One card, two challenges!

I fell in love with the Army Honey digistamp offered at the Paper Craft Planet's progressive challenge!  Hopefully, I get all the challenges done in time to get all three stamps!

CAS(E) this Sketch! had a great sketch I worked with on this week's challenge.

Here's my card for both challenges:

I used the sketch as a guide, and the Army Honey digistamp.  Other supplies used:  Bazzill cardstock, a Darice embossing folder, a Martha Stewart border punch, Spellbinders Labels 25 dies, K&Co stickers., and I colored the image with my Spectrum Noir markers.

Thanks for looking!

OWH Sketch Challenge #179

Whew it's Sunday already!  lol at least I got a little card making in today between church!

This card is for this week's OWH sketch challenge.  I used some pretty patterned papers from the Simon Says Stamp July 2013 card making kit.  They are already well coordinated, so I feel like I may have gotten pattern mixing a little closer to right this time lol.  Here's my card:

Supplies used:  The Simon Says Stamp July 2013 kit (you can find it here) and some Recollections bling, and a Martha Stewart border punch.  That's it!  How easy is that?

Thanks for looking!

The Paper Players Tic Tac Toe Challenge #152

The Paper Players have a tic tac toe challenge going.  I chose the "blue-bling-friendship" line up the center.  I just got new Spellbinders dies and stamps in, so this went together quickly!  Here's my card:

Supplies used:  my brand new Spellbinders Labels 25 dies and matching stamps from Cindy Echlinaw Designs (Labels 25 Floral Blessings), Heidi Swapp bling, Bazzill monochrome cardstock, an EK Success corner punch, and VersaMagic ink in Night Sky.

I already have a recipient in mind for this card... I hope she likes it!

Thanks for looking!

Just one card today

Just one card today because my doggie is upset that I'm ignoring her lol.  Here it is:

The striped paper is from the "Write it Down" digital scrapkit by Michelle Coleman of Little Dreamer Designs.  The two digi stamps are from TLC Creations.  I also used Bazzill cardstock, a corner rounder, and my Spectrum Noir pens.

Thanks for looking!

Cricut cards plus one

Christmas!  In June!  Eeek!  Yep, I'm starting to think about Christmas cards again lol.  Here's one I did with my Cricut mini and four colors of Bazzill cardstock:

And on to less wintry stuff lol:

I cut this one at 3.5" with Bazzill cardstock.  I also used an Anna Griffin embossing folder for the card base.

And this card- no Cricut, just my Spectrum Noir markers:

The image and sentiment are from TLC Creations; Bazzill cardstock and American Crafts ribbon.  I have this in mind for shut-in church members.

That's it for now, I have to get ready for church!  Thanks for looking.

Cricut cards

I'm starting to play with my Cricut mini more, to see what all neat stuff it can do.  Here are a couple of cards I made today with it:

This card used the Live Simply cartridge, Recollections cardstock, and an unknown patterned paper.  I think it looks so happy in yellow!

This card used the Art Nouveau cartridge, Bazzill cardstock and a Hero Arts sentiment stamp.  I love how the Cricut has so many options to make cards that are fun or elegant, don't you?

Thanks for looking!

I got my Simon Says Stamp card club kit! Yay!

Finally!  I've been waiting for days, it seems lol.  Here is a listing of what is in the club kit for July:  club kit

And here is what I made so far:

Both cards were scraplifted almost completely from their idea sheet lol.  But I think it's great that their idea sheet had cards that were doable with the kit contents- I didn't have to pull extras from my stash or go shopping to make it happen.  I did use my Dew Drop chalk inks on the second card - those didn't come with the kit.  But who doesn't have inks in basic colors if they are into rubber stamping?  I also used a Hero Arts sentiment one the first card from my stash- but I didn't have to.  There were plenty of options in the stamp set from the kit.

So was the kit worth the $25?  Yep, I'd say so.  :)

Another card using a freebie

The image came free in the Color and Cut stack with Papercraft Inspirations magazine:

I used Bazzill cardstock, an Anna Griffin embossing folder, Prima paper flowers, Offray ribbon and Recollections pearls. I colored her with my Spectrum Noir pens- I like how her tutu turned out! I had to watch their tutorial on how to color sheers here.

Thanks for looking!

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!

This is a Stamps Happen stamp and a TLC digistamp for the sentiment:

Gotta love those kitties! lol  I used Recollections cardstock and bling, colored with my Spectrum Noir pens.

Froggy card and TLC Creations

I love this digital stamp from TLC!  Here's my card:

I used Bazzill and Recollections cardstock, Recollections bling, an Anna Griffin embossing folder and my Spectrum Noir markers to color the image.  I will admit that as I am coloring more images, I am beginning to crave the remaining 24-pen sets in the Spectrum Noir line- I only have the basic 72-pen set.  For now, that is!  lol

The inside of the card is another digital stamp that reads: "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord." Psalm 150:6.

