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!

Butterfly Wish

Hi, folks! Today I'm sharing a card I made for my youngest SIL. She had a fall and is recuperating. The card is in the mail now :)

I used some Martha Stewart butterfly stamps that I got on clearance at WalMart a while ago.  The inks are Memento Grape Jelly and Dandelion. The sentiment is CTMH and the sequins are from my stash. I'm entering these challenges:  The Card Concept - Use A Butterfly (Clean & Simple); Flat Friends Challenge #19 - Use a Sentiment; and Mema's Crafts April Challenge - Anything Goes.

613 Avenue Create #65-Anything Goes-Option Create Your Own Color Challenge

Oh, Happy Day!!! The sun is shining brightly, but it is cold, cold, cold outside. I'm just happy to see the sun :) Our challenge at 613 Avenue Create has the delightful option of allowing you to create your own color challenge.  You can choose from 1) blue/purple/turquoise; 2) yellow/pink/orange; 3) blue/pink/white. Our sponsors are Aurora Wings and Kenny K. I used blue/purple/turquoise and had fun with Kenny K's Fish Digi:

I think this little guy is just darling.  I used color pencils and baby oil. (Not Gamsol - I saw Gina K use this technique. You don't need to open a window.) For the water, I used the direct ink pad to paper technique with Broken China and Peacock Feathers Distress Inks. I cut the waves using a 1" circle punch. I popped up the fish, added a few sequins, and stamped the CTMH sentiment with Memento Grape Jelly Ink. All the papers are from my stash.

I'm entering these challenges:  Challenges 4 Everybody #39 - Anything Goes ; Crafting by Designs - Sea Recipe (Water, Sequins, Sea Creatures); Sister Act Card Challenge #50 - Anything Goes; Word Art Wednesday #125 - Anything Goes.

I hope you have a wonderful week - craft away!!

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 #57-Anything Goes, Option Use Felt

Good day!  613 Avenue Create has a new challenge - Anything Goes with the option to USE FELT. There's a story behind the blue felt that I used for my card.  It was a left over scrap from the felt I used to create favors for my daughter-in-law's baby shower when she was pregnant with our one and only grandson.  I made sweet little blue pillows, edged with ribbon and with a cute little baby themed button in the center.  (I have one in with our Christmas decorations.)

I used the Digital Stamp Ice Blend image from our sponsor Milk Coffee.  I hand cut the felt heart. The image is colored with Bic markers and popped up. The card stock, sequins and Washi tape are from my stash. The heart stamp and sentiment are CTMH.  The ink is Memento. It's hard to see in the picture, but the heart on the image, the chocolate ice blend and straw have a coating of clear Wink of Stella. The cover of the cup has Martha Stewart glue glitter.

I'm coming back later to enter some challenges.  Check out 613 Avenue Create and have a great day!

A Difficult Card - Sympathy

This is my second post for the day.  (I've never done two posts in one day before, so I hope what I've done is ok.)  To see my Sympathy card, please scroll down.

This card is for a new challenge that ends tomorrow so I've got to get it posted quickly.  I'm entering ABC Challenges SIP Challenge (Stamps, Ink and Paper).  I made this for my neighbors' anniversary.

The CS, DP, ribbon and pearls are all from my stash.  The stamp and sentiment are CTMH.






Hi, there.  Today I have a sympathy card which I made for a friend.  We all know how difficult it can be to make sympathy cards.  I always struggle when making one.

The stamp is CTMH, the ink is Memento.  I used a Sizzix embossing folder and and the sentiment is a $1 wooden stamp from Michaels.  Cardstock is from my stash.

I'm entering this in the challenge at 4 Crafty Chicks - 155 (Sympathy) and Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes.

613 Avenue Create Challenge 25: Anything Goes-Create a Fat Page

Our new challenge at 613 Avenue Create is Anything Goes - Create a Fat Page.  I've never made a fat page before.  It's 4 x 4 and "heavily embellished."  Now my inherent CAS style does not allow me to heavily embellish - I just can't do it.  Here's my fat page, as heavily embellished as I could manage which is not so much...

Our sponsor is Lacy Sunshine.  I used her Flowers on a Cloud image. I colored it with water color pencils and fussy cut it.  I made the rainbow using Memento inks and adhered it behind the flowers.  The additional clouds and airplane were cut on my Cricut months ago so I don't remember which cart I used.  The sentiment is from CTMH A Rainbow, punched out with a Fiskars punch (I think).  I distressed the edges of the fat page and the clouds and popped up two clouds.  There is a bit of bling on the sentiment.

We'd like to see what you make. You have a week :)

I'm entering these challenges:  Challenges 4 Everybody - Anything Goes; Sentimental Sundays - For the Girls; Tammy's Scrapin Corner - Anything with Wings.

One Last Valentine

Today I'm posting the valentine I made for my sons.  I generally give them the same card for an occasion such as Valentine's Day (birthdays are always different!).  Here it is:

I love this jar stamp made by Close to My Heart.  It comes with multiple small stamps to go in the jar. It may be retired now - Joyful Jar. The sentiment is also CTMH, but I don't know which stamp set.  The ink is Memento Lady Bug Red. As is usual nowadays, everything is from my stash.  I'm entering it into the same challenges as my husband's Valentine:  Challenge #29 Love and/or Hearts - Crafty Creations Challenges and All My Love - Cards for Men.

