Thank You for a Friend

Happy New Year, All!  I'm back with a simple thank you for a friend.  She's a line dance sister of mine. I made this card for the group to give her.  It's CAS and easy to make:  patterned paper background, scalloped oval Nestie die, embossed CTMH sentiment, some die cut hearts, and a pre-made sparkle die cut border. Put them together and BAM!  It's done.

I'm entering these challenges:  CrazyHazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - January; Crafts Galore Encore Challenge Blog - Anything Goes; Die Cut Divas-Anything Goes; and Simon Says Wednesday Challenge-Anything Goes.

Using My Schtuff

Darnell of djkardkreations has another NBUS (Never Before Used Schtuff) challenge on her blog. Since I have tons of NBUS, I am compelled to enter. I used some blog candy that I won from the talented and generous Mary of Carolina Cards by Mary H - thanks again, Mary!

The card is for a line dancing friend who is not feeling well. Our group will send it to her. I used the sketch #19 from Stamplorations so I'm entering that challenge also.

Here's my card using this NBUS:  Memory Box Border Trellis die and the carnation stamp from Hero Arts Blossom Etchings stamp set. The background paper is from CTMH and I've had it for probably a couple of years.

Non NBUS items:  I inked the blossom with Hero Arts Orange Soda Shadow Ink; I used my Peeled Paint Distress Marker for the stem. The bow is a Martha Stewart punch. The sentiment is inked with CTMH Chocolate. All cardstock is from my stash.

I'm also entering the Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Rubber or Clear Stamps - No Digis. I hope you have a happy day crafting!

Shape Card

I'm trying to stretch myself with my cardmaking so today I decided to make another shape card.  I looked at some of my Cricut cartridges to see what caught my eye. I decided on the CTMH Artiste cart and made this neat spool of thread shape card:

Everything is from my stash. The DP is from CTMH and so is the sentiment. I thought the DP sort of looked like multi-colored thread. I cut it twice at 5 inches and glued the two together at the top to make my card. It will fit into a standard A2 envelope. I'm not sure who will get it, but I have several friends and family members who sew...

I'm entering these challenges:  Brown Sugar #107 - Anything Goes; Sister Act Challenge #70 - Anything Goes; Virginia's View Challenge #6 - Shape Card; and Stamplorations August Challenge - Stamps and Die Cuts.

For Two Brothers

Hello, Friends. Sadly, I needed sympathy cards for two brothers - friends of my husband since their teen years. Their mother passed away. They live in different states so I created and sent them the same card.

The lighthouse stamp is from Our Daily Bread (Light of the World). I used a Nestie to cut it out. It's stamped in CTMH Chocolate ink. I sponged the image and the CTMH sentiment with ink, but I'm not sure which ink I used. All card stock is from my stash.

I'm entering a few challenges:  Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes; Word Art Wednesday #143- Anything Goes; Sister Act Challenge #68 - Anything Goes; Our Daily Bread - Sponging or Stencils; Mema's Craft - August - Anything Goes

I hope your day is a good one.

My Husband's Birthday

Hi, Ya'll. Today I'm showing the card I made for my husband's birthday. Of course, it's totally CAS.

The color did not photograph well in spite of my best efforts. The CTMH car is stamped in Brilliance Starlite Silver. I used a Nestabilities die and dusted it with grey ink before removing the cut. The car has Glossy Accents on the lights, windshield and windows. I used white gel pen on the sides. The balloon and dots (I used a hole punch) also have a coating of Glossy Accents. I punched a hole to have the balloon floating above the card. The sentiment is CTMH. The background DP is Bo Bunny Double Dot Designs. The red DP is a snippet from my stash.

I'm entering these challenges:  Addicted to CAS #35 - Wheels; Mema's Crafts - April Anything Goes; Addicted to Stamps and More #89 - CAS.

