Sunday, August 30, 2009

5 challenges with 1 card

Well this is going to be my first time participating in the challenge over at Pile It On. For those of you who don't know, Pile It On is a challenge blog where the objective is to incorporate as many challenges as you can with the Pile It On challenge - sounds fun!

Here is my card:


Challenges included:
Pile it On: Use circles or dots
Whimsy Challenges: Touch of Sparkle
Card Patterns: Sketch #16
Allsorts Challenge: No stamped images or sentiments (digital is allowed)
ABC Challenge: C is for circles

I actually found this sentiment
on a little plaque in a specialty shop, and I have been waiting for an opportunity to use it - it just cracks me up!

The little girl image was cut using the Cricut Paper Dolls Dress Up Cartridge. I stamped her face with a Peachy Keen Stamp.

The scalloped circles were cut with the Mini Monograms cartridge. I mounted
the little girl and the frame with some foam stickers for added dimension. And of course I added lots of bling and ribbon!

Thanks for looking!


{Cape and Tiara Details}
Patterned Cardstock: K&Company
Glitter Cardstock: Best Occasions Glitter Paper Pack
Face Stamp: Peachy Keen
Little Girl Cut out: Cricut Paper Dolls Dress Up cartridge
Scalloped Circles: Cricut Mini Monograms cartridge
Misc: Gems, Pink Grosgrain ribbon, stickles

Friday, August 28, 2009

2 Sketches 4 You

Quick Post before the weekend... This is the current sketch over at 2 Sketches 4 You:

Here is my card:
I actually used the colors from the Raspberry Suite Color Challenge, but didn't realize it ended last night - ha ha!

Anyway, I found these cute stamps with the texting shortcuts, so I thought I'd make kind of a funky card with them.

I embossed the green paper with a Cuttlebug folder that I added the embossing ink to. Then after it was embossed, I added the embossing powder and heat set. That is how it got that shimmery effect.

I also stamped and heat embossed the sentiment. Finally I added a few little shiny dots and the hat pin - I love hatpins on cards!

Thanks for looking!

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Colour Create 26

Hi Everyone! Woo hoo it's Colour Create time! This is my second challenge as part of the design team, and I just wanted to thank all of you for all of your lovely comments during the last challenge! You are all so kind - thank you so much for the very warm welcome!

For Challenge #26,the color scheme is ruby, gold, and cream, and the extra option is gems. There is an awesome prize from Simon Says Stamp - check out their site - they have absolutely everything! You can details about the prize at Colour Create.

Anyway, here is the inspiration photo:

Isn't that ring magnificent? It just looks so regal to me! So as I was thinking about the card for this challenge, I just kept thinking of royalty and jewels. I also happened to need an anniversary card.

So, this is what I came up with:


For the card base, I used a patterned cardstock from K&Company. It had a red and cream pattern on it, and I thought it would be so perfect for this card. Then I promptly covered it with ruby colored cardstock and then the cream cardstock - ha ha!

I embossed the cream cardstock with the Cuttlebug Textile Texture embossing folder. But before I embossed it, I inked the embossing folder with gold pigment ink. After I embossed the cardstock, I added some sparkly embossing powder and heat set. That is a really neat effect that makes rally nice backgrounds. I am hoping you can see that detail in the close-up picture.

I printed the sentiment on my computer. The sentiment and the frames were cut using the Nestabilities Large Deckled Rectangles.

I crocheted the flower using a pattern from Nichole Heady. I have used that pattern many many times now - it is great for beginning crocheters like me! I added some cream ribbon and secured the flower to the ribbon with a button. Finally I added some ruby colored jewel strips.

That's all for today. If you get a chance, check out the other Design Team Members creations - they are all gorgeous!

Thanks for stopping by!



{Anniversary Card Details}
Base cardstock: K&Company
Solid Cardstock: Bazzill Basics String of Pearls; Bazzill Basics Red Carpet
Gold Paper: The Paper Company December Gold
Ribbon: 7/8" grosgrain, antique white; gold ribbon was not labelled
Gold Ink: Archival Ink Galaxy Gold
Embossing: Cuttlebug Textile Texture folder
Rectangles cut with Nestabilities Large Deckled Rectangles Dies
Misc: Ruby rhinestone stickers; red button

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

myStampBOX Challenge with a Bit of *Sparkle*

Ok - brace yourselves - this is a loooooong post! First off, Caardvarks is hosting a great challenge sponsored by myStampBOX. The challenge is to use the myStampBOX logo colors: Black, White, and Hot Pink!

