Tall and skinny?

The Mojo Monday sketch challenge this week is to create a tall and skinny card.  I've had a bunch of long, thin card blanks for quite a while.  Someone gave them to me and I just never really used them as I don't have envelopes to fit.  But for Christmas I got the Envelope Punch Board from We R Memory Keepers, so now I don't have an excuse not to use those blanks.  My card is not tall and skinny, but it is long and skinny.  I had to use some items from my "bits and pieces" stash and they fit better when I flipped the sketch.  After making my the card in my previous post I had two items to add to the bits and pieces stash, and the point is to eliminate it, not add to it.  So, I had to figure out a way to use the two ovals that I had cut out.  The sentiment oval was already in the stash, and the plaid oval was perfect for a frame, I just needed to trim the black to fit in between.   Also, the two little black flourishes were in the stash.  Yeay, it's getting much smaller.  Of course, now it's going to get harder, too, since I'm using up the "good" stuff. : )

Challenges:
The Stamping Chef #14--anything goes
Creative Inspirations #250--stamping
Suzy Bee's Blooming Challenge #13--ribbon & bows
Mojo Monday #330--tally and skinny sketch

Timeless Tuesday #256--use purple

Supplies:
Stamps: Verve "Joyful Blooms" flowers; PTI "Through the Trees" sentiment
Dies/embossing folders: spellbinders classic ovals, large; Sizzix botanicals embossing folder

Sweet Friends

I have had this stamp set for ages!!!  And have never inked it up before today.  Just not really my style, but I thought I would give it a try and it is cute!  I also managed to use up some of my scrap bits stash.  It took forever to figure out what (and how) I could use.  Finally, I figured out I could use to bits of ribbon to create the "border".  I had to cut them in half to be able to span the full width of the card.  Unfortunately, you can't really tell in the photo, but the plaid panel is popped up on the front and the oval is cut out of it.  So, the image is recessed.  I think it adds to the cute factor.

Challenges:
Viva La Verve January week 4--sketch

Timeless Tuesday #256--use purple (mine is orchid colored, but that is purple)
{Pin}spirational challenge #92--inspiration photo (I was inspired by the purple cupcake liners and the sprinkles--my butterflies are sprinkled on)

Crafting By Designs--think warm thoughts (warm weather flowers and warm thoughts of friendship)

Supplies:
Stamps: ooooollllldddd SU! hedgehog set; Verve "Friendly Phrases"
Dies/punches: spellbinders classic ovals, large; Martha Stewart butterfly punch

Just Because

Last one for today.  And three more items from the scrap pile have been used up: the blue border die cut and both the yellow and white ribbons.  It was a good day yesterday! : )

Challenges:
Viva La Verve January week 3--sketch

Lacy Sunshine Challenge--bingo (I chose the ribbon, die cut, card candy column)
Delightful Challenges--You have my heart
My Heart Pieces Challenge--Love is Life
Sentimental Sundays #191--Lovey Dovey

Supplies:
Stamps: Verve "Take Note" and "Borderline" hearts
Dies/punches: spellbinders floral doily motifs; PTI border die; square punch; corner rounder punch

Keys

Back again with another stash buster.  The keys were laying around in that famous pile of scraps.  And I have to say that I haven't been a big fan of this house paper, but it works perfectly with the keys and this cardstock.  It turned into a rather fun little card.

Challenges:
Desert Island Craft Challenge #70--choose at least 3 of the following (I used #2, 3, 4, 7, 8)
1. favorite color combo
2. use metal
3. no flowers
 4. ribbon
5. paint
6. make it not a card
7. make it a tag
8. do NOT color
9. journal it
10. sparkles
Love to Scrap! Challenge Blog #22--Tag, You're it!
Tuesday Morning Sketches #233--sketch

Cuttlebug Mania--all you need it love
Word Art Wednesday #116--anything goes with uplifting sentiment
Digi Stamps 4 Joy--Add real ribbon
Suzy Bee's Blooming Challenge #13--ribbon and bows

Supplies:
Stamps: PTI "Lock & Key" sentiment; Verve "Borderline" chevrons
Dies: PTI "Lock & Key"

Stripes!

