Warm memories

Happy Wednesday!  It's time for another challenge from The House That Stamps Built and this week we have a fun color/photo inspiration challenge for you:

I made this card for my grandmother who's cat had to be put to sleep last week.  She's had the cat for almost 18 years and it had been her faithful companion since my grandfather died almost 9 years ago.  I'm sure she's taking this loss pretty hard as she now lives completely alone (don't worry, there is a lot of family living around her, so she's not all alone!)

I started out by measuring my "Dimond Deco, Sil (lg)" stamp and marking out a grid on my cardstock, so I could stamp the image in a nice, lined-up pattern.  I stamped it in a dark gray, stamping off on scrap paper first to get a muted color.  Then I stamp over it with "Sheet Music" in black.  Then I die cut it using a stitched rectangle die and inked the edges with dark gray to soften them.  I also used the dark gray (stamped off once) to stamp the strip of flowers and leaves and sponged the edges as well.    I used some silver Texture Gems (similar to liquid pearls) to dot the center of the large flower.  I really love how this card turned out!  I hope you will get a chance to play along with us this week.  Head on over to The House blog to see how this photo inspired the rest of the DT, you will NOT be disappointed!!

Supplies:
Stamps: Repeat Impressions: "Dimond Deco, Sil (lg)", "Sheet Music", "Daisy Outline, sm.", "Leaf Outline, sm.", "Daisy Outline, lg", "Leaf Outline, lg", "Cat Sitting Sil." and "Warm Memories"
Dies: MFT "Blueprints 13" stitched rectangle; Spellbinders "Classic Standard Ovals, large" and "Standard Cirles, large"

Challenges:
Retro Rubber #58--anything goes (the music stamp, the cat stamp and the sentiment are all nearly two years old--in June)
{Pin}spirational #186--photo inspiration (I was inspired by the black and white colors and I added some flowers)

Sweet Stampin'--anything but birthday
Cuttlebug Mania--sketch

Dare2B Artzy--lots of layers
Divas That Cut--For the love of animals/pets
Scrapper's Delights #64--anything goes

Sledding Birds

Well, here it is the middle of March, and boy did it come in like a lion!!  I thought spring was here for sure, but this past Friday, we got about 4 inches of snow and we've had chilly low temps to go along with it and then we got all geared up for the "big" winter storm that is hitting much of the Northeastern U.S.  We did get about another 4 inches or so, but now it's turned to rain and it's just creating a bit bunch of slush.  It might turn back to rain again later, so we'll see how it turns out.  But it's a great reminder to keep making those Christmas cards!  So, here I am with my mid-month inspiration for Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra.  As always, it is a month-long, anything (Christmas-related) goes challenge.  And here is my card:

With St. Patrick's Day just around the corner, I decided to get in the spirit and use a green theme.  Plus, I had these fabulous patterned papers laying around on my desk as part of the "scrap pile" I'm trying to use up.  I even found a clear button and adhered some of the patterned paper to it to continue the theme.  I used my white gel pen to create the dots on the largest bird's hat and use my marker to create the "plaid" or checks on the smallest bird's hat.  I made these cute little guys into robins since I was already for spring.  I haven't seen any yet, but if they are here, this is definitely what they would be doing today!

Supplies:
Stamps: High Hopes freebie digi (to use in their challenge)
PIT "Fab Flakes"
Dies: PTI "Fancy Flakes"

Challenges:
Shopping Our Stash #294--Luck o' the irish (use green)
Brown Sugar #241--buttons or brads
Come And Get It--things with wings
Di's Digis--Lots of green
Sweet Stampin'--anything but birthday
Hiding in my Craft Room #292--super scraps
Cut it Up #117--think green
CAS-ual Fridays #169--off the edge (my snowflake is hanging off the edge)
Crafty Catz #169--mainly green
Crimbo Crackers #128--die cuts
Little Miss Muffet #158--anything goes
Power Poppy--go green
High Hopes--anything goes with High Hopes Stamps
Pattie's Creations --image with wings
Christmas at Sweet Stampin'--anything goes
Unicorn Challenge #19--go green
ABC Christmas--E is for Edge, F is for Family (snowflake off the edge and a family of birds)
YNS #59--sketch

Cutie Pie Challenge #109--dies & digis

A Cheerful Friend

Years and years ago, I received a big batch of card bases from someone who had gotten out of card making.  A lot of them were just plain, basic A2 or square bases, but some of them were pre-cut like these heart ones.  I've been at a loss as to what to do with them.  But I found them again a while ago (unfortunately, not before Valentine's Day!) and since I am trying really hard to use up some scraps I have lying around, I thought now was the perfect time to use them.  I also had this batch of decorative brads which include some with banners already attached.  As they had the same shades as the paper scraps, I put them to work, too.  And I really like how it all turned out.  For this first one, I also had a bit of turquoise mesh that was lying around, but was really too small to do much with.  I adhered it behind the heart cut outs and then layered squares of the patterned paper behind.  It's very subtle, but it gives a great textural element.  I added the banner to the top and stamped the sentiment at the bottom.  It needed something else, so I stamped the flourish with a pale pink.