In addition, the Whimsy Stamps challenge this week is to add a touch of sparkle to your creations. Finally 365Cards theme for Day 178 is "Back to School".

I decided that I would take this opportunity to make some little cards for my daughter to tuck into her backpack as a little surprise - she goes back to school at the end of this week. She loves pink and bling, so this was perfect!

I made four small cards - they are each 3.75" x 4.75". Here is a picture of all 4 cards:




For this first card, I cut the butterfly using the Slice machine with the Teen Chillin' card. I embossed the lighter pink paper with the Cuttlebug Stylized Flowers folder.

I stamped the sentiment and then heat set it with silver embossing powder. Actually I used that same technique with the stamps on all 4 cards. Then I used the Martha Stewart border punch on the pink cardstock at the bottom.

I added gems to the butterfly and also just above the sentiment.



For the second card, I used some DCWV black cardstock that had sparkly dotted stripes all over it.

I cut the sentiment with a Nestabilities die.

I love Prima flowers, and thought this one looked perfect in the top corner, secured with a black brad.



For the 3rd card, I used black Core'dinations paper that had a pink core. I embossed it, then sanded lightly to bring out the pink core.

Again, I used a Nestabilities die on the sentiment.

In the bottom corner, I added some shiny silver bling.



The last card is my favorite! I love the "Girly Girl University" sentiment. And the pink patterned paper is sparkly all over.

I added the strip of black rhinestones for the final touch.

My daughter will be super excited when she opens her back pack and finds a little note each day for the first few days!

Thanks for Looking!



{I Love You Details}
Solid Cardstock: Best Occasions Textured Cardstock
Patterned cardstock: K&Company
Embossing: Cuttlebug Stylized Flowers folder
Butterfly: cut from Slice Teen Chillin'
Misc: silver embossing powder, Martha Stewart Lace border punch, gems



{Love Details}
Solid Cardstock: Best Occasions Textured Cardstock
Patterned cardstock: DCWV Glitter Stack

Sentiment: Stampin' Up; cut using Nestabilities circle and scalloped circle dies
Flower: Prima
Misc: silver embossing powder, bright pink satin ribbon, pink gems


{Smile Details}
Pink Cardstock: K&Company
Black Cardstock: Core'dinations
Embossing: Cuttlebug Bloom dots folder
Sentiment cut with Nestabilities circle and scalloped circle dies
Misc: ribbon, silver embossing powder, silver dots


{Girly Girl University Details}
Black Cardstock: Core'dinations
Patterned cardstock: DCWV Glitter stack
Sentiment cut with Nestabilities circle and scalloped circle dies
Misc: Ribbon, silver embossing powder, black rhinestones

Sunday, August 23, 2009

365 Cards - Super Sketchy Sunday

It's Super Sketchy Sunday, Day 176 at 365 Cards. Here is the sketch for today:


Honestly I wasn't sure what to do with this sketch, and I was going to skip it today. But Super Sketchy Sunday is one of my favorites, and I decided to have a go at it.

Here is my card:



I just got this Amy Butler, K&Company paper and I just had to try it!

The flower was cut using Nestabilities. I wrinkled it a little and added stickles to the edges.

My favorite little touch is the glass beads I added to the cord at the top.

I just love how that looks!

Thanks for Looking!






{Hello Details}
Patterned Cardstock: K&Company, Amy Butler
Solid Cardstock: Best Occasions Textured Cardstock
Tag: Cut with Sizzix die
Misc: string, buttons, glass beads

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Colour Create 25

Hi Everyone! I am so excited to be joining the Design Team at Colour Create! These ladies are super talented, and I am so honored that they have invited me to be a part of their team! I am going to do my best to try to keep up with them!

Challenge 25 is to use blue, sand, black, and silver with the option of a summertime theme:

The sponsor for the challenge is Handy Hippo. They are offering a super prize. Head on over to Colour Create to check it out. While you are there, you have got to take a look at all of the inspirational cards from the rest of the design team - they are all amazing!

Here is my first card for the challenge:


Every now and then, I really like that torn paper look, and this is one of those cases. I was going for a beach theme here (Hopefully that is obvious - ha ha!).

I embossed the middle blue paper with the Cuttlebug Tiny Bubbles folder, and used stickles randomly on the "bubbles" for a little sparkle.

The "enjoy life" sentiment was cut using the Graphically Speaking Cricut cartridge. The chair is from the Lifes' a Beach Cricut cartridge. The flowers in the corner are from the Walk in My Garden cartridge. I put some stickles on the edges of the flowers.