OWH Sketch Challenge #178

Woot woot I made a card for this challenge in record time!  Here is the challenge, and here is my card:

I used Bazzill monochromatic cardstock, a Stampendous stamp, and eyelet.brads from my stash.  And I used my new ATG that I just had to have since Sandy recommended it in one of the OWHTV videos lol.

Thanks for looking!

The weekend's cards

Didn't get many cards made this weekend, but I like the ones I did.  Here they are:

This one used my anonymous Walmart-bought stamp, Basic Grey Euphoria collection paper, Cricut Elegant Edges cartridge, and my Spectrum Noir pens.

This one swaps in We R Memory Keepers paper from the Good Day Sunshine Collection and Recollections bling.  I like how the word stands out more because of the colors.

This is a second take on the Birdie Brown digital stamps.  I like the colors in this one better than the one I submitted for the challenge.

I got a new Stampendous stamp today on sale at Michael's, this is it.  I also used an Anna Griffin embossing folder, Tim Holz embossing diffuser, and Bazzill cardstock.  I love this sentiment- I think it's perfect for the "thinking of you"cards for the ill and hospitalized folks from my church.

I will do two more posts, as they are for challenges.  See you soon!

OWH Midweek Throwdown and Birdie Brown challenges

This card is for these two challenges:

Operation Write Home Midweek Throwdown challenge is cards for kids so our troops can write home to their children.

Birdie Brown provided the free digistamp for their challenge, and he's a cutie!

Here's my card:

He was really simple- just paper and cardstock from the We R Memory Keepers "Good Day Sunshine" collection, and bling from Darice.  I printed him out onto Ultimate Crafter's Companion premium paper, and  I colored him in with my Spectrum Noir markers.

Thanks for looking!

More of today's cards

Just a few more cards:

I love how the coloring turned out on the pears.  And yes, the last two cards are the same but different.  I can't decide which I like better... the brown or the grey hedgies.

Supplies used: Pear digistamps from Birdie Brown and hedgies are from Sliekje, Coredinations Black Magic cardstock, Recollections cardstock, Ultimate Crafter's Companion Premium white cardstock to color on, We R Memory Keepers patterned papers, American Crafts ribbons, and my Spectrum Noir pens.

Thanks for looking!

Cards in Envy Stitched Up Challenge

Here is a link to the challenge.  We are to use real or faux stitching on an A2 card that will actually fit in an envelope and be mailable lol I guess this is my kind of thing!  I pulled out my "new" sewing machine that I have had for almost a year now and never used before lol.  Turns out using a sewing machine is like riding a bicycle- had no problems at all!

Here is my card for the challenge:

I wish I knew where I got the digistamps- I downloaded them without checking to be sure the maker's name was part of the file name :(  The cardstock and patterned paper are from We R Memory Keepers "Good Day Sunshine" collection.  I colored the phone and sentiment with my Spectrum Noir markers.

ETA:  The digistamps are from Birdie Brown.

Thanks for looking!

Coloring makes me happy :)

Three more cards for today:

Supplies used:  First two cards' images are from the Cut and Color Stack that came free with the last issue of Papercraft Inspirations, the third image is a Magenta stamp.  Bazzill and Recollections cardstock. The blue cardstock on the third card is from Club Scrap.  American Crafts ribbons, and my Spectrum Noir markers. The second card also uses an embossing folder from Darice.  

Thanks for looking! 

Monochrome Monday. Or Tuesday. Whatever. :)

I got the rest of my Spectrum Noir pens in today, and just couldn't wait to use them!  I now have the whole 72 pen set (12 sets of 6) and I just couldn't be happier.

Apparently color inspires me lol

Supplies used:  Bazzill and Recollections cardstock, Spectrum Noir cardstock to color on, Martha Stewart border punch, American Crafts ribbons, eyelet brads from my stash, a Stampin' Up! punch, and, of course, my Spectrum Noir markers!

Thanks for looking!

Check me out!

Paulette chose my cow card to add as inspiration on the TLC Creations website!

Woot woot!  Thanks Paulette, for adding me and for the great freebie digistamps- and for the great work in your store too!

{{{{{{ hugs to everyone }}}}}}

Two more cards just because I feel like it :)

It was rainy all day, so I got my cardstock sunshine out!

So simple, I love it! Bazill cardstock in three shades of sunshiney yellow, American Crafts ribbon in the same color, one stamp (I wish I knew the mfr) and yes, I finally got those Spellbinders dies to work that I was complaining about earlier (Card Creator 5x7 Detailed Scallops).

I got the dies to work by running them through the Cuttlebug four times- I was determined!  Brand new plates helped, but I still had to rotate the die 90 degrees and run it through in each direction.  Ah  well.  It works, so I spose I won't complain any more lol.