Thanks to my Friend

Hi, there!  Today I'm showing you a simple thank I made for my best friend who, even though we now live across the country from each other, never fails to come through for me when I need her. Aren't I blessed to have a friend like her?  YES I AM!!!

It's a super simple card using Memento inks and a CTMH retired stamp set (don't know the name). I rounded two corners with my Corner Chomper. The photo has a bit of a shadow, but I did my best.  Anyhow, she liked it :)

I'm entering these challenges:  CAS on Sunday #29 - One Layer; Less is More #169 - Recipe: Use 3 of Something and Comment on 3 Entries; and Through the Craftroom Door - Anything Goes.

Have a great day!

613 Avenue Create #63-Option Create A 2D or 3D Flower

Hi, there!  The new challenge at 613 Avenue Create is, as always, Anything Goes. The option is to create your own 2D or 3D flower - fun, right?!  Here's my card using Scrapper's Delight Rainy Days Digi 1.

The digi is so cute.  I used color pencils and gamsol again.  The borders are from my stash.  I added the rain drops using a retired CTMH stamp. The sentiment is CTMH also.  The corners of the image panel are rounded with a Fiskars corner punch. I lightly shaded the area around the image with chalk. The DP and cardstock are stash items.  I made the flower using a small Fiskars punch and put a sequin in the center.  All edges are distressed with CTMH ink. Finally, I used a Corner Chomper on the card base.

I'm entering these challenges:  One Stitch at a Time #204 - Use a Digi; That Craft Place - Flowers and/or Mother's Day; Sister Act Card Challenge #48 - Anything Goes; and Challenges 4 Everybody #39 Anything Goes.

Hope you have a good day :)

A Card for our Son

Today I'm sharing the card I made for our youngest son.  He's a writer who uses a computer, but he has an old school heart.  If it were feasible, he'd compose his works in longhand or use a typewriter. I don't have a typewriter stamp (I really, really want one), so I used a K & Company die cut that I got on clearance at Michael's.  I've had it for months, knowing I would use it for our son.

Everything is from my stash. I added the green striped patterned paper to the card base. I used a Paper Studio embossing folder for the handwriting, then rubbed CTMH Chocolate ink over the embossing.  I added strips of wood pattern DP to the top and bottom of the embossed piece.  I popped up the typewriter and added green enamel dots.  I distressed all the edges in the CTMH ink.

These are the challenges I'm entering:  Crafts 4 Eternity Recipe Challenge #166 - Spots & Stripes; The Male Room #5 - Colours (Blue, Green and Brown); and Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - March.

We're having a beautiful day here. I plan to get out and enjoy it while I can. I wish you a great day!

With Heartfelt Sympathy

I have a sympathy card today, made for a friend.

My card is, of course, CAS.  The color combo is a little different for me, but I think the occasion called for something a bit muted. Everything is CTMH - all retired.

I'm entering these challenges:  One Layer Simplicity Challenge #2 - Can You Repeat That?; Digi Darla's Challenges #102 - Sympathy; Through the Craft Room Door February 18-February 24- Anything Goes.

Praise for Boy

Hi, I'm back today with a card for my grandson.  Grandpa and I like to send him cards to let him know how proud we are of him and how much we love him.  I decided to make several because our neighbor's little boys also make us proud with their accomplishments.  So I know I'll have reason to give out one or two more. The colors give it a masculine look, don't you think?  It's totally CAS, using CTMH stamps and ink. I love the Washi tape stamp - the look of tape without adding a layer!

I'm entering these challenges:  One-Layer Simplicity Challenge #1 - Restocking the Shelves; Dream Valley Challenges #73 - Boys/Men; and A Gem of a Challenge #111 - For the Boys.

