Christmas Bauble

Happy Wednesday!!  It's time for another challenge from The House That Stamps Built and this week we have an awesome sketch for you.

And here is the card I created for your inspiration:

It's no secret I love sketches!!  And this one was nice and easy to work with, and a great way to use up some larger scraps!!  (Another favorite thing of mine!)  I had a lot of fun creating this image using several different Repeat Impressions stamps.  I had in mind that I wanted to create a Christmas card to add to my stash, as last year I didn't end up sending any since I ran out of time and didn't have enough to send.  As I flipped through my binder of RI stamps looking to see what would work with the sketch, I came across this Christmas ornament and in a moment of creative genius (if I do say so myself) I remembered this blueberry cluster stamp I had seen as I flipped through.  I thought it would make a beautiful berry embellishment for the ornament.  If I hadn't told you they were blueberries, I bet you would never have known, right?  So, I stamped the ornament onto my main panel and colored it, then I stamped the berry cluster on a piece of scrap cardstock, colored it, and fussy cut it out.  To make it look like it wasn't just sitting there, I used my ruler to draw a little string up to the top of the panel so it is "hanging".  Unfortunately, I measured the center of the card stock panel, not the ornament and the string ended up being off center.  Ugh!!  So, I moved the ruler over and drew a second string, and now it's perfect!  To dress it up a little bit more, I stamped (on another scrap), colored and fussy cut the little bow image to adhere to the top of the ornament.  I ended up cutting off a little ribbon tail as it made everything a little too crowded.  To go with all my gold matting, I heat embossed the sentiment with gold embossing powder and finished the whole card off with some large, sparkly gems.
Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you will hop over to the House blog to see the rest of the DT's creations and then get inky and play along with us.  And if you need any of the stamps I used, check out my 10% off your ENTIRE order coupon code over in my left sidebar.

Supplies:
Stamps: Repeat Impressions "Striped Bow", "Ornament Frame", "Christmas", and "Large Blueberry Cluster"
Dies: Spellbinders "A2 Matting Basics A" rectangle

Challenges:
Die Cut Divas--Christmas in July
Sheepski Designs #40--Christmas in July
ABC Christmas Challenge--O is for Over the Top
Creatalicious #190--anything goes with the optional twist: 3 of a kind (3 patterned papers)
Merry Little Christmas Challenge #24--anything goes
Dare 2B Artzy--Christmas in July
Double Trouble Challenge #62--Christmas in July (Thing #1: favorite tool {definitely my die cutting machine, and my paper trimmer})
The Paper Girls #204--Christmas in July
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge #500--anything goes with the optional twist: use ribbon/twine
Sweet Stampin' Challenge--Christmas in July
Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends #138--anything goes (Christmas in July)

3-2-1 Blast-off!

My oldest nephew turned 6 this week!!  Since I had this galaxy background (made from a bunch of Distress Oxide ink mop ups and some glimmer mist) sitting on my desk, I thought a fun space card was in order.  And the way to add more fun to a card is to make it a shaker card!  The fun little star confetti pieces were a free gift with purchase from Kat Scrappiness (they have sooooo many awesome shaker elements!)  I die cut a circle for the window to the galaxy, stamped, colored and fussy cut my rocket image and stamped my sentiment.  I added the little stars in the shaker panel and popped it up with foam tape.  After adhering the rocket to the panel with foam tape, I also added some of the stars to the front of the card.

 And here is the shaker in action!

Supplies:
Stamps: PaperTrey Ink "Boy Basics: Out of this World"
Dies:  Kat Scrappiness "Crafters Essentials 1" stitched circle; MFT "Blueprints 13" stitched rectangle

Challenges:
Krafty Chicks #517--all occasions (birthday)
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday--reach for the stars
Penny's Challenge #476--anything goes
Fab n Funky #491--use a real stamp
Cardz TV #119--anything goes
Love To Craft Challenge Blog #48--anything goes

I 'sea' it's your birthday!

