followed this Saturday sketch challenge to make my card.

The image is a Magenta stamp and was stamped twice on Cameo Coral cs. The first image was layered onto Apricot Appeal cs and then onto Chocolate Chip cs. The second image was cut out and then popped up with foam tape. Pearls were added to embellish the butterfly. The lower corner of the butterfly panel has a small rub on for accent (and to fill up some empty space that was bugging me!)

The base of this card is Cameo Coral cs and then several patterns from Linen Prints DSP were cut and arranged to complete the sketch.

A Vanilla Hodgepodge hardware frame was used with a sentiment from Designer Labels. A tiny pearl is in the center of the sentiment's flower that was stamped in CC ink onto AA cs.

Off to stamp some more!

Pumpkin Pie Butterfly

I'll be the first to admit that this color combo (Pumpkin Pie, Rose Red and Regal Rose) is unusual, but it came from the SU Color Wheel and I think it looks striking! The sketch is from Stamping 411 for their Saturday Sketch Challenge 116. I'm currently involved in a butterfly swap, so combined the 411 sketch with the SU color combo.

The card has a white base, with a layer of Rose Red cs that was embossed using the Swiss Dots Cuttlebug folder. The Great Impressions butterfly was stamped twice on Pumpkin Pie cs; one image was layered onto white and black cs layers. The second image was cut out and both the wings and body were popped up with foam tape. The tips of the butterfly wings were colored in with an orange Spica glitter pen. Two tiny black rhinestones are on the tips of the antennae.

The element in the upper right corner is a black felt flower sticker layered with a lighter rose colored paper flower and an orange brad in the center.

The sentiment is a rub on.

Off to stamp some more!

Card #3 for Ladies, Ink September Challenge

My third card for the challenge is done in two color combos, mainly because I wasn't sure how I wanted the layering to go. Just like cards #1 and #2, I used the Christmas Cocoa DSP to determine my color combos. One version has Soft Suede as the card base and the other has Riding Hood Red as the card base. Other than that the cards use the same patterns of CC DSP.

The flocked DSP ornaments were punched using the new SU ornament punch. Gold cord was added for the hanger and they were popped up using dimensionals.

Gold photo corners were added, along with red twine down the left side of each card.

The upper left DSP piece is stamped with Encore Gold using the Season's Greetings stamp from the set Snow Swirled.

Off to stamp some more!

Ladies, Ink September Challenge Card #2

This is Christmas card #2 for the Ladies, Ink September Challenge. I used two papers from the Christmas Cocoa DSP package layered onto a white card base. Then I used three strips of Soft Suede cs, which were sent through the swiss dots embossing folder. On the Taken With Teal layer is a Sahara Sand layer, which was embossed with the snowflake folder.

The ornament image is from the set Delightful Decorations and was stamped in Bermuda Bay.

(An interesting side note here. I originally stamped the image in Taken With Teal, but the color was so far off from the TWT cs, that I stamped another using BB. It was a much better match! Guess I'll be ordering a new TWT ink pad!)

The image is embellished with pearls and rhinestones and is popped up with dimensionals. Narrow white satin ribbon forms a hanger with a tiny satin bow for fun.

Teal velvet ribbon borders the two DSP papers. The bottom DSP has some white flocking on it from a large snowflake image, so this card has a lot of fun textures!

Completing the card is an epoxy snowflake charm paired with a clear rhinestone brad.

Off to stamp some more!

Ladies, Ink September Challenge

 The challenge on the Ladies, Ink SCS blogging group for September is to make three Christmas cards.  Dashing Dasher is my first installment.  This is a single stamp that can be found way in the back of the current SU catalog.  I used Riding Hood Red and Soft Suede cs as the layers.  Dasher was stamped with Soft Suede ink onto Sahara Sand cs and Merry Wishes from the SU set Lots of Thoughts was stamped in Riding Hood Red ink also onto Sahara Sand cs.  The partial snowflake is a white rub on with a rhinestone added to it's center.

Dasher's antlers were also embellished with tiny red rhinestones and silver star rhinestones.

The layer between the base of the card and the images is a DSP called Christmas Cocoa.  This particular piece has large white flocked snowflakes on it, which can be seen around the outside edges of the layer.

Off to stamp some more!

A "Brewed" Awakening

My card today had a life of it's own! I went into my stamp room wanting to make a 4 1/4 square card, just for something different. But as I went to gather colors, papers and stamps, it turned into this. Not that I'm not happy with the results, but it was so unplanned!

The basic details are:

Kiwi Kiss cs base, DSP layer (SU, retired), Lovely Lilac, Pumpkin Pie, Basic Bray, Going Gray and a tiny scrap of Old Olive cs.

Stamp set: Haunting Halloween

Coloring tools: Markers in Creamy Caramel, Lovely Lilac and Pumpkin Pie, and more (details follow).

