Saturday, February 22, 2014

Sketch Challenge 476

This is my card for SC476 at Splitcoast Stampers. There was a pad of paper laying on my workspace. As I was thumbing through the pad, I came to this piece. I knew right away that it was to be the inspiration to my card. I love the black with the pink and the pink perfectly matched my favorite SU card stock -- Rose Red and black made the perfect accent color. The flower was made using the Rose Red card stock sponged with SU's white craft ink.









Monday, February 17, 2014

Never Be Afraid -- CAS260


I thought about today’s CAS challenge most of the day. The technique challenge was to create a border using at least two or more images and/or sentiment stamps. This is my card that I came up with. I found this a very interesting challenge.
I drew the lines free hand. For the leaves I used a stamp from Rubber Stamp Tapestry and SU Old Olive ink. The small flowers were also a stamp from Rubber Stamp Tapestry stamped in SU Summer Starfruit. The larger flower and the dots were peg stamps from Stamps by Judith. For the flower I used SU Calypso Coral, and the dots were stamped in SU Pool Party. The verse was an Our Daily Bread Designs stamp from the set – As You Graduate.

I used the same border on the inside of the card. I am going to have to try this again.
 
 
 

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

SC475

When I saw the sketch for today's challenge at SCS I knew the direction I wanted to go. I had been wanting to try a card using the Cricut cartridge "Elegant Edges" and this sketch seemed to say "Now is the time". I finally got to my craft room in the late afternoon. Now here is my card.


 
The white layers were cut at 1 3/4-inches, 3 1/4-inches and 4 3/4-inches. The Rose Red layers were cut using the same measurements with the shadow creative function key on. Next, I sprayed the white layers with a color wash that I had made using rubbing alcohol and my SU Rose Red reinker. The flower was made using SU Rose Red cardstock and a flower die from La La Land. Before shaping the flower, I sponged the edges/petals with SU white craft ink. Pearls placed in the center finished the flower.

My Spring Time Flower
 
I had to add this picture to my blog. Before Christmas I purchased an Amaryllis blub and put it in the garage. Around the first of the year I planted it in the material that was provided. This is what I was treated too today. It is beautiful and makes me feel happy.
 

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Favorites

Wanted to post some of my favorite cards that I have made in the last few weeks. I love creating with flowers. Stampin' Up Flower Shop has quickly become one of my favorite sets. Love the matching punch also. These cards are simple but some of my favorites.



The background of this card is a color wash on watercolor paper. Love the end result.

Monday, February 10, 2014

Christmas Gifts--2013

I want to share the gift that I made for the grandkids this past Christmas. They are getting old enough that they usually ask for money. I thought about doing a gift card, writing a check or just putting money in a card. None of these ideas sounded very exciting. While looking on Pinterest, I came across several unique ways to create gifts using money. The one that really caught my interest was one where a square Kleenex box was used to hold the dollars that had been taped together. The recipient would then get to pull the dollars up through the opening. The more dollars the more fun. I didn't have Kleenex boxes, so I had to create my own. For the first two that I made, I used a 12 x 12-inch piece of card stock to create a 4 x 4 x 4-inch box. I made a tag that came out the top to which the dollars were attached. Sarah and Stephen had fun pulling their gift out of the box.








 
The boxes below are the second ones that I made. Again I used a 12 x 12 inch piece of card stock to make my box, but this time I made them only three inches tall. These boxes worked much better. I used the Cricut Craft Room to cut out the names, the top decoration and the up arrows you see on the tags. The gifts were a big hit with all the kids.
 
 
 

Saturday, February 8, 2014

Valentines for the Grandkids

My grandkids are getting older. Four of the five are teenagers. I find it harder and harder to make cards like valentines for them. I want them to be fun but not too childish. So I always struggle with what to make. These are the cards that I made for 2014.

Maddie, the youngest, got so excited last year when we went to the Newport Aquarium in Cincinnati, Ohio. She loved the penguins. I thought of the SU set called "Zoo Review". A friend loaned me her stamp set and I got to work. Also, the cold, cold weather made these animals seem very appropriate. I hope that the cards will make the kids smile.

For the two boys

Inside of the above card

For the Girls

Each one turned out just a little bit different


The inside of the girls' cards

The envelope

Thursday, February 6, 2014

A Valentine Thank You

I need a thank you card to give to someone on Thursday, February 13. This sketch turned out to be perfect.

The base card stock is SU Rose Red -- one of my favorite colors. The designer paper is from We R Memory Keepers "Crazy For You" 6 x 6-inch pad. I used Spellbinder dies for the heart, 1/2 inch seam binding for the bow and a punch from Martha Stewart. The sentiment is from the SU stamp set "Postage Collection".

Monday, February 3, 2014

2014

I cannot believe that it has been so long since I posted anything to my blog. I have found that it has been hard to get back on track since Christmas. Today I want to post some pictures of Calendars I made. The design is one that I did after looking and seeing many different samples on Pinterest, Splitcoast Stampers and other wonderful blogs. My finished calendar measured 4 1/4 by 4 1/4 inches. I purchased the calendar pad from SkyBluePink.com. They made great little gifts tucked inside other things. The work of so many wonder paper crafters has inspired me over the past years. To you -- I say "Thank you!"