Last summer my entire family went on a family vacation to the Outer Banks in North Carolina.  One of the activities we (specially my brother and I) really enjoyed was going out at night and catching the crabs that ran around on the beach.  Of course, we let them go after we caught them.  Anyway, my brother's birthday was the past week and I just had to make him a card featuring little crabs!   I created a little beach scene by blending some blue and brown inks and joining them in the middle with some white ink.  Then I stamped, colored and fussy cut the little crabs and added glossy accents to their eyes before adhering them in the sand.

 I stamped a different crab on the outside of the envelope to dress it up a little bit.  And to finish the card off, I added a few clear drops to look like bubbles.

Supplies:
Stamps: Your Next Stamp "Sea Creatures" crab and sentiment; the crab on the envelope is a freebie from Art Impressions Stamps

Challenges:
Love To Craft Challenge Blog #48--anything goes
Creatalicious Challenge #191--anything goes with the optional twist: 3 of a kind (I used 3 jewels and 3 crabs)
CRAFT Rockets #72--for the men/boys
The Paper Funday #19--anything goes with the optional twist: the great outdoors
Moving Along with the Times--at the beach
Cardz 4 Guyz #249--no patterned paper
Double D--Let's go to the beach

Crafty Friends #139--birthdays
Simon Says Stamp Monday--a day at the beach
Fab n Funky #491--use a real stamp
C.R.A.F.T. #565--summer
Krafty Chicks #517--all occasions
Crafty Catz #516--make it funny
Your Next Stamp #144--summer days

You are sweet!

In my previous post I posted a card using part of a sheet of patterned paper:

When I trimmed it down to fit the card base, I was left with a 2 x 5 block piece and a couple small block pieces.  I used that larger block piece as the accent panel on the card below.

 I paired it with another sheet of paper (picking up on the little bee square in the upper corner) and two scraps all from the same paper pack.  The thin strips were already cut to the right size; perfect!  To keep with the bee theme, I pulled out this adorable little bee from Your Next Stamp and colored him up.  The white circle behind the bee was in my bits and pieces stash.  After coloring the bee, I used a gold Spectrum Noir shimmer pen to color the wings.  They are so sparkly in real life, but you can only see it a little bit it the photo below.

I finished everything off with a couple white and pink sequins.  Not sure, yet, but I might use this for my niece's birthday next month.

Supplies:

Stamps: YNS "Sweet and Cool" bee and sentiment

Dies: Spellbinders "Classic Circles, large"

Challenges:

Your Next Stamp #144--summer days

Aud Sentiments #256--things with wings

C.R.A.F.T. #565--summer

Penny's Challenges #476--anything goes

Fab n Funky #491--use a real stamp

Crafty Sentiments--anything goes

Incy Wincy Designs--summer colors

A Gem of a Challenge--anything goes

Word Art Wednesday #449--anything goes with uplifting sentiment

Cheerful Sketches--sketch (I turned it on its side)

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper--anything goes with patterned paper

Pattie's Creations #172--anything goes

Fabulous

So, I've had this sheet of paper in one of my paper packs for a while, and really questioned how one was supposed to use it.  Then I realized that it would be a perfect background piece for a quick and easy card that has a lot of visual interest!  So, I trimmed it down, added a little bit of a border along the bottom to help lengthen the piece where it was just a little too short due to where I had to cut it off.  I added the die cut "fabulous" (die cut and layered three times for dimension), a little piece of a second sentiment and some matching sequins to finish everything off.  Quick and easy and quite pretty if you ask me!

Supplies:
Stamps: MFT "Essential Sentiments"
Dies: Altenew border die; STAMPlorations "fabulous" die

Challenges:
Cards Galore Challenge--anything goes
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper--anything goes with patterned paper
Creative Inspirations--in the garden
Penny Black--in the garden
Creative Craft Cottage #131--add a flower/flowers (in my paper)
Crafty Creations #411--anything goes
Word Art Wednesday #449--anything goes with uplifting sentiment
The Paper Shelter--anything goes
Creative Moments #195--anything goes with the optional twist: pretty in pink
Sugar Pea Meant to Be Sent--Friendship

Recycled wolves

Last year, a friend from church gave me a bunch of cards that she had received as promotional material.  She figured since I was crafty, I could come up with a use for them.  I gave most away to others who would actually use them, but as soon as I saw a couple that had wolves on them, I knew I had to save them.  A young man in our family LOVES wolves and I knew I could recycle these cards to create a birthday card for him.  And that's what I did!  I really loved the whole scene on this first one, so I didn't want to cut and use only pieces of it.  I die cut an oval out of the center, around the main wolf, and layered it on a medium gray cardstock, and re-adhered it back in the center of the scene.  Since it was so long, I used the same medium gray card stock to create a slimline base and also to die cut a circle for the sentiment.  I inked both the edges of the scene panel and the sentiment circle with a black distress oxide ink.  I finished it off with a little twine and a couple gray enamel dots.

