Perfect time for a challenge

Today I was asked to make a birthday card for a man who works with computers, so I decided to use the color combo challenge on SCS to try to make the card. I love the end result, although I was afraid of the color combo- bashful blue, old olive and more mustard. I watercolored the computer with the cake stamped inside (stamps from Computer Quips) using my Watercolor Wonder Crayons. I tried to make the screen have a grid like look, similar to the background, which was done with the Rough Texture wheel and DTP technique.
I distressed the edges of the blue, olive textured, and watercolor paper, and lifted them up with some pop-up glue dots for a little more dimension. Ribbon was from SU, it is now retired. Sentiment from Warmest Regards.


My Christmas card tonight is done with Old Olive textured, rounded the corners. The scalloped oval is a Daisy D's die cut. I added some SU ribbon and cut out the tree from Wondrous Gift, which was embossed in winter white on patterned paper, then used Crystal Stickles and a button for the top. The button was inspired by Julia at Belle Papier.

See you soon...

yes, I'm still alive...

I've been exhausted in the evenings all week, and last weekend was packed full of family fun. My daughter (2 1/2), rode a pony twice for the first time at our annual church festival last Sunday. This was a major feat for her- a girl who has had NIGHTMARES about horses being in the house (?) and many a night was scared to go to bed! I didn't get a picture, but she had this cute little grin on her face while riding, and her daddy and I stood back while the owner of the "pony" (actually a miniature horse) guided her. It was so cool to watch her do it! We encouraged her while she waited in line, reminding her that princesses ride on ponies! That night, I pulled a brand new Barbie nightgown (her first nightgown) out that was very princess-y and had Barbie wearing a crown with Pegasus, which we told her was a princess and her pony.

Anyways, my new job has kept me busy along with family life and trying to stay in shape, so I didn't feel up to much of anything this week at night. Tonight I decided to share a couple of cards, however. The one up top is for Beate's sketch this week, WSC20. I really had a tough time with it, don't know if I'm just tired, or what. But I've been wanting to use this designer paper from My Mind's Eye, called Friend's Paisley, it's part of the C'est La Vie collection. The red you see is the reverse side. I paired it up last week with Old Olive textured paper, thought it was perfect! Then tonight I pulled together the Not Quite Navy textured, some chipboard from SU's Ginormous Pieces (inked up in Olive and Celery) and dotted with a glaze pen. Oh, and I used a little Saffron paper to mat the paisley paper. Lastly, I used just a small piece of ribbon from SU that is so cute. There's no sentiment right now. I may or may not add one depending on what I decide to use this card for.

Next is this Christmas card. I need to do my cards, Christmas will be here before we know it. I used a Fabriano Mediovalis card, heat embossed the tree from Wondrous Gift in Winter White, inked with a sponge some Olive ink, cut out the star using the star stamp as my outline. I used Frosted Lace Stickles on the tree and star, which you can see up close here:

I only have a few cards done for Christmas this year, so I need to get on the ball. I'm waiting for my new set from the SU Holiday Mini before I kick it into full gear. Until next time, happy stamping!

My newest designs in glass tag jewelry...

I finally came up with a design that I'm IN LOVE with for these glass tags, purchased from Stampington & Company and now the colors (or lack of color) that I need in the glass tags are not available any more. :( But I will be seeking help in getting more of the CLEAR and pale colored glass tags and circles. I've enjoyed the ones I have had and creating with them is loads of fun. (See my red one in a recent Christmas ornament card post.) If you have any and would like to share them with me, please contact me. The first one (above) I used Autumn Leaf Prints, thought this would be the perfect fall addition to my wardrobe. It's fairly large in size, about 1.5" by 3", and was a very pale peach color when I started working with it, as you can see if you look at the bottom right or top left corners.

Above is 3 bare trees from Lovely as a Tree. I love the abstract look of this, it's exactly what I was going for. I had been pondering on this theme of designs for a few weeks or so. I'm not willing to share exactly how I made them at this point. But I would love your feedback! Below are two that I did with the oak leaves from the same stamp set. The green one is actually a small pale green glass circle tag that had a light shimmer to it. The other one, slightly larger in size, was clear glass when I started with it (as was the one with the trees).