 The colors on this one are a little brighter.   I had used up all the mesh on the first, but other than that, this card is pretty similar.  For this card, I made my own banner to go with one of the brads from the collection.  It looks just as good to me!

 And here is the third card.  I created the ombre on "grace" by sponging ink on a piece of scrap white card, then I die cut it.  I also die cut it out of plain white paper 3 (possibly 4) times and layered them all together to add some awesome dimension!

I'm sending this one to a couple in our church that seem to have all sorts of difficulties in their life.  I hope it will be an encouragement to them.  Since it is a square card, I had to make my own envelope and decided to decorate the outside to go along with the card.

I used an extra special PTI stamp on the envelope: my address stamp is one I won during their anniversary celebration a couple years ago.

CARD 1:
Supplies:
Stamps: Verve "Text Objects" sentiment; Clear Dollar Stamps Flourish

Challenges:
Sweet Stampin--anything but birthday
CAS-ual Fridays #169--off the edge (I stamped the flourish stamp off the edge of the card)
Crafty Creations #336--anything goes
Crafty Gals #115--polka dots and/or stripes (there are dots in the brown paper and stripes in the second paper)
The Paper Shelter #284--circles/dots and/or stripes
Tuesday Throwdown #333--thinking of you


CARD 2:
Stamps: PTI "Inspired: Grace"; Clear Dollar Stamps Flourish

Challenges:
Hiding in My Craft Room #292--super scraps
Penny's Challenges #319--anything goes
Cardz TV #4--anything goes
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper--anything goes with patterned paper
Word Art Wednesday #272--anything goes with uplifting sentiment

CARD 3:
Stamps: PTI "Inspired: Grace" sentiment; Verve "Better Together" distressed dots
Dies: PTI "Inspired: Grace"

Challenges:
Brown Sugar #240--anything goes
Crafting By Designs--3 patterned papers
PaperTrey Ink--create a card & matching envelope and SEND it (mine went in the mail this morning)
A Bit More Time To Craft #39--anything goes
Time Out Challenge--love and/or friendship with the option of spotlight stamping (I spotlighted the "grace" by using a different color for it to make it stand out more)

Feline Fine

Happy Wednesday!!  It's time for another challenge from The House That Stamps Built.  This week, Wendy challenged us with a tic tac toe board:

And, let me tell you, the cards I made for this might just be my favorite cards I've made with Repeat Impressions stamps.  Yes, you heard me right, cardS, I couldn't stop with just one!  Two people at our church had/are having small surgical procedures, so I wanted to make some get well cards.  The first one is for a man, so I used more manly colors and little embellishments.  I used the top row: pets, used dimension (I popped up my sentiment with foam tape) and twine.  And I LOVE how cute this is!!

 I have an orange stripey tomcat, so I wanted to color up this sweet kitty to look like him.  And don't you just love the texture on the teddy bear?!
The second card is for a female, and I really wanted to have a his and hers version of almost the same card, so I used a slightly different sketch and used more "girly" colors:

I thought this time, the little kitty would look fabulous in white.  I also didn't think I could do my two gray kitties justice if I tried to color it like them.  On this card, I used the diagonal: Pets, bright colors, and sponging (I sponged around the edge of the circles before taking them out of the dies.  I also used charms, dimension and off the edge with the border dies.  So, what do you think?  Which one do you like better?
If you need to have this stamp (and I think you DO now that I've showed how cute it is!) or any others, check out my 10% off your entire order coupon in my left sidebar.

Supplies:
Stamps: Repeat Impressions "Feline Friendly" and "Feline Better"
Dies: Spellbinders "Classic Circles, large" and "Teardrop Circles"; PTI "Loopy Border" die on CARD 2
Papers: DCWV "Textiles"

Challenges:
Card 1:
Tuesday Throwdown #333--thinking of you
Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps #371--for the boys/men
Cardz TV #4--anything goes
Brown Sugar #240--anything goes
Cute Card Thursday #467--anything goes
Dies R US #68--something new (this is the first time I've inked up this image!)
Dare 2B Artzy--lots of layers
Love To Craft #8--anything goes
Creative Sketchy #9--used die cuts
Divas That Cut--for the love of animals/pets
Crafting with an Attitude--anything goes
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper--anything goes with patterned paper
Cards Galore--anything goes
A Bit More Time To Craft #39--anything goes
Inspiration Destination #123--anything goes
Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2--sketch

Crafty Creations #336--anything goes
Word Art Wednesday #272--anything goes
Crafting By Designs--anything goes


Card 2:
A Gem of a Challenge #189--use three B's (I used bows, bear and border dies)
Sketch Saturday #453--sketch

Hiding in My Craft Room #291--spring colors
In The Pink #114--for a special lady
Creative Knockouts #183--dies/punch frenzy
Crafty Calendar--mum's day or special female
Craft-Dee BowZ--anything goes with handmade bow

Thanks

Recently, I got a chance to play just for fun (no DT project allowed!) and worked on using up some scraps.  This is what I created:

 In my last post, I showed the veggie themed creations, so today, I'm showing the strawberry cards.  It all started because I had this little bit of strawberry patterned paper and I found the perfect sketch on Cardz TV that would allow me to turn the little bit into a focal statement.  Here's the first one:

 I stamped the strawberry image several times to create my own background, then colored them with colored pencils.  I didn't want them to be too bold and dark, but in hindsight, I probably should have used markers to match the depth of the card stock and paper.
After making the first, I still had enough of the strawberry paper left to create a second one.  But I didn't have any big enough pieces left of the green cross hatch paper, so I used the same sketch, but made it a bit different.