I've been drooling over all those fancy cards with the lacy details and geegaws on them (for inspiration, see this blog - she is amazing!) so I am trying to get going in that direction.  The dies help.  So do the tutorials lol.  So here is my first try.  Well, second if you count the card above lol:

I'm still not comfortable with the layers and big embellis, but I'll get there!  This card used a Martha Stewart border punch (tutorial on making the frame here), my Cricut Mini and Fancy Borders cartridge, a Stampin' Up stamp, Memento ink, Heidi Grace flowers and Offray ribbon.

I think the key to the cards the are out there is having the correct dies and creatively using them to get the shapes and layers you are looking for.  So I'm going to study my Cricut cartridges and see what I've got in there lol.

Anyhoo.  The Voice is on, so it's time for me to go lol.  Have a great night, and thanks for looking!

The Spectrum Noir June 2013 challenge

The Spectrum Noir challenge is all about summer, and to me that means sunshine and flowers.  So here is my  interpretation:

I used the sketch from the OWH Sketch Challenge #177, Bazill cardstock, Spectrum Noir cardstock to color on, a Martha Stewart border punch, Nestabilities Card Creator die, an unknown sentiment stamp that I've been using a LOT lately lol and a free digistamp from Cherly Seslar Designs, and my Spectrum Noir markers.  

Thanks for looking!

OWH Stars and Stamps Sketch Challenge #177

This challenge is a lot like the previous one from the Sweet Stop in that it's got lots of layers and a banner and other goodies.  I think I did a better job today, though :)

Here is my card:

Just a little bit cleaner and easier to look at, huh.  That's what I thought too.    

Supplies used:  

stamp: Stampin' Up! Simple Wishes

patterned papers: Basic Grey Euphoria Collection

cardstock: Recollections

brads: Recollections

image colored with Spectrum Noir markers

Thanks for looking!

The Sweet Stop Challenge SSS215

The Challenge was to make a card following the sketch and the spin is "its a girl thing".  So I made the girliest, pinkest, foofooest card I have ever made in my life:

Lol now that I think of it, I should have colored some lace pink and thrown that on there too!

Supplies used:  Basic Grey Euphoria collection patterned paper, Bazzill pearlized cardstock, Crafter's Companion Ultimate cardstock, Offray and one unknown ribbon, a pink brad, a stamp that I don't know who made, Memento Tuxedo Black ink, Spectrum Noir markers to color it in, a Nestabilities scalloped oval die, and a flower punch from EK Success.  Whew.  And all this after the "clean and simple" card lol.

And I've had too much caffeine today, so I may be up later still working on cards.

Did I mention that most of my cards are going to Operation Write Home (OWH)?  That's why they are all A2 sized- not much room for big embellis but just big enough to showcase one or two.  Do you make cards?  Have a stockpile made and still make more?  Start making them in A2 size, and visit the OWH website, and get rolling.  They will even send you a stamp to put on the backs of your cards to identify them as OWH.

Help our Soldiers stay in touch with home!

Case This Sketch #32

Wowzer, this one was tough for me!  I guess CAS is harder than it looks sometimes.  Here is the challenge, and here is my card:

Maybe a little too clean and simple?  I do love the purples, though.  And I haven't used a flower or a blingy thing in a long time.

Supplies used:  Bazill Basics cardstock, Recollections flower and bling.  The stamp is from a Hero Arts sympathy set, and the ink is Memento Elderberry.

Have I mentioned I love those little Memento Dew Drop inks?  A great way to have a whole lot of colors in just a little bit of space.  I do have a full size Memento pad in Tuxedo Black, though, for outline stamping and coloring.

Have a great night!

Card Makin' Mamas challenge: On the Farm (CMM71)

I went through my stash and found lots of dogs, cats, and birds, but no farm animals!  So I downloaded these digi stamps from Create With TLC - I found it really funny, but I'm guessing you have to live out here in the country to "get it".  Here's a link to the challenge, and here is my card:

Supplies: Basic Grey patterned paper from the Euphoria collection, American Crafts ribbon, and my Spectrum Noir pen for a little color.  The cardstock, eyelets, and buckle are from my stash, and I believe the ghost letter is from Heidi Swapp a long time ago.

This is my first go with digi stamps.  What do you think?  I think I like rubber better, but you just can't beat the variety and easy storage and resizability of digis.

Saturday morning creativity

It's Saturday and the house is already cleaned, the grass won't need cut for a couple more days... time to make cards! lol

These two use the same supplies. I have to say the Martha Stewart border punches stumped me- I couldn't get them to line up for the card measurements I wanted.  So I cut the stamp images down to match the border punches lol.  If you can't do it one way, go for another!