Thanks for looking and for sharing your constructive feedback about my work.

I've been hard at work at my new job, which I'm loving so much! Every day is just getting better and better. I'm more relaxed in the morning, which allows my daughter time to get ready at her pace and not have to battle as much to get out the door. Praise the Lord!

...More VSN Day 2

The challenge here was to use the same stamp for the background as the main image. Though very subtle, I did using the bold flower from Petal Prints.

On the Mustard cardstock, I stamped the flower with Mustard ink, also stamped the Weathered stamp in Cocoa and used the DTP and distressing techniques on the edges.

This fantastic sentiment is from Verses. I love it, it can be used for so many purposes. I often send out cards to let people know I'm praying for them, so this stamp is great for that. It is stamped on vanilla cardstock with a chocolate chip layered behind, both pieces distressed. I also added some speckles with Itty Bitty Backgrounds.

For the main flower I used Colorbox Petal Points Chalk Pads in Earth tones. It was stamped on vanilla and cut out, petals are curled out a tad bit, and stuck on with a Pop Up Glue Dot for dimension.

Sept '07 VSN- Day 2!

I was able to do a couple of challenges earlier today before taking my daughter to her friend's birthday party. The first challenge is a texture challenge, to use as many as possible. Bear with me, as some of my textures must be seen with the eyes and not felt with the hands, whereas others are touchy-feely!

I started by embossing a Karen Foster adhesive backed metal sheet (in gold). I distressed the edges of all of my cardstock, a great and easy way to add texture to a card! I also added moss green velvet ribbon from SU. The deep olive green slide mount is also slightly textured, and the fact that it is raised is (to me) another texture. The watercolor paper is also textured.

I used the stamp set Autumn Leaf Prints and rolled the leaves in different Earth Elements inks to signify the changing of seasons. I spritzed with water to slightly bleed the ink, then once mostly dry, spritzed some brown ink for effect. For the sentiment and teeny leaves, I used Refuge & Strength. I actually LOVE this card, it's very different, and I don't normally love flashy stuff, but the idea of so many textures really is what makes it so great to me.

This next card was an easy one for me, the challenge was to do a card for a baby or expectant mom. I have so many friends who are expecting right now, that the issue for me is not WHAT to make, but WHICH friend will be the recipient?

Starting with my "Side Saddle" designer paper, I selected red and Cool Caribbean papers to brighten it up! The scalloped rectangle and tag are from old die cut Petal Cards from Stampin' Up! I watercolored the girl with my Watercolor Crayons. I used Pop-Up Glue Dots to make her and the tag "pop."

I'm hoping to do more challenges tonight. Ta Ta for now!

September '07 VSN Weekend! Day 1...

So I decided to play tonight, despite a horrible migraine which is making my eyes water. Here is my first project, I made the 2-4-6-8 box (well, really I did a variation called 2-5-7-10, LOL).

Paper: Textured Pumpkin Pie, Designer paper is "Prairie Dot" by Flair Designs, Choc Chip and white.
Stamps: Carved & Candlelit, All Year Cheer
Ink: Old Olive, Choc Chip, Pumpkin Pie
Accessories: Ribbon













For the next project, I decided to RAK a lady named Tracey, who has lost her husband in Afghanistan. This card is made with the following:

Paper: Perfect Plum, designer paper by Anna Griffin
Stamps: Sentiment from Wordsworth, inside (matching font) reads "My Thoughts Are With You", Mixed Bouquet
Ink: Elegant Eggplant
Accessories: Ribbon, Crystal Brad in pale plum.

The colors match much better in person, I couldn't get the lighting right.

Challenge time!

This card was made for Beate's sketch challenge WSC18. I like the sketch, although it was a bit challenging for me. I needed a birthday card, and just happened to have a chipboard B leftover from last night's monogram Christmas ornament (see yesterday's post). So that's how it all began.

Here's what I used:
Stamps: Studio G birthday set from Michael's $1 Clear stamp sets.
Paper: Crate Paper's Cowgirl Collection in "Side Saddle" for main card and reversed for matte; Karen Foster's Burlap; "Bright Floral" by My Mind's Eye (B); shimmer white from SU.
Accessories: SU ribbon, crystal brads in blue, Heidi Grace adhesive leather nameplate, chipboard.
Ink: Ruby Red, StazOn in Timber Brown.