Still working away at my Christmas Thank You cards.  This little number used up 4 items from my stash pile!!  Yippee!!  Maybe I should start a "Can you spot the item from my stash?" game.  It could be fun, but rather hard.  So, I'll just tell you: the polka dotted ribbon, the 2 red flowers (stacked them together for more interest) and the white oval.  And don't tell anyone, but these are actually Christmas papers. : )

Challenges:
One Crazy Stamper--anything goes
Inkspirational Challenges #48--inspiration photo (I was inspired by the blue! and the red)

{Pin}spirational Challenge #91--inspiration photo (inspired once again by the blue and the stripes and the swirls in the wallpaper)

Creative Inspiration #249--use ribbon
Digi Stamps 4 Joy--use real ribbon
My Favorite Things # 160--sketch

Stamping with Dragon--winter blues

Supplies:
Stamps: Verve "Blue Skies"
Dies: spellbinders "Resplendent Rectangles" oval
Flower punch

Girly Graduation

I have 4 cards to post today and each contains items from the stash pile I am working on whittling down.  (You can check out some of my most recent posts to see some of the items that have been put to good use)  I have a bunch of die cut numbers in said stash pile and I was wondering how I was going to use them.  Lots of random zeros in there and almost all the numbers are white--couldn't tell you why.  Then I was reminded that a friend was graduating this weekend with her massage therapy degree and as she is one of the Sunday School teachers at our church, they were going to have a little celebration for her.  Ah, ha, a graduation card with the date on it!  Perfect for using up random zeros!  So, the 2 and the 0 were already cut out as was the sentiment panel (stamped already even!) = 3 items from the pile used up!  And I think it created a really soft beautiful graduation card.

Challenges:
Cards Galore--anything goes
Timeless Tuesdays #255--celebrate something new (a new degree/career and celebrating new paper for me!)
Our Daily Bread Designs Blog #187--inspiration photo (I was inspired by the white and pale colors in the left picture and the flowers in the right picture)

Word Art Wednesday #116--anything goes with uplifting sentiment
Crafting by Design--get your girl on (this is definitely girly with purples, flourishes, flowers, pearls and rhinestones)
Sister Act Card Challenge #41--anything goes
Fussy & Fancy #106--vintage (I don't usually do vintage, but this has a nice vintage feel to me--I think it's the paper)
The Squirrel and The Fox #62--use at least three embellishments (I have lots of pearls and rhinestones)

Supplies:
Stamps: Verve "Celebrating You" sentiment; Clear Dollar Stamps graduation cap and "Elegant Flourishes" flourishes and flowers
Dies: Verve "Charming Ovals"; PTI number dies

You Make Me Smile

Another scrap from the scrap pile used up!  The banner were cut for a project last year, and either I only used a bit of it, or it just didn't work on that card.  So I made it work for this one.  And I had these papers on my desk from the card for in my previous post.  I thought everything worked well on that one, so I combined many of the same elements again.

Challenges:
Seems a Little Sketchy--sketch (those little circles around the main circle had me thinking for quite a while)

Word Art Wednesday #116--anything goes with uplifting sentiment
Paper Pretties #294--anything goes
Stamping Chef #13--anything goes
Fab 'n' Funky #200--All bout the words
Winter Wonderland--butterflies (for this month is can be non-holiday related)
Di's Digis--spots and dots
Sister Act Card Challenge #41--anything goes

Supplies:
Stamps: Verve "Blue Skies" sentiment and butterfly
Dies: Verve "Pennant Trim" die and butterfly die

Another Thank You

This card was inspired by the circle border piece at the bottom.  It was lying around in my scrap pile.  Yeay for me!  My goal is to get that pile down to nothing.  It's going to be tough because there are some interesting pieces in there.  Do you have a pile like that?  Things that didn't work on a card, but you don't want to get rid of them because they "could" by used for something?