I used an embossing folder for the background this time and added a bow and two little gems on the flourishes around "thanks".  Ah . . . it feels so good to use up those scraps!  I've had them forever!!!

Supplies:
Stamps: Repeat Impressions "Strawberries"; Verve "Surely Goodness" thanks
Dies: MFT "Blueprints 13" stitched rectangle
Card 2: sizzix embossing folder

Challenges:
Card: 1
Incy Wincy--thank you
Simon Says Stamp Monday--make your own background
Cute Card Thursday #467--anything goes
Crafting with an Attitude--anything goes
Curtain Call--green

Cardz TV #3--thank you with a Cardz TV sketch (I used #17)


Card 2:
A Bit More Time to Craft #29--anything goes
Fussy & Fancy #182--anything goes
Brown Sugar #240--anything goes

Scrap Creations and WOYWW

So, I finally had a chance to play just for fun this weekend, and I got to work on using up some scrap papers.  Yeay!!  I had two specific groups of paper, I really wanted to work on: the strawberry and green cross hatch papers and the vegetable and orange cross hatch papers.  I've had them forever and was down to just small scraps that couldn't be used for much, or so it seemed.  These are the cards and tags I created:

 And here is a picture of the scraps that were left after using my scraps:

 I put them next to to one of the tags I made so you can see how little they are.  Here is a close up of the tags:

 The strawberry tag is my favorite; I just love how the fussy cut image looks.  But, aren't they all so fun?!  And here is the vegetable card I made:

When I received this paper (a LONG time ago!), I also received some vegetable brads, which I have never figured out what to do with before now.  I mean, how often do you use a broccoli brad?  But they do work perfectly with the paper and this fun carrot image.  I've been checking out fellow crafter's messy desks on Julia Dunnet's What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday link up and finally remembered to take a picture of my own.  You can see my cards and on the left of my desk you can see the rest of my scraps I'm working on using up.

I will show my strawberry cards in my next post.

TAGS:
Supplies:
Stamps: Repeat Impressions "Strawberries" and "Happy Birthday"; Craftin' Desert Divas "Farmer's Market" sentiments and radishes
Dies: MFT "Blueprints 13" tag shape and double ended banner

Challenges:
Cardz TV #4--anything goes
Brown Sugar #240--anything goes
Pixie's Crafty Workshop--anything goes with snippets (everything is made from snippets)
Creative Knockouts #183--die/punch frenzy
Love To Craft Challenge Blog #8--anything goes
Creative Sketchy #9--use die cuts
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday--Tag You're It
Cut It Up #116--birthday (strawberry tag)


CARD:
Supplies:
Stamps: Craftin' Desert Divas "Farmer's Market"
Dies: Spellbinders "Classic Circles, large"

Challenges:
A Bit More Time To Craft #29--anything goes
Fussy & Fancy #182--anything goes
Cute Card Thursday #467--anything goes
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper--anything goes with patterned paper
Crafts Galore--anything goes
Stamping Ground--What's On Your Workshop Wednesday(WOYWW)
Inspiration Destination Challenge #123--anything goes
Crafty Creations #336--anything goes
Penny's Challenge #318--anything goes
Crafting By Designs--anything goes
Cardz TV #3--thank you plus a Cardz TV sketch (I used #19)

Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps Wonderful Wednesday--anything goes

Crafting Buddy

The other day, I was making cards for a couple of DT challenges, and one of my eight-year-olds wanted to make a card too.  This is what she came up with:

I did help her a little, specially with the fussy cutting of the vase (which was completely her own idea) and I did make a patterned paper suggestion or two, but she chose the sketch she wanted to use, the die and the papers.  She did the coloring all herself and added the pearls completely on her own and even thought to add the inking and the "shadow" grounding under the image.  I think it turned out quite pretty, don't you?  AND she helped me use up scraps from papers I am really working hard on right now.  So, bonus for me!

Supplies:
Stamps: Repeat Impressions "Vase of Tulips"
Dies: Spellbinders "Labels One"

Challenges:
Pixie's Crafty Workshop--anything goes with snippets (all of the patterned papers are scraps)
Stamplorations Sketch & Theme Challenge--stamps & spring (she went with the spring theme)

CardzTV #4--anything goes
A Bit More Time To Craft #29--anything goes
Fussy & Fancy #182--anything goes
Brown Sugar #240--anything goes
Cute Card Thursday #467--anything goes
Love To Craft Challenge #8--anything goes
Creative Sketchy #9--use die cuts
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper--anything goes with patterned paper
Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps Wonderful Wednesday--anything goes
Inspiration Destination # 123--anything goes
Crafty Creations #336--anything goes
Penny's Paper #318--anything goes
Crafting By Designs--anything goes