Misc: dimensionals, ribbon and Crystal Effects (frogs eyes!)

Now the witch's brew is more complicated than it looks and takes more explanation. The brew in the pot and the bubbles are colored with a yellow Glaze pen, and the steam has several ingredients added to it. First I started off stamping the steam with a VersaDazzle pad, but it needed more spooky sparkle. So then I rubbed on some bright yellow Pearl Ex, but it was still missing the sparkle I was hoping for. So finally I used a gold Spica glitter pen and traced over the lines of steam and the stars. Now that was more like it! Of course the details of the steam look more impressive IRL. What you can't see in the photo, is just a subtle, unexpected delight. The smear that the Pearl Ex left all around the steam lines looks like a fine, spooky, yellow, glowing mist!

Off to stamp some more!

Halloween Too!

I'm having fun making Halloween cards this weekend using both old and new supplies! Both cards use some older SU DSP, Lovely Lilac cs, and Kiwi Kiss cs; an older SU In Color.

The card on the left uses two stamps from the set Eat, Drink, and Be Scary: the spider and the Halloween definition. Also used is Little Boo, a new SU Halloween stamp. I almost missed this cute little ghost, as he is found way at the back of the current SU catalog. I'm glad I found him though, as he is so darn cute! My Little Boo has green rhinestone eyes, a black rhinestone mouth, and carries a confetti pumpkin. His spooky spider friend also has rhinestone eyes.

The Halloween card on the right uses Green Galore cs, as well as the papers mentioned previously in this post. Black polka dot grosgrain ribbon borders the DSP piece. The two images are both from the set Eat, Drink, and Be Scary. The pumpkin image was colored with markers in: Black, Old Olive, and Only Orange. The witch's hat was stamped in black onto Pumpkin Pie cs and trimmed out. Then little star rhinestone stickers were used to bling it up! Looking at it now, I just may go back and add a hatband of some sort.


Off to stamp some more!

Sweet Dreamers' Challenge #6 Get Your Motor Running

This card was made for the challenge on my SCS Sweet Dreamers Blogging group: Get Your Motor Running!

Now I know you have heard of CAS (clean and simple) cards, but let me introduce you to a CAB card. B stands for boring! I tried, I really did try, but just couldn't come up with anything exciting to do with this card. I popped up the blades, put an eyelet in the middle of them, put another eyelet attaching the banner to the plane, stamped clouds with white craft ink, and still it is nothing to look at.

So I angled the image layer onto the red layer and then angled the red layer onto the blue card base for a wee bit of interest. Then I waited for as long as I could before I posted it to my blog!

I'll do better on the next challenge...I promise!

PS: Remember when your mother said, "If you can't say anything nice, then don't say anything at all"? Just a reminder!

Off to stamp some more!

Friends

After I made the accordion card yesterday, I decided that I wanted to use up some more of the DSP Fall Flowers. I went with a cool color palette of blues and greens this time. Also at one point yesterday while blurfing I was drawn to this sketch, not at all sure where I saw it though. This sketch came together so quickly and easily with the paper patterns that I wanted to use.

I began putting the card together by first choosing the larger DSP layer and working backward and then forward from that main piece. So the large DSP was put on a layer of Old Olive and then onto a base of Cool Caribbean cs.

Moving toward the front of the card, I used a similar pattern from the same DSP pack; this one cut into a 3.5" square. Layered on top of that is my image (from Time Well Spent) and more DSP, all layered onto Sahara Sand cs.

Embellishments on the card include Old Olive poly twill ribbon through a silver ribbon slide. The slide was filled in with Baby Blue Stickles. (That was a neat trick I learned on SCS, when the ribbon slides first came out. I often do this to color coordinate them with my card or ribbon colors.) The image itself is embellished with felt flowers with brad centers and the "i" in "Friends" is a small light blue flower brad.

In the lower corner the card is embellished with layered felt flowers and a rhinestone brad.

Off to stamp some more!

Repeat Performance with the Accordion...

fold! No I do not play the accordion(or any musical instrument for that matter), but I do play with the accordion fold! Same card as a week or so ago, just different papers, stamps, and colors.

This is a fall accordion, using a Dusty Durango card base and Fall Flowers DSP. The stamps are from two SU sets called: Pocket Silhouettes and Sidekick Sayings. With the Sidekick sentiment stamp, I masked the flower and just inked up the words for one inside panel of the card. Then I cleaned the stamp and masked the words so that I could ink up just the flower part of the stamp for a narrower panel. A flower brad was added onto the stamped image.

Ink pads used were: Dusty Durango, Really Rust, Tangerine Tango and a wee bit of Old Olive marker.

Cardstock colors used were Dusty Durango, Whisper White, Old Olive, and my very last bits of Sky Blue scraps. I hoard a lot of things, but didn't hoard enough of this color and now it's all used up! So the question is: to hoard or not to hoard?

Off to stamp some more!