Challenges:
Cards Galore #1--anything goes
Your Next Stamp #8--sketch and inspiration photo (I used the sketch)

Sentimental Sundays #190--more than 3 layers
Paper Nest Dolls #2--anything goes
Sweet Stamps #153--anything goes
Winter Wonderland--butterflies (for this month the projects can be non-holiday related)
Di's Digis--dots and spots

Supplies:
Stamps: PTI "Through the Trees"; Verve "Blue Skies" butterflies
Dies: Verve butterflies and "Scalloped Trim Trio"

Poinsettias

I'm in the mood to clean up some scraps.  Must be the new year or something.  So, the sentiment panel, the background panel and most of the cs for the poinsettias were scraps.  Yeay!  There's plenty more to come as I have quite the little stash of little bits and pieces that I just couldn't bear to throw away.

Challenges:
Flat Friends Challenges #16--anything goes
One Crazy Stamper--anything goes
Viva La Verve--January week 1 sketch

Crimbo Crackers #56--poinsettias  (while not exactly a Christmas card, it is a thank you card for Christmas presents)
Crafty Creations #255--seasonal (definitely winter/Christmas)
Divas by Design--anything goes
Christmas at Sweet Stamping--festive foliage

Supplies:
Stamps: PTI "Through the Trees" sentiment
Dies/punches: spellbinders poinsettia dies, SU! label punch

Thank you

I'm slowly making my Christmas "thank you" cards.  This is my most recent.  I really need to get a move on as it is time to get them sent out.  I'm very excited that I used TWO items from my scraps stash--the scalloped border and the ribbon. Yeay!  But then I added one thing--an ampersand the got cut out with the letters.  Its still a positive gain, though.  I am going to try to use up more of those things in the near future.  A little challenge for myself.

Challenges:
The Squirrel & the Fox #61--show off your new stuff (the patterned papers are new; bought them for myself for Christmas)
Die Cuttin' Divas #148--Out with the old, in with the new--use something old AND something new (the papers: new, alphabet stamps: old)
Word Art Wednesday --anything goes with uplifting sentiment
My Favorite Things #159--sketch

Divas by Design--ribbons
Southern girls--new (my papers are new and the ticket die is not new, but this is the first time I have used it)
My Heart Pieces--anything goes
Frosted Designs--polka dots
Brown Sugar #77--anything goes
Sister Act Card Challenge #40--anything goes
Sentimental Sundays #190--more than 3 layers (and a sentiment)
Twisted Tuesday #77--use items from at least 3 different manufacturers AND use an arrow (Fiskars, spellbiners, PTI, Recollections, American Crafts{ribbon}, Taylored Expressions {rhinestones})

Supplies:
Stamps: PTI "Fresh Alphabet"
Dies/punches: spellbinders circles, large, ticket die, and arrow die; PTI alphabet die; Fiskars apron border punch
Papers: Recollections (Michael's brand name)

We saw the star...

Isn't this snowman family so sweet?!  I love the Dad's staff, it makes me think they might be shepherd snowman.

Here is a peek at the inside

Don't forget to check out Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra--any Christmas card goes for the entire month!

Challenges:

Sparkles Christmas Challenge #36--More than one fold (mine is a gatefold card), must be Christmas

V's Sweet Ideas #19--anything goes

Christmas Cards All Year 'Round--anything goes

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge #59--winter weather

Suzy Bee's Blooming Challenge #11--cute & sweet
Eureka #72--bundle up it's cold outside
Squigglefly #2--anything goes
Timeless Tuesday #254--Button Up (on a winter card)
Sassy Cheryl's #199--Winter Blues
Sweet Stamps--winter Blues
Scrap creations--snowmen
Loves Rubber Stamps #80--use metal
Tuesday Throwdown #18--stripes
Christmas Challenge with Sketches--sketch (not allowed to post picture)
Fab n' Funky #199--1 image, 2 buttons, 3 patterned papers
Mod Squad--use snow
Delightful Challenges--Brrrr . . . .

Supplies:
Stamps: Squigglefly "Birth of a King" by Cheryl Alger; Verve "Richly Blessed" inside sentiment
Punches: Martha Stewart Snowflake punch

Another stash buster

One of my unofficial New Year's resolutions, was to try to use some of the things in my stash that I have had forever (or at least a long time).  The background on this card was made using one of those things: a rub-on from Glitz.  I love Fleur de Lis symbols so I really loved this rub-on when I got it, but just wasn't sure how to use it.  I finally broke down and pulled it out.  I've decided that rub-ons are too difficult for me (maybe they work better when you use them soon after you get them), but I do really like how it came out.  I stamped the large butterfly with a damask image, but found it to be a bit too dark, so I added the vellum butterfly over top.  I think I like it better that way.