 I got him a couple of gift cards and decided to recycle another of the wolf cards and a gift card holder from Duluth Trading to create a personalized gift card holder.  I cut the image out of the center of the card and matted it with the same dark gray cardstock from the card.  Then I stamped "a gift for you" in the upper corner.

 To cover up the Duluth logo, etc. on the inside, I added a piece of the gray card stock to the inside, first using a gift card holder die to cut slots for one of the gift cards.  I stamped a little "to" and "from" on the cardstock and added the names after taking the picture.

I think the whole ensemble was a big hit and was also a great way to recycle the unused cards and gift card holder.

Supplies:
Card :
Stamps: PTI "Just Sentiments: Birthday" sentiment
Dies: Spellbinders "Classic Ovals, large" and "Classic Circles, large"

Gift Card Holder:
Stamps: PTI "Just Sentiments: Be Merry"
Dies: Lawn Fawn gift card holder die

Challenges:
Krafty Chicks #517--all occasions (birthday)
Penny's Challenge #476--anything goes
Crafty Sentiments--anything goes
Pink Gem Challenge--anything goes
Crafty Friends #139--birthdays
Cardz TV #119--anything goes
Mod Squad--slimline scene
Crafter's Cafe #247--male
Creative Fingers--anything goes
CRAFT Rocket Challenge #72--for the men/boys
The Paper Funday Challenge #19--anything goes with the optional twist: great outdoors
2 Crafty Critter Crazies #42--anything goes
Power Poppy Creative Confetti--change it up (create a slimline card)

Peaceful vista

Happy Wednesday!!  It's time for another challenge from The House That Stamps Built and this week it is a fan favorite: Anything Goes!! And here is the card I created for your inspiration:

The other morning, I was watching this video on Pinterest and was inspired to give it a try using some similar Repeat Impressions stamps.  It didn't turn out quite the same, specially since I added a sunrise to mine.  The scene just looked too blah without it.  I used this same vista image with a water coloring technique last month; it's fun how different the same image can look just by using different coloring techniques!  Here is the card from last month, if you missed it:

It really changes the look, too, based on where you place it on the card.  In the first card, I placed it more to the center and it brings the image closer, while in the second card, I stamped the image closer to the top of the panel which makes it look farther away.  Such a fun way to stretch your stamps!
Back to my card for this challenge, I matted my image panel with a very thin black mat and then onto a piece cut from an old encyclopedia page which was also matted with a very thin black mat before being added to the blue card base.  I added two narrow strips of black cardstock at an angle to my image panel to give a bit of interest.

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you will hop over to the House blog to see the rest of the DT's creations and then get inky and play along with us.  And if you need any of the stamps I used, check out my 10% off your ENTIRE order coupon code over in my left sidebar.

Supplies:
Stamps: Repeat Impressions "Rocky Shore Vista", "Cattails", "Pine Branch", and "Sandcastle" (I used the birds only)
Dies: Spellbinders "A2 Matting Basics A" rectangle dies for the image; MFT "Blueprints 13" stitched rectangle die for the encyclopedia page

Challenges:

Crafty Sentiments--anything goes
A Gem of a Challenge--anything goes
Cardz TV #119--anything goes
Time Out Challenge #166--peaceful
Crafter's Cafe #247--male

Thinking of You

It's my turn to share my project of the week on the House That Stamps Built blog.  I'm taking a break from my "Inspired by Pinterest" series to bring you a simple masculine card.  For a lot of us, masculine cards can be intimidating, so here are a couple of tips:

--Keep it simple 

--Consider using an outdoorsy theme (animals and nature scenes always seem good for masculine cards)

Today, I did a little "water coloring" to create this simple, peaceful, beach side theme.

