Lauren's two-fer!

Yep, Lauren posted a two-fer! She had a sketch AND color challenge! The sketch was easy for me, the colors were not. I do NOT care for Taken with Teal. I dunno, maybe I got burned out on it when it was HUGE in junior high...everybody loved Teal. And Burgundy. And both at the same time. Remember that? Well I do. So anyway, that one is hard for me to work with. The colors she listed were White, Teal, Sky and Guava. So here's what I did... The card is Whisper White. I stamped the circle from (the retiring!) Sweet Thing in Groovy Guava ink (also retiring!) to do the scalloped edge, but its on the inside of the card! I just trimmed a little off the front half! (here's a better view...)

Then I added a front of Guava card stock, and wrapped that with White grosgrain ribbon. The focal point is an image from the (retiring!) hostess set For A Friend. I inked the flower with Guava, the stem is Always Artichoke and the words are in Taken with Teal. I then swiped the White card stock edges in Guava ink, matted it onto some Teal card stock, and matted that on Soft Sky card stock! Super simple!

Inspiration Station!

No, not me, sorry. But all three of these come from other people's sketches and/or inspiration posts! (thanks guys!-LOL!) This first one comes from Lauren's color challenge. And you had to use a circle! So I did! I used Night of Navy for the base of the card and stamped everything in Night of Navy ink...because it was already out! I have a Whisper White card front and I actually cut out the frog and dragonflies. Wow...there's a reason I never do that! The frog is on Old Olive card stock and the dragonflies are Barely Banana. The big circle is of Cool Caribbean card stock and then a smaller one of White. And some Old Olive wide grosgrain ribbon goes across the top. Oh and I colored the eyes with my white gel pen.

This one is my take on Jen's Saturday Sketch To Try. Its a White card base with a rectangle of Chocolate Chip on one side, the yellow side of some Petals and Paisley paper on the bottom half of the other side and the matching Celery striped Prints paper on the top half. This card coordinates with my frame gift found here. So I used the very same inks for the flower and dragged...drug? the one side of the White focal piece across my Chocolate Chip ink pad to get that hint of brown along the edge. Then I added three Vanilla buttons. I think it coordinates well with the gift and was easy to make. This is from Julee's Mojo Monday sketch. I have a Close to Cocoa base, then my panels are Pretty in Pink and Barely Banana. I stamped the tiny flower from Priceless on those panels using the inks that match. Oh...and I guess it doesn't quite match the sketch...hmm... Anyway, I tied that layer with Pink gingham ribbon. Then for the top layer, I have a Cocoa mat beneath the White. I stamped the image from the For A Friend set in Pretty in Pink and colored the little flowers Banana. I dragged the white square in the Banana ink on all sides again, and tied more pink ribbon with a Clear round button around that one! I got a LOT done today! Good for me! haha! Hope you can say the same!

Weekend Sketch #47

I was very excited to play with this sketch from Beate! Its 11pm and I am tired, but I had to create today! So, card first, stories in a minute!

I was a little thrown by the oval. I don't have any cutting system and no pre-cut ovals...so I used a very old super cheap corner rounder that didn't work too well! But hey, it got the gist of the oval....except that I just notices mine is turned the wrong way... hmm... O well! I really like the card so its ok! ha ha!

So I have my Close to Cocoa base, a mat of Whisper White, then a piece of brown flower print from the Berry Bliss pkg and a pink flower print from the Hostess Level 1 Prints Paper. I tied that whole rectangle with some White grosgrain ribbon. I gotta say, just that far was absolutely lovely! I could have left it just like that! But not for the sketch! Plus it did need some kind of greeting....and stamps!! So I used my For A Friend thank you flower. I colored it with my Watercolor Wonder crayons and even used the Pretty in Pink crayon on the edges to give it a hint of pink. Subtle, but nice. I matted it on Close to Cocoa also, and put it up on Dimensionals. Purty sweet!

My office is coming along nicely. Burt and I were up insanely late last night taking the old desk apart and assembling the new one. (This is the third big piece of furniture we've had to assemble in our marriage and we always start about 11pm! I think I may not assemble any more furniture! ha ha!) Anyway, I tried to start organizing things today but at the moment I'm to that point where its like the night after you moved into a new place...you know what you need is around here somewhere, but where?! Sienna didn't take a nap today, so I didn't get very much done. Lots and lots of work to do tomorrow. When its all done it will be fabulous. I can't wait! I love my new desk and I'm really excited about everything else. Just gotta keep going!

More wedding cards!

Here are two more wedding cards. I made these the other night. We have truly, 5 wedding announcements sitting here! Some of them get "old" cards and some get brand new! Here are the new ones.... This was really kind of hard because I don't have "wedding" sets in my house! So here I used Daisy Crazy for the main image. That is stamped on White card stock with Certainly Celery, So Saffron, Rose Red and Elegant Eggplant. Then its matted on Chocolate Chip to tie in the lovely Chocolate Chip taffeta ribbon. I even used a Ribbon Slide from the new Hodgepodge Hardware in the mini! Then the card base is Rose Red. I stamped the greeting in Chocolate Chip ink and I used the 2-Way glue pen to adhere the Dazzling Diamonds glitter! Not incredibly "WEDDING-y" but it works for the couple. This one seems more like a wedding card. I used a Groovy Guava base, Chocolate Chip card stock for the mats, punched the squares out with the 1 3/8 inch square punch, made my own tag (which is why its un-even...). The hearts are stamped with Guava and Real Red ink. The greeting is stamped in Real Red and the edge is sponged in Guava. I tied a little bow with the same Chocolate taffeta ribbon, and now everyone knows why I don't do bows! ha ha!