613 Avenue Create #53 - Anything Goes-Option Color, Sights & Sounds of Winter

This is the first Sunday of the New Year.  We're off to a very cold start in my neck of the woods. Our new Challenge at 613 Avenue Create has the option of the Colors, Sights and Sounds of Winter.  There's nothing I like more on a freezing Winter morning like this than a nice cup of tea:

The image is by our sponsor SquiggleFly  - "Women Are Like Tea Bags."  You get 3 images, the tea cup, a tea pot and this sentiment which I put inside the card:

I have a thing for tea.  We are tea drinkers, no coffee in our house.  I'll be using the tea pot image soon for sure.  I'm a complete pushover for tea stamps and digi images!

The cardstock is Recollections. I made my own background paper, stamping the dark green CS with snow flakes using CTMH Olive ink. I colored the image with Sharpies and used a Copic Colorless Blender for the very first time.  (It was a Christmas gift.)  It's hard to see that I used my Clear Wink of Stella pen to add sparkle to the tea in the cup, the vapors rising from the cup, and the saucer.  Love that Wink of Stella!

I'm entering these challenges:  Card Makin' Mamas #78 - Anything Goes; Keep It Simple #30 - Anything Goes; and One Crazy Stamper - January Anything Goes.

Stay warm while you create your project for this week's challenge!

Happy New Year - 2014!!!

It's 2014 - can you believe it?!  I wish everyone a happy and healthy New Year.  I made a set of New Year cards to send to a few friends.

I took the picture in my kitchen where I could sort of get good light on a dark and cloudy yesterday.  Here's a close up so you can see the sentiment a bit better, although it's still in a shadow:

I used three stamp sets:  The numbers and sentiment are CTMH; the champagne classes are from Fiskars. The champagne glasses are Brillance ink and sparkle along with the Liquid Pearl dots.The Memento Tangarine ink and Fiskars set are new to me, gifts from my youngest son. The cardstock is Recollections.  I actually used my Fiskars Stamp Press which I've had for a couple of years and have not used.  It worked great to stamp everything at once - love it!!!

I'm entering these challenges:  Crazy for CAS #34 - Anything Goes; CASology #76 - Party; and Paper Issues - Shiny and New.

Happy Crafting!!

A Christmas Card

This is the first year I handmade every Christmas card that we mailed.  Last year I used the last of my store bought cards.  I had been mailing and/or handing out some hand made and some store bought (left over from before I started card making).  We don't have a large Christmas card list - only about 30-40, so it wasn't as if I had to make hundreds of cards.  I officially got started in October, although I had made a few for challenges earlier.  Anyhooo, here's one:

Everything is from my stash.  The stamp, sentiment and ink are CTMH.  The DP and card stock were actually scraps.  The card base is Recollections.

I'm entering these challenges:  Aud Sentiments Challeng Blog #96 - Christmas; Milk Coffee Challenge - Any Christmas Creation; and Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Stamp It Out.

One of my dance groups is performing at a nursing home this afternoon.  And this evening I'm performing with another group at Global Winter Wonderland at Turner Field in Atlanta.  So I'm off to get my costumes together.  Happy Crafting to you!

A Halloween Card

Happy Fall, Y'All! Today I'm posting a Halloween card for my grandniece.  She's almost a teen (her birthday is next month).  She still loves Halloween treats, so I made a card highlighting my favorite Halloween treat - candy corn.  (My husband and I have already eaten two bags, so I'm not buying any more - LOL!)

I had fun putting the candy corn in the jar.  I even did a bit of masking at the bottom of the jar - go, me! I think purple, black and orange are great Halloween colors.  Cardstock: my stash; Stamps: CTMH Joyful Jar and Remarkable Wreath; Ink: CTMH Black.  I colored the candy corn with Sharpies and added American Crafts Baker's Twine.

I'm entering these challenges:  Simons Says Stamps Wednesday Challenge - Halloween or Halloween Colors, and Happy Campers Challenge - Halloween.

Job Well Done

Good Morning!  Here's a little card I made for our grandson to congratulate him on a job well done at school.  He lives across the country from us, so Granny and Grandpa send him cards and notes frequently. He's so special to us!