I kept it simple by creating a one-layer card without any added embellishments.  I did add some interest by using a stitched die around the edge of the card.  And I created an outdoor scene using "Pelican's Piling" and "Grass Border".  After adding the sentiment "Thinking of You", it seemed a little too plain, so I added some small birds from "Sandcastle".  Again, a little bit of added interest really brings the card up a notch.  I hope this gives you a few pointers on creating those "dreaded" masculine cards.  Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:
Stamps: see the list above
Dies: MFT "Blueprints 13" stitched rectangle

Challenges:
Love To Craft Challenge Blog #48--anything goes
CRAFT Rocket #72--for the men/boys
Paper Funday Challenge #19--anything goes with the optional twist: the great outdoors
Moving Along with the Times--At the beach

Creative Fingers--anything goes
Southern Girls--anything goes
Cardz 4 Guyz #249--no patterned paper
Crafter's Cafe #247--male
Krafty Chicks #516--CAS
Sweet Stampin'--CAS

Present Tower

It's Saturday!!  That means it's time for another challenge from Di's Digi Designs.

The challenge this time is: Use Your Scraps (Paper)
And here is my card for your inspiration:

I used this super adorable image I just got from Di's Digi Stamps and couldn't wait to color it up.  Using up scraps is one of my most favorite things to do in card making; so this challenge is perfect for me!  Something I like to do when all I have left of a paper pack is little scraps is make these border strips by just adhering the little scraps to a scrap piece of paper (usually a pattern I don't like any more) and cutting it to size so I have all these awesome border pieces ready to go.  I probably have about 6 or 7 on my desk right now, so I pulled one out for this card.  I'm especially proud of this batch because I even used the strips across the top of the paper pad that hold the sheets in the binding.  They are just as beautiful as the papers and they are just the right width for making these pieces, and it keeps them from being thrown away.  Win, win, win!!  The bit of gold glitter paper was also cut from a scrap and the poinsettia was sitting on desk--a reject from an earlier project (so it also counts as a scrap).  If you look around the bow on the top present, you'll see a bunch of green dots.  As I was coloring the bow, I dropped my marker and left a dark green dot.  As I looked at it, I thought it could look kind of fun if I added a bunch of other dots all around, sort of like an accent.

I hope you will get a chance to play along with us; I can't wait to see what you create.  And make sure you hop over to the Di's Digital Designs blog to see what the rest of the team has made for this challenge.

Supplies: 

Stams: Di's Digi Stamps "Penguins Christmas" digi; Repeat Impressions "Poinsettia"

Dies: STAMPlorations stitched rectangle

Challenges:
Christmas Cards All Year 'Round--cool it (my penguins are out in the snow)
Sheepski Designs #40--Christmas in July
Creative Craft Cottage #131--add a flower/flowers
2 Crafty Critter Crazies #42--anything goes
Christmas with the Cuties #39--2 or more patterned papers
Merry Little Christmas Challenge #24--anything goes
Christmas Craft Creations

Dare 2B Artzy--Christmas in July
Shopping Our Stash #424--Hannukkah/Christmas in July
Sweet Stampers #46--Christmas in July
Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends #136--anything goes: Christmas in July week 2
Simon Says Stamp Monday--early birds
{Pin}spirational Challenge #267--inspiration photo

The Cutie Pie Challenge #149--Delightful Digis
Dies R Us #149--Christmas in July

You're sweet

Happy Wednesday!!  It's time for another challenge from The House That Stamps.  This week we have a beautiful inspiration photo for you:

And here is the card I created:

 If you have come here from the House That Stamps Built blog, you will have seen that almost all of my teammates used watermelon images.  Well, I do not have one, and since I am always the last to post my project I usually try to do something different from everyone else anyway.  So, I used mostly just the colors for my inspiration.  I knew I wanted to use this cupcake image as it is going to be a birthday card for a young lady in our family (it just so happens that we share a love of making cupcakes!).  I was thinking of using the green dotted paper to paper piece the liner for a fun touch and then I just started going through that paper pack and found a bunch of patterns/colors that fit with the inspiration photo.  The cupcake looked a little plain and boring, so in a nod to the watermelon in the photo, I added little watermelon seed "sprinkles" to the cupcake with some black nuvo drops.  Aren't they just the perfect finishing touch!!??
My black frame is 3 layers of black card stock glued together for some dimension and then the white banner is glued on top as the fourth layer.  I had to mask and selectively stamp my sentiment so it fit perfectly onto the banner.  The die cut frame, banner and the cupcake where all cut from scraps as was the green border die cut.  I also used a scrap of vellum behind the frame to allow the cupcake to really stand out from the busy background and the cupcake was popped up with foam tape.  It the photo below, you can see the dimension on those "seeds":

