JUGS template challenge

This weeks JUGS challenge was to use a template, preferably from MTME. The JUGS team is showcasing the "In Suspense" template, which I have, but have not made anything with yet. Instead I chose to use "cutesy cover". It was the perfect size to hold a single image volkswagen bug clear stamp I bought my mother-in-law for her birthday. The second picture shows the box with a gift-card holder I also made for her. The cardstock is from SU! the background paper is a piece from DCWV that fades from dark pink to yellow. I jazzed it up a bit by stamping a French script background stamp in creamy caramel and then stamping a small multi-butterfly stamp in a pink from Martha Stewart. I AM determined to use the old DP (or at least a large amount of it) that I have before I buy any of the new gorgeous stuff I have been seeing lately. I punched two holes to run ribbon through and tied it around a button stuck on with a foam square. Here is the box with the gift card holder.

To finish the box off, I die cut lables one from both pink cs and vellum, punched a Martha Stewart butterfly out of the pink and layered the labels together with a pink heart brad. The "for you" stamp is from Verve.

Sweet Stop 78 and JUGS 53

This week I used the sweet stop sketch with a spin challenge combined with the color challenge from JUGS. The spin from sweet stop was to use sparkle and the color combo was black, white, and kraft. I don't have any kraft cs so I substituted the closest I could find. This isn't a traditional card in that I made it to hold a gift card and a pair of earrings I made for my sister-in-law for her birthday. It is based on this tutorial, but I scored a half inch spine in the middle to accomodate the earrings. The sparkle is very subtle, I had a really hard time incorporating it into this color combo and look I was going for and an even harder time taking a picture of it. But I used a flourish stencil from Hot Off The Press with a glitter gel pen to make a flourish on the front and a smaller one in each corner of the inside section. I actually ended up liking the addition as it added a little shimmer while still keeping the elegant look.

I created my own patterned paper with Guidelines 2 from PTI. I just got it, but I think I am in love! The damask on the front as well as on the earring card is from Fiskars (I think) and the sentiment "treat yourself" (by Verve) just begged to be used since the inside holds a gift card. I drew a line around the focal and the earring card using a fine black pen.

After I took the picture of the inside of this card, I realized I had the gift card upside down. Ha. At least it was for a good reason, I didn't want the dollar amount to show. : )

Verve Release Week Challenge 5

Here is my card for Verve's Release Week Challenge #5 sketch. Once again, I have used the "Through the Trees" stamp set from PTI. I just love how fitting the little tree image is for fall. I even added little falling "leaves" with my markers. So cute. I also used a sentiment from "Accent Notes" from Verve and the little leaf is from "Places Please" by PTI. I was going to hang the tag the other direction, but the leaf looked too much like a Christmas tree. Improv: it's what stamping is all about. : ) All the background papers are stamped and the metal tag is aluminum tape punched out with an oval nestie. That stuff is awesome!

Verve Release Week Challenge 4

Playing along with Verve's release week challenge #4 sketch, and using some new stamp sets from PTI (new to me anyway): through the trees, and places please this is the card I came up with. I never make cards in fall colors, and now I am really wondering why. I really love the richness of the rust and brown together.

Verve Release Week Challenge 3

This card uses the Verve Release Week Challenge sketch #3. I just got the "through the trees" set from PTI and since it goes perfectly with autumn, I HAD to use it. Plus, I had to make a masculine birthday card, and I do not have many "manly" stamps. The background is stamped with a leaf from an old SU! set and the happy birthday sentiment is also from SU! As is the ribbon, now that I think about it.

Verve Release Week Challenge 1

Verve is hosting a challenge (actually 5) for world cardmaking day and their new release week. This is the sketch for challenge #1. This may be the easiest and fastest card I have ever made! Even though it makes it look like I am REALLY good at coloring! The focal image is actually cut from a sample Christmas card I received in the mail last week. The company was trying to entice you to order your cards from them and the images are beautiful! Way too beautiful to throw away. So, I used an oval nestie to punch out a portion of this bridge. You can't tell from the picture, but I used a glitter pen to highlight the snow portions. And I ambossed the snowflakes with a cuttlebug folder. That is pretty much it.

OTWC#27 and Verve Release Week challenge 2

The first image is the inspiration picture for the Off The Wall Craftiness challenge for this week. I combined the colors with one of Verve's Release Week challenges to this card. The stamps from a new set I got a week or two ago. Bought it at Michael's, not sure of the name right now. I also used my new cuttlebug embossing folder: textiles (I think)

JUGS53 and ODBDSLC31

Another birthday card, this time for my mother-in-law, I combined the JUGS sketch challenge for the week with the Our Daily Bread Designs challenge to "Wing It": use something with wings. The Butterflies are punched out using a Martha Stewart punch. It is hard to tell from the picture, but the butterflies and the background paper were both stamped with a french script stamp (stamped off first to lighten it) and a butterfly background stamp from Stampin' Up! It created a neat collage effect. The Happy Birthday is from Damask Designs from PTI.

Sweet Stop 76

I decided to use the sweet stop sketch this week to make my sister-in-law a birthday card. I used lots of fun new toys that I had yet to try out: the scalloped border punch, cuttlebug embossing folder, and a new stamp (on the dark pink layer). The stamp is a long border stamp, but lined up next to each other it creates a embossed tin look. The flower image is from inkadinkadoo, and the "Celebrate" stamp is from Damask Designs by PTI.