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Valentine's Day!

I hope you all are enjoying your Valentine's Day.  My hubby and I exchanged cards and small gifts this morning . Tomorrow night we're going out to a special dinner with friends.  We'll be dancing also - big fun!!  Here's the card I made my husband:

The picture makes the card appear violet, but it's actually a regal purple.  Everything is from my stash - I'm getting good at using what I have!  The music notes are tissue tape from Tim Holtz - this is the first time I've used it.  I adhered it to white cardstock that matches the cardstock on which I stamped the sentiment.  The sentiment is from CTMH.  I popped up the small heart after using a Martha Stewart punch to create it.  The ink is Memento Grape Jelly. 

I'm entering this card in Challenge 3 - All My Love at Cards for Men.  I'm also entering Challenge #209 - Love and/or Hearts at Crafty Creations Challenges.

613 Avenue Create Challenge #5 Anything Goes

We've got another Anything Goes Challenge at 613 Avenue Create.  The optional theme is Love. Our wonderful sponsors are Sweet N Sassy and My Heart Pieces.  The DT has worked hard to create some great inspiration.  Here's my card using the Baby Sleeping image from Sweet N Sassy.  I made this card for my sister to give to brand new grandson - he's her very first.  I sent her a picture of the card, and I'm happy to say that she loved it, and told me she would love to give it to her grandson, my grandnephew.  When he gets it, he'll feel the double love - from his Grandmommy and his Auntie La :)

I used stash items for everything.  I colored the sweet image with a combination of Copics, Sharpies, Distress Markers and chalk.  The ink is Memento Bahama Blue and the sentiment is CTMH (A Tulip). 

You'll want to see our winners from Challenge #4 - you just might be one!

Sympathy Card

Today I have a sympathy card. I'm one of those cardmakers who makes sympathy cards as needed. I just can't bear to have a stash of them. I know some folks prefer to make them in advance of need, but that just doesn't work for me. I think they are hard to make under any circumstances, don't you? 

I decided not to color the stamped image. To me it appears more delicate that way. This time I shot the picture in my kitchen with backyard in sight through the window. My table is glass so you can see a slight reflection. It was slightly overcast so it was dark in the house. I needed as much natural light as I could get. Click on the image for a better view.

Supplies: Cardstock: My stash; Stamps: CTMH Lovely Lily, unknow wood stamp (sentiment); Ink: Memento Grape Jelly; Sizzix Dots embossing folder; pop dots.

JDE's JULY RELEASE PARTY and CAS ANYTHING GOES

I've got lots of news regarding Jackson's Digital Expressions in July:  Robert has created 6 new images for the Design Team - you could win all 6.  The site will have "Featured" Designers and the Design Challenge IS ALL MONTH LONG.  Additionally, there's a Mini Blog Hop July 6-8. There will be weekly prize drawings and surprises throughout the month, plus a Bonus Mystery Prize for someone.  Finally, we have fabulous new sponsors and new Design Team members.  You will want to join in and have a great time with us.

This week's Challenge from the CAS team is Anything Goes with a twist - A Rose by Any Other Name.  We would love it if you put a flower or flowers on your card, but not a rose. My card uses a particular favorite image of mine called Doing the Wobble.  I absolutely love to line dance.  In fact, I line dance at least 3 times a week and usually more.  I take classes, belong to a line dance club, and attend work shops and jamborees regularly.  I am one dancing sista, believe me!  So I had to have this image.  The Wobble is an old line dance, but it is immensely popular - folks of all ages dance it everywhere.  I love this image and this card!  It makes me want to dance!!  If you don't Wobble, learn it - you'll have big fun!

Supplies:  Cardstock:  my stask; Stamps:  Hero Arts Cling-Musical Clef, Recollections, CTMH Atomic Lower Case; Copics; Sharpies; Bic Mark-Its; Sankura White Jelly Roll Pen; Ink:  CTMH Blush, Memento Grape Jelly; Flowers: CTMH White Daisy Just Blooms.

I entered my card in some challenges:  Make It Monday (Anything Goes),  The Crafty Bloggers Network (Anything Goes), Mema's Crafts (Anything Goes), and Chocolate, Coffee & Cards Challenges (Anything Goes). Create a project and link it up at JDE.  You don't want to miss out on a good time and some great prizes!

Yes, Virginia, I'm Inspired

I saw a fun challenge on Virginia Lu's blog.  I admire Virginia's creativity and style and visit her blog quite often.  Here's the inspiration for her challenge:



Virginia's challenge gave me a chance to use a newly purchased stamp set from CTMH - Joyful Jar.  I have to learn to take better pictures, but, anyway, here's my card:

Supplies:  Cardstock: Reflections; DP: The Paper Studio: Inks:  Memento Lilac Posies, Tangelo, CTMH Blush, Desert Sand, Sunflower, Pear, Dutch Blue; Stamps:  CTMH Joyful Jar, From Me to You; Corner Chomper, pop dots.