Thanks for stopping by!  Make sure you head on over to The House blog to see what the rest of the Design Team has done with this photo.  And if you "need" any of the stamps I used, check out my 10% off your entire order coupon code over in my lift sidebar.

Supplies:

Stamps: Repeat Impressions "Cupcakes" I only used one from the set and "Sweet" sentiment
Dies: Papertrey Ink border die and "Baker's Dozen" frame

Challenges:
Pixie's Crafty Workshop #382--anything goes with snippets
Try Stampin' on Tuesdays #469--Sketch and optional twist: things that fly

Unicorn Challenge #56--food and/or drink
Stinkin' Inkers--I see spots
Incy Wincy Designs--curvy/curves (my frame is very curvy)
Tuesday Throwdown #461--polka dots
Cards Galore--anything goes
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper--anything goes with patterned paper
Pattie's Creations #172--anything goes

So glad

Happy Wednesday!!  It's time for another challenge from The House That Stamps Built.  This week we have a fun Tic Tac Toe board for you:

  

Here is what I created for your inspiration:

I used the top row: patterned paper, butterflies, sequins.  I also used citrus (colors--lemon yellow, grapefruit pink), piercing (around my main panel) and texture (with the sequins, dry embossed sentiment banner, organza ribbon).   I used the "out of the box" cutting technique to die cut the white panel and allow the tips of the wings to be outside the panel.  While the panel was still in the die, I used my piercing tool to pierce a border.  I colored the butterfly with yellow markers and added gold nuvo shimmer pen to the colored portions.  You can see the glitter better in the photo below:

I stamped and die cut my sentiment and added a little shading to the banner with a pale gray marker.  I added the ribbon/bow and sequins to finish everything off. 

Thanks for stopping by!  Make sure you head on over to The House blog to see what the rest of the Design Team has done with this photo.  And if you "need" any of the stamps I used, check out my 10% off your entire order coupon code over in my lift sidebar.

Supplies:

Stamps: Repeat Impressions "Butterfly, large" and "I'm so glad . . ."

Dies: Spellbinders "A2 Matting Basics A" and banner

Challenges:
Cuttlebug Mania--anything goes
Word Art Wednesday #447--anything goes with uplifting sentiment
Cute Card Thursday #64--anything goes
Cards Galore #77--anything goes
Pattie's Creations #172--anything goes
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper--anything goes with patterned paper
Crafty Calendar--add a ribbon
Creatalicious #190--anything goes with the optional twist: add texture
Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2 #187--sketch

Crafty Creations #44--anything goes
Cardz TV #118--anything goes
Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends #135--anything goes
Crafty Sentiments--anything goes

Christmas in July take 2

Happy 4th of July!!
It's Saturday!!  That means it's time for another challenge from Di's Digi Designs.

The challenge this time is: Christmas in July
And here is my card for your inspiration:

I decided to try something a little different and printed out this adorable image really, really large so I could crop it and still have it take up a majority of the card.  I also had an idea to try the eclipse technique and die cut "Merry Christmas" out of the top portion of the image panel.  I thought it would be really fun and would stunning with those red poinsettias popping out.  But, alas, even though I measured the sentiment die, I still cut my panel too narrow and there wasn't room for the die cut.  Boo!  I'll try it again another time, and I still think this card turned out really adorable and fun with the scrap paper border down the side, the bit of glittery gold strip and the fun sideways sentiment (not the one I had planned on using for the eclipse technique)!  I finished everything off with some clear rhinestones for a bit more sparkle!

I hope you will get a chance to play along with us; I can't wait to see what you create.  And make sure you hop over to the Di's Digital Designs blog to see what the rest of the team has made for this challenge.