I attached the chair using foam stickers to add some dimension. The edges of the chair and the sentiment are highlighted with some black ink to make then stand out a little better.

Finally I put a thin strip of silver dots under the sentiment (had to get the silver in there!).

I decided to make a second card with this color scheme just to show the versatility. Here it is:


This sketch is very similar to the sketch over at Whimsy Stamps a couple of weeks ago.

These 3 patterned papers are from a K&Company pad (I think). They coordinate so beautifully! I embossed the 3 patterned panels with the Cuttlebug Script Texture folder, and I also distressed the edges.

I stamped the sentiment on sand colored paper using black ink, and I also inked the edges in black.

Thanks so much for Looking!



{EnjoyLife Details}
Solid Cardstock: Best Occasions Textured Cardstock
Embossing: Cuttlebug Tiny Bubbles
Chair: Life's a Beach Cricut cartridge
Sentiment: Graphically Speaking Cricut cartridge
Flowers: Walk in My Garden Cricut cartridge
Misc: Stickles, gems, silver dots


{Thinking of You Details}
Solid Cardstock: Best Occasions Textured Cardstock

Patterned Paper: K&Company
Embossing: Cuttlebug Script Texture folder
Misc: Darice Hemp Cord, black button, silver dots

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

2 Sketches 4 You and Whimsy Challenge

2 challenges today: 2 Sketches for You and the Whimsy Stamps Challenge. The challenge at Whimsy stamps is to use an animal stamp on your project. Here is the sketch for 2 Sketches 4 You this week:
Here is my entry for both challenges:
I found this "Pig Out" stamp in the clearance bin at our local craft store (Pat Catans), and I loved it! I had no idea when I would use it, until now!

I cut the frame from the Storybook Cricut cartridge, and the cupcakes are from Doodlecharms.

Thanks for Looking!

{Pig Out Details}
Solid Paper: Core'dinations, DCWV
Patterned Paper: K&Company Classic
Cupcake: Doodlecharms Cricut Cartridge
Frame: Storybook Cricut Cartridge
Ink: Stampin' Up Chocolate Brown
Misc: Darice gems, grosgrain ribbon

Chipboard Baby Books

I am finally getting around to posting a couple of baby books I made earlier this year. I had a bunch of chipboard that was too thick for the Cricut machine, so I just cut it straight for these books.

For both books, I cut the pages in the sizes I wanted. Then I adhered cardstock to both sides, rounded the corners, and sanded the edges. I also inked the edges for an aged effect. These books were also my first Bind-It-All project.

For the first book, I cut the pages 6x6. I used the All Mixed Up cartridge for the lettering on the front. I welded the letters for the name using Design Studio.



Most of the clips are from the New Arrival cartridge. The pages are all set up so that the pictures can just be added right on top. I used the stork on the back cover.
(You can click on some of the pictures to see a larger image)

For the second book, the baby's Mom likes the color burgundy, so I tried to use that alot in the book.

I cut these pages at 5x7. By using this size, I could set up the pages so that a 4x6 picture would fit with minimal trimming. I also decided to use more of the images from the New Arrival cartridge




On the Little One page, I put a pocket with a pull-out tag that has a baby poem on it. The tag was made of chipboard and covered with cardstock the same as the book pages. I also used a new Peachy Keen face stamp on the Sweet Pea page.


The only page that really disappointed me was the Bath Time page. I really like the patterned paper that I used for the title. But it ended up being really hard to read. I put some solid cardstock behind it to try to make it easier to read, and it helped a little, but I will not use that paper for lettering again.

On the Sleeping Beauty page, I added a little tag that has a bedtime prayer on it. The prayer is the one we said when we were growing up.

Monday, August 10, 2009

CardPatterns 27

I needed a card to congratulate a male coworker on a recent promotion. This sketch from CardPatterns this week was perfect:
And here is my card:
This is absolutely one of my favorite cards lately! I love the colors on this card! The background paper is from the K&Company Urban Rhapsody pack, and I had never had an occasion to use it. It worked so well for this card.

I always like the look of the raised frame, but haven't used one in awhile.

I found the sentiment "Hooray for You" on the Don Juan cartridge, and I thought it would go great with this owl from Storybook.

At the bottom, I ran string and added some glass beads for an extra detail.

Thanks for Looking!

{Hooray for You Details}
Patterned Paper: K&Company Urban Rhapsody
Solid Paper: DCWV Cardstock
Owl / Leaves / Scalloped Frame: Storybook Cricut Cartridge
Sentiment: Don Juan Cricut Cartridge
Misc: Darice Hemp Cord, glass beads