Challenges:

Sarah Hurley Challenges--Thank You

Seize the Sketch #11--sketch

Stamping with Dragon--anything goes

Sister Act Card Challenge #39--anything goes

Fussy and Fancy #105--monochrome

Wags 'n Whiskers--anything goes

Card Mania #13--anything goes

Crafter's Cafe--Bling it on!

Paper Pretties #295--monochromatic

The Stamping Chef #12--anything goes

Milk Coffee Challenges--monochromatic

Supplies:

Stamps: Verve "Friendly Phrases" sentiment; PTI "Damask Designs" on butterfly

Dies/punches: PTI butterfly die; Martha Stewart Butterfly punch

Rub-on--Glitz

Unloved stamp

Happy New Year everyone!  I have had this pansy stamp in my stash for a really long time and I could just never figure out how to use it.  The bold frame intimidated me I think.  But as I was looking for a different stamp, I came across it and decided to give it some love.  And I LOVE how it turned out!  I will definitely be inking this one up again.  I started by inking it up in black and then coloring the flowers and leaves and cutting them out.  Then I stamped it again in versamark and heat embossed it with silver embossing powder.  Then layered the colored flowers on top.  Do you have any stamps like this in your stash?  Ones that you just can't seem to make work?

Challenges:

Charisma Cardz #1--birthdays

Art Impressions #125--expect the unexpected (use something from your stash)

Milk Coffee Challenges--celebrations

Lacy Sunshine Challenges--anything goes

Verve Diva Hop--shimmer & shine (I used silver embossing powder, rhinestones and glitter pen on the center of the pansies; though you can't really see it in the photo)

Di's Digis--time to celebrate

Make it Monday--multi layered images

Lexi's Creations--anything goes

Love to Scrap #21--anything goes

The Paper Nest Dolls--anything goes

Loves Rubberstamps #85--anything goes

Crafting By Designs--birthdays

Fab n' Funky--Let's Celebrate

Viva La Verve January week 2--sketch

Supplies:

Stamps: unknown pansy stamp; PTI "Damask Designs" sentiment

Dies/embossing folders: spellbinders labels 4 (small tab at bottom); cuttlebug damask embossingfolder; Martha Stewart butterfly die

Confession and announcement

I have a confession: I made my first card for Christmas 2014 the day after Christmas 2013.  I know, right?  Crazy!!  But that leads me to the announcement: I was asked to join the newly formed Design Team for Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra!!!  Such an honor and so very exciting!  Our Design Team Debut is today, January 1,  and as it is a Christmas Challenge, I had to make a Christmas card.  So, here it is:

Is not this little reindeer the cutest ever??!!  Oh, I just love him!  He looks just like a sweet stuffed animal and I just want to hug him!  And the paper?  I picked it up on clearance at Marshall's the day after Christmas as it is a Christmas pack.  Now it's time to get started on your Christmas card crafting.  It's never too early to start.  Hop on over the the Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra and play along.  You have all month and it is "anything Christmas goes".

Challenges:

Christmas at Sweet Stamping--Let it snow (I've got snowflakes!)

Charisma Cardz #49--anything goes

Hy Heart Pieces--Can you Digi it?

Milk Coffee Challenge--any Christmas project

Viva La Verve December week 4--sketch

Stamping with Dragon--last minute Christmas (or very first thing Christmas)

Sister Act Card Challenge #38--anything goes

Di's Digi Designs--anything Christmas

Fussy & Fancy--chocolate inspiration (I went with the colors of chocolate)

Southern Girls--Christmas Wishes

Brown Sugar--winter

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge--anything Christmas goes (yes, there are two challenges and you can enter both!)

Wags & Whiskers--Christmas
The Squirrel & the Fox #60--anything goes
Christmas Card Challenge #5--anything (Christmas) goes

Supplies:

Stamps: Bugaboo Stamps "Plush Reindeer"; Verve "Merry & Bright"

Punches: Fiskars apron border punch; Martha Stewart snowflake punch

Papers: American Crafts Christmas pack