I think I like the all blue- bordered one better.  What do you think?  Supplies: Crafter's Companion Ultra Smooth Premium White cardstock to stamp on, Bazill textured white cardstock, Recollections colored cardstock, Martha Stewart punches, a stamp I got from WalMart on clearance (no idea the manufacturer) and my Spectrum Noir pens.

The stamp set includes this one that I colored with pencils.  Supplies: Offray ribbon, Recollections cardstock, and We R Memory Keepers paper from the "Good Day Sunshine" collection.

So what got me going on the Martha Stewart punches?  Well, I got this Nestabilites die set from Valucrafts (love those guys- you can order through the AAFES website if you are military!) and it came in the mail yesterday.  I was soooo excited!  This morning, I opened them up with the intent to start using them right away.  And I was disappointed.  NONE of the dies cut the shape completely.  NONE.  Not with shims, new Cuttlebug plates, nothing would make them work right.  They wouldn't cut cardstock.  They wouldn't cut copy paper.  Sigh.  I love my other Nestabilities (I have leafy squares, scalloped circles and scalloped ovals).  But these were just disappointing.  And the lacy bits are so fiddly that I couldn't exactly go back and cut them with my detail scissors, either.

Anyone know how to get them to work?  I wish they would work, because the designs are just beautiful.  Sigh.  I guess I'll call their 800 number and see what we get.  I'll call Monday since no one answered today- just went to voice mail.

Penny Black June challenge

Here is the Penny Black Saturday Challenge for June, and here is my card:

The kitty is from the Penny Black Purrfect set, I don't know where the sentiment came from, I'll edit the post if I find out. The paper is from We R Memory Keepers "Good Day Sunshine" collection, and the cardstock is Bazzill Basics. The bling is from my stash.

Thanks for looking!

Simon Says Stamp Challenge

Whew!  I had to search for a stamp with some type of transport- do ya think that parachuting counts? lol

Here's the link to the challenge, and here is my card:

Simple, I know, but the stamp kind of requires it, doesn't it?

Thanks for looking!

Moxie Fab Mixy-Matchy Style challenge

This was a tougher challenge for me- I don't usually mix patterns and honestly I like plain card stock best! But, thanks to Basic Grey having already coordinated the papers for me, I think I did ok lol:

There are actually four patterns there- the top paper, bottom paper, the border around the sentiment, and the dotted ribbon!

Off to find more challenges!

Have a great Thursday!

Challenge Cards

I got the grass cut early today, and thank goodness!  It got awful warm this afternoon.  Left me lots of time for card making and reading blogs lol.

The first card is for the Sweet Stop SSS214 Sketch Challenge, and it also works for the OWH Midweek Throwdown Challenge:

The stamp is from Great Impressions (#D286), the cardstock is Bazzill and the papers are from the Basic Grey "Two Scoops" collection.  The ink is Memento Teal Zeal, and it's a Martha Stewart border punch running down the center.

The next card is just because I love the papers in the "Two Scoops" collection, the colors are so pretty.  I love the aqua blues.  The image is from the free Cut and Color Stack that came with the May 2013 PaperCraft Inspirations magazine.  I colored it with my Spectrum Noir pens because that's just what I do now lol! I also used a Spellbinders Nestabilities die (scalloped circles) and Offray ribbon.

Well, this is it for tonight.  Thanks for looking, and I'll see you again soon!

Today's cards

I am really loving having the time to make cards... it's been way too long since I've been able to do this and I do enjoy it so much!  I wish I could make all those fancy, lacy cards I've been seeing all over the interwebs, but for now I'm just kind of a simple card maker.  But I'll work on getting some of the dies and on my coloring skills so I can get there!

Tonight's cards:

This pretty lil girl was part of the Colour & Cut stack that came free with the May 2013 issue of Paper Creations.  I colored her in with my Spectrum Noir markers, and matted her on the same card stock I cut the sentiment out on. I used my Slice to cut the sentiment, and the Words and Expressions card.  Simple enough!  She was too big for an A2 card, so she won't go to OWH, but I can think of someone very special who might like to receive her hello in the mail!

So now I had a negative image of the sentiment that was just too nice to waste- and decided to use it, too:

I think I like this version even better!  What do you think?  I don't know where I got this kitty stamp from- I think he may be Hero Arts, but I could really be wrong.

ETA:  The kitty stamp set is Penny Black!

These two stamps are from the same set as the first kitty.  Ain't he a cutie?  I do remember I got this set because I couldn't find Magenta stamps at the three stores I have kind of local here (Michael's, Hobby Lobby and Archiver's).  I used my Martha Stewart border punch too.

And my favorite, the original Magenta cat! Here he is:

I love how this one turned out.  Pretty simple, and I like simple.  Just the stamp, markers, and a few layers of card stock matting.

That's all for today, I hope your Tuesday was a great one!