I also participated in the Limited Supplies Challenge for today on Splitcoaststampers. I ended up doing a no layers card for this sympathy card.

Here's what I used:
Stamps: Art of Life, Canvas, scripture sentiment by Wordsworth
Paper: Bordering Blue from SU.
Accessories: none!
Ink: Going Gray, Basic Black

Lastly, I did the challenge to do a card with pocket(s) in some form or fashion. I decided to do another birthday card with a bookmark inside.

Here's what I used:
Stamps: Studio G stamps from Michael's $1 Clear Stamp Set bin; Warmest Regards from SU.
Paper: Rose Red, Kaleidescope designer paper, textured Not Quite Navy.
Accessories: sewing machine, Prima's, Stickles (Frosted Lace), snap eyelet, SU ribbon.
Ink: Not Quite Navy.

I'm planning on hanging out on Splitcoaststampers some this weekend for VSN (virtual stamp night) for many more challenges, so keep your peepers peeled! And if you have time, join in the fun!

Christmas Ideas

As Christmas quietly sneaks up on us, I occasionally think about what to make this year. I haven't done much yet (at all). But for yesterday's sketch challenge on Splitcoaststampers, which I got around to making tonight, the inevitable is upon me. I need to make some things before the realization of the Holiday season is here. Not that I won't make other things, but it's time to buckle down and get crackin' on this holiday preparation!

Last weekend I purchased some papers at my local scrapbook store, this one is called "Bright Floral" from the Tres Jolie collection by My Mind's Eye. Tonight I thought it was perfect for a Christmas card, even though I didn't necessarily purchase it with that in mind. It's a textured cardstock and it's really beautiful. I added even more texture with the Cuttlebug embossing folder called "Textile" and added a little cocoa ink to bring out that texture a bit. The green ribbon, which I also LOVE, is from Stampin' Up! It has some stretch to it and is so cute and actually is quite thick. I wish it could be purchased individually- I think I'd buy a lot of it.

The glass tag will serve as an ornament once the recipient pulls it off the card (which I will kindly leave instructions inside the card). I purchased the plain red glass tag from Stampington & Company and have made many things with these FANTASTIC glass tags. If you look at the picture of me, my necklace pendant is one of them designed with wire and a crystal. For this ornament on the card, I stamped a snowflake in white StazOn and then embossed with Iridescent Ice embossing powder. It really sparkles! For more ideas on what I have done with these glass tags, you can always click on the link and browse my Splitcoaststampers gallery anytime.

One more note of interest on this card is the Merry Christmas. It is hard to see without the close-up shot that I stamped the words twice. Once with black ink, second with gold Pearl Ex stamp pad, it really added a simple classy look to the card and carried some additional sparkle across the card from the ornament down. See my picture below:


I decided to try something new tonight that popped in my head a week or two ago. I have so much chipboard around here, I thought I could put it to good use for Christmas time. I had this scalloped square from Stampin' Up's Ginormous Pieces, So I took the same designer paper from above and cut it slightly larger than the square. I used ModPodge to glue it on. I took my Sizzix and, turned on the diagonal, punched out the letter B (Fun Serif font), and then took a craft knife and cut the paper close to the scallop edge. I sanded the edges of the scallop to clean up my cut marks. I punched a hole in the top corner with my Fiskar's hand held 1/8" punch. I took some shimmer white paper and used the same embossing folder as above to emboss it. I cut slightly larger than my square. I mounted the chipboard back to it, including the middle dots of the B. Added some taffeta ribbon, a Prima and an adhesive crystal. Voila, easy monogram Christmas ornament! The pictures are okay tonight, but I think these projects are really pretty in person!

I hope you enjoyed these projects, I'm hoping to have more to share very soon! A chapter in my life has ended today, as I left one full time job and I'm preparing to begin a new one on Monday, much closer to home and just a better situation all around. And so I reflect on a scripture that I specifically remember focusing on back in November from 2 Corinthians: "8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed." God has really blessed me. Thanks for visiting my blog today.