Leap Day Post

I wanted to post a couple of cards today. The first is for the Sketch Challenge at Splitcoast Stampers. These challenges always "challenge" me to think about what I am creating. This week's sketch was a fun one to work with.

The focal image is stamped from SU Watercolor Trio set and the greeting is from Spring Mix by Gina K Designs. The background was stamped with "Le London Script" from Stampabilities. The card base is Crumb Cake card stock with Soft Suede as the accent color. I also used Soft Suede ink. The focal image was cut with the petite oval Spellbinders nestabilities.

The second card was fun to do. I had never done a spotlight card before. The stamp is from Stamping Bella and is called Young Love by Mo Manning. When I saw the stamp, I knew it was one that I had to have. The spotlight was colored with prisma colored pencils and gamsol.

Our Daily Bread Designs Challenge

I have never done one of Our Daily Bread Designs Challenge. This one sounded very interesting. The challenge was--

This week the challenge team is challenging you to think outside of the box....Create any card or project that is not an A2, A6, or A7 rectangular or square card. It can be a different fold (diamond fold, joy fold, easel, accordion, step, sidestep etc.) or a different shape.

As I was thinking about this challenge, this idea popped into my mind. Some weeks ago I had created a card pattern with my Cricut and Gypsy. I called it my pedal card. I used four circles, welded them together to create a card base. I adjusted the size to give me a 5-inch card when the pedals are folded in. I am not sure the card actually fits the challenge, but it is a different fold. The important thing was that I had fun creating the card. I used one of the verses from "Faith" and the inside greeting from "Happy Birthday". My cards are not as elegant as many of the other cards; I guess my style is more "clean and simple".

The flower on the front of the card is handmade. Last week as I was looking at cards on different web sites and then at different blogs, I ran across a pattern for small crocheted flowers. So last night I decided to see if I could make one. I used some embroidery thread and a small hook. You can see the result. Here is a link to the blog where I found the pattern.

Happy Birthday Alex

This week our oldest grandson turned "sixteen". He is a very talented young man. Because he loves music and is in the marching band at his high school, I wanted his card to have a musical theme. A friend gave me the stamp which turned out to be perfect. I used SU crumb cake card stock for the base of the card, soft suede ink and card stock for the focal image with chocolate chip card stock for the border.

Pretty in Blue

As I look in my scrap box, I find lots of items that I have worked on and never used. That is the case with this card. It is always exciting when a card comes together and you are happy with it.

Reflections

Last Wednesday I received an e-mail from Our Daily Bread Designs saying my cards "Three From One" which I posted on January 27, 2012 had been selected for "Customer Card of the Day". I felt truly blessed to receive that recognition.
As I was going through my scrap box the other day, I came across one of the first cards I made. It was a Christmas card. I was wanting to get our Christmas cards, that I thought I had purchased the previous year (on sale), ready to mail. I could not find any cards. Time was running out. I had to do something. I thought--"I can make what I need". I found a stamp that I had had for years, an ink pad and some card stock.  At the time, I was so pleased with my creation. I think that I have come a long way. It has been a fun journey. I have learned so much. I truly love being able to share my cards with others.

Two Weeks Ago

It has been almost two weeks since I fell on a patch of ice on the way to the mailbox with a couple of cards. I hurt my hand--at least it was not broken. I am still having to wear a splint off and on during the day. I have a card that I would like to post. I love sponging. This is a Saturday Evening Post stamp from Cornish Heritage Farms called "Bird Watching".  For this card I used the upper half of the stamp.

Using A Digital Stamp

Over the past few weeks I have been trying out new things. Today I want to post some pictures of cards I have made using a free digital stamp from the new Cornish Heritage Farms. I love this image. There is so much that you can do with a digital image--make it the perfect size for your card, flip it, rotate it, etc. I can't wait to try another stamp.