Everything is from my stash.  I used the CTMH Artiste Cricut cartridge.  Our grandson was happy to receive this card - and the monetary treat inside :)

I'm entering these challenges:  Send A Smile 4 Kids - Bright Colors; 7 Kids College Fund Challenge Blog - Anything Goes; Addicted to Stamps and More! - Anything Goes, and ABC Challenges - in honor of children.

Back to School Card for Our Grandson

This is my second post today because I want to enter a couple of challenges.  I created this card for our grandson.  He's excited to be in the 6th grade this year.  So Granny and Grandpa sent him this card with a little something special in it.

I love that sheet of composition paper.  I used my new CTMH Artbooking Cricut cartridge to cut it.  I stamped the lines on it and the sentiment with the Take Note stamp set, part of the Cricut bundle of stamps that comes with the cart. Isn't it adorable?  I finished it off with Washi tape and punched stars.  The ink and DP are from CTMH.

I'm entering these challenges:  Sassy Studio Designs - Back to School; MilkCoffee Challenge - Back to School; and Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge - Back to School.

Runway Inspired Challenge #43

Good morning!  I'm entering the current RIC challenge - look at the inspiration photo:

And here's my card:

The gray cardstock is from my stash as are the sequins.  I colored the sequins with a Sharpie. I used a Martha Stewart punch and Target Washi Tape.  The sentiment is CTMH For Every Occasion.

I've also entered this card in a new challenge blog 4 Krafty Girlz Challenges - Anything Goes, and Addicted to Stamps and More! - Anything Goes.

613 Avenue Create #35 - Anything Goes - Spotlighting Technique Option

Happy Sunday!  It's September 1 - summer is almost over.  Where did the time go??  It's time for our new challenge at 613 Avenue Create.  Our optional twist is Spotlighting, a technique I've never used before.  But I must say I had fun with it.  The site has a link to a tutorial if you're not familiar with spotlighting. Our sponsors are Di's Digis and Sandi's Samples. Here's my card.  I'm obviously thinking about the coming Fall :)

As always, my card is CAS.  I used CTMH Flourished Blessings for my leaves and sentiment.  The inks are CTMH also, Sunset and Honey. The cardstock is from my stash as are the sequins.  I added Liquid Pearls to the center of the sequins.

I'm entering my card in these challenges:  Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything Goes; Simon Says Stamp Blog - Anything Goes; Pumpkin Spice - Anything Goes; My Sheri Crafts - Fall Colors; and Robyn's Fetish Challenge Blog - Add Some Leaves.

Visit 613 Avenue Create to see more DT inspiration.  Last week's winners are listed also.  We want to see your wonderful entries - stop by and drop off your project!

Simon Says Stamps: Triangles

Today I'm entering Simon Says Stamps Wednesday Challenge - Triangles.  Here's my CAS card:

I had a lot of fun making this card.  I fussy cut the triangles and glued them to the card base.  I added a sequin to the middle and put a rhinestone in the middle of the sequin - done!  Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:  Card stock, Sequin, Rhinestone, My stash; Ink:  CTMH Topiary, Stamp:  Hero Arts Friendly Flags.

Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge

Hi, there!  I don't know what's come over me.  I'm entering another challenge that I found out about on my friend Virginia's blog.  I'm entering the Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge Watermelon Wonder.  I was drawn to it by the inspiration photo.  I'm attempting to expand my horizons as it were by entering more challenges. Those with a photo inspiration both intrigue and scare me because it's totally up to the participant as to what to create.  Here's the inspiration photo:



And here's my card using the less dominate colors of green and yellow.  The lemon doesn't appear very yellow in the photo, but it's stamped on yellow paper and popped up.

Stamps:  Sublime Citrus - Fresh Squeezed Stamps; Inks: CTMH Lagoon & Topiary; Cardstock & Bling: My stash; Washi Tape: Recollections.

I had fun making this card.  Hope you like it!