Supplies: 

Stams: Di's Digi Stamps "Poinsettia Mouse" digi

Dies: Lawn Fawn "merry christmas"; STAMPlorations Stitched rectangle die

Challenges:
Creative Fingers #189--anything goes
Pixie's Crafty Workshop #381--anything goes with snippets.  The strip of patterned papers down the side was made from scraps, the sentiment and the gold strip were also cut from scraps.
Crafty Sentiments--anything goes
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday--bright & cheerful
Double D Challenge--stitches (I used a stitched die)

Cute Card Thursday #641--anything goes
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper--anything goes with patterned paper
Die Cut Divas--Christmas in July
Sheepski Designs #40--Christmas in July
2 Crafty Critter Crazies #40--anything goes
Christmas with the cuties #39--2 or more patterned papers
Merry Little Christmas Challenge #24--anything goes
Crafty Creations #41--anything goes
Alphabet Challenge--G is for glitter & gems
Cardz TV #118--anything goes

Sympathy

A new month has arrived and that means a new challenge from the Love To Scrap Challenge Blog.  This month's challenge is Anything Goes.

And here is the card I created:

I've found myself in need of several sympathy cards lately, and I don't like it!  And I actually still need to make a couple more.  I created this one, but stamping the floral image twice on the front of the card, allowing the image to go off the edges for a more interesting look.  I colored the images and added white gel pen to the berries and dotted the centers of the smaller flowers.  It gave a really cool look!  Then I die cut the panel and stamped the sentiment, finishing everything off with some sparkling clear droplets from Kat Scrappiness.  I love how they add a little bit of bling without being overpowering.  And for sympathy cards, they kind of give the feeling of dew droplets or tears.

 To dress up the inside, I stamped the sentiment and then stamped the same floral image from the outside of the card with a pale gray ink.  So easy to do, and I really think it makes such a big difference.  I just wish I remembered to do this more often!

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Head on over to the LTSCB blog to see what the rest of the team has created and to get the full details of the challenge.  Then get inky and play along with us; I can't wait to see what you create.

Supplies:

Stamps: STAMPlorations "Blossom Sprays #1" image; Papertrey Ink "Boutique Borders: Sympathy"; Repeat Impressions "Warm Memories" inside sentiment

Dies: STAMPlorations stitched rectangle

Challenges:

Crafty Sentiments--anything goes

Cuttlebug Mania--anything goes

Use Your Stuff--free week

Your Next Stamp #142--how does your garden grow

Creative Fingers #189--anything goes

Southern Girls--anything goes

Cute Card Thursday #640--flowers

Penny's Challenge #474--anything goes

Addicted To CAS #187--One-layer

Christmas in July

Happy Wednesday!!  It's time for another challenge from The House That Stamps.  This week is a Designer's Choice Challenge and Patti has chosen: Christmas in July

And here is the card I created:

I had a bit of fun with a rather non-traditional color scheme.  The red is there, but I threw in some different blues to make it a bit fresher.  I added a die cut piece of vellum behind the sentiment panel to help it stand out from the busy background.  And I finished everything off with some red pearls.

Thanks for stopping by!  Make sure you head on over to The House blog to see what the rest of the Design Team has done with this photo.  And if you "need" any of the stamps I used, check out my 10% off your entire order coupon code over in my lift sidebar.

Supplies:

Stamps: Repeat Impressions "For unto you . . . " and "Poinsettia"

Dies: Spellbinders "Radiant Rectangles"

Challenges:
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper--anything goes with patterned paper (I actually won the paper pack I used from Hazelnut's challenge)
Creative Fingers #189--anything goes
Alphabet Challenge--F is for Flora or Fauna (I used flowers--flora)
Cardz TV #117--anything goes
Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends #134--anything goes
Penny's Challenge #474--anything goes
Cute Card Thursday #640--flowers
Krafty Chicks #513--all occasions
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge #496--anything goes with the optional twist: use a snowflake (I did not use the twist)
Use Your Stuff--free week
Double Trouble #60--someThing, anyThing, EveryThing (Thing #1: anything goes, Thing #3: red, white, and blue)
Cuttlebug Mania--anything goes