Weekend Sketch #41

Here is my card for Beate's Sketch. I tried her 4 1/2 x 4 1/2 measurement for a card...that was definitely new to me. But since I gave away my last baby girl card I thought I'd better make more! I used a Whisper White base, then a card front of Rose Red. A layer of this great turquoise flower print from the Friends & Flowers SS Kit a year or two ago, and then this little stamp from the current hostess set For A Friend. I stamped that in Tempting Turquoise and colored the flowers with Rose Red. Then I added four silver brads for a simple accent. It looks better sitting here than it does on my screen...Sorry the picture is so not good. It kept coming out blurry and I have no idea why!

Another class sneak peek!

So for my March class we'll make THIS box! It will hold all 6 cards plus envelopes. You could give the entire set away as a gift, or you could use the cards yourself then fill a small bag with candy or other treat and give the box as a birthday treat gift! Who knew a night out with the girls could be so useful? Remember to get me your RSVP by March 14th. See more details below!

A class sneak peek!

My March class will be held on Tuesday the 18th. I'm offering both a 9-11am and a 7-9pm class. We're going to make 6 birthday cards and a box to hold them in. The fee is $12 due upon arrival, but I must have your RSVP by Friday, March 14. So here are two of the cards we'll be making that day... This rocket card is perfect for a boy's birthday! I had to tweak my original idea but I like this one a lot better. My son came in and saw it sitting on my desk and said "Wow, that's a great card Mom!" so you know a boy would love to get this one. I used the Pun Fun rocket and the Classic Stars Jumbo wheel. I liked the idea of using a strip of paper smaller than the wheel- then no one will stress about making it straight! I think the buttons are a fun little accent too. This card is totally based on Beate's Weekend Sketch #37. Surprisingly, the one I had so much trouble making! I may alter it a little before the class, but for today, this is my plan (but your paper will be cut straight!). It uses the Cutie Pie paper, plus that really cute ribbon slide from the new Hodgepodge Hardware in the Spring Mini! I love that piece! Like these cards but don't live close enough to come? Sign up and I'll mail (or deliver) the supplies needed!

Weekend Sketch #37

Hmm... Well I tried Beate's sketch for today. Its been one of those days, so I really NEEDED to stamp. This is not quite working out tho and I'll go ahead and blame my mood. haha! This first card I liked up until the point it was all put together. I tried to add an accessory but I couldn't find anything that worked. I was working with the plan of the Saffron full flowers as a background and that phrase as the focal point. I'm not sure where I went wrong, but I still don't think it really works. Anyway, I used the set Time Well Spent, with So Saffron, Whisper White, Ruby Red and Always Artichoke cardstocks, and Saffron, Ruby and Artichoke inks and colored with blender pens. Lets move on to Try #2...

Last year between April-October I had nine baby cards to give. I know of at least three coming relatively soon, so why not make a baby card? I think its at least unique! I just hope whoever I give it to likes the colors! (its not as harsh in real life...sorry about the photo!)

Since I picked the phrase first (from For A Friend) I wanted to go with a pinkish color for the flowers. I really like this Hand Prints wheel done in Chocolate Chip. It really looks like a mischievous child got into chocolate! (Soon I'll have to post my scrapbook page I made using the wheel for exactly that scenario!) So anyway, I used Groovy Guava and Chocolate Chip with a touch of Whisper White. The Close to Cocoa button might be a stretch but I think a button is a soft touch to a baby card.

Well anyway, that's my effort for the weekend. Tomorrow will be better!

Recent Mail

I'm sending in an order Wednesday evening. If you need any supplies right now or are interested in getting a Sale-A-Bration set free, call me before Wednesday night and I'll add your order too! This butterfly card is the one I gave my mom for her birthday. I posted this on my website in January, but she mentioned a couple times how much she liked it...so she got it! (see, that can happen to you too- tell me what you like and you just might find it in your mailbox on your birthday!)

Its a super simple card, the hard part was cutting out the butterflies. I hate cutting things out... Anyway, I used So Saffron cardstock and ink, Elegant Eggplant cardstock and ink, the white gel pen to make the butterfly flight paths and a fire Square Rhinestone Brad to have the greeting 'peek' out. I think the color combination is striking. This second card I sent to another stamper. It's also a simple card but again, all about the color combo! Groovy Guava and Not Quite Navy. I wish I could remember (or find again) whose blog pointed out how great they look together... They really do! Its hard to see, and I apologize but I used the flower image from another stamp in the For A Friend set. It's versamarkered (cool word, btw!) down the left side of the card. Then I used the Guava ink pad to watercolor the little heard. I love that spiral punch and I added a little white grosgrain ribbon for a simple accent. Cute and easy!

On the side bar I've added some new info. In March I have an in-home workshop coming up, plus a fun birthday card class. If you like to make and give cards this is one you'll really want to attend. Birthday cards for everyone! Plus we'll use new stamps, which is super exciting to me. Anyway, be sure and RSVP and I'll keep the reminders comin'!

Weekend Sketch Challenge #35!

Splitcoaststampers.com posts weekly tutorials on Wednesday's and Beate Johns is one person who posts many of these tutorials. Since she always does such great things I checked out her blog, where every Friday she posts a sketch for a weekend challenge. Sooo I thought I'd participate today!

I am a very simple stamper but I'm happy with how this turned out! Not only that, its my first time to use my new Level 1 Hostess set: "For a Friend"!

So here's the recipe:

Stamps: For A Friend. Inks: Close to Cocoa, Regal Rose marker, Always Artichoke marker. Paper: Close to Cocoa, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White. Accessories: Earth/Neutral Buttons, Pretty in Pink Gingham Ribbon, Stamping Sponges, Mini Glue Dots.