March 31, 2009

365 Cards Day 29 & 31 -- Finishing March

I finished up the last two cards for March, and I think I completed the whole month. I hope I didn't miss any! For Day 29 - Super Sketchy Sunday, I made this card:

I do not like the way this card turned out. I couldn't get the circles to work, the stamping is terrible, and I couldn't figure out what to use for the little circle embellishments. They are blobs of Stickles in case you can't tell. I would normally never have posted this card, but I had to finish the March challenges.

I love the way my card turned out for Day 31 - I'm Rounding the Corner:
My corner rounder is one of my favorite tools, so I really enjoyed making this card. Thanks for looking!

March 30, 2009

365 Cards Day 30 & Use It! Challenge 4

I made a card combining two challenges today. For 365 Cards Day 30 - Don't Bug Me, I'm Scrapping, we had to make a ladybug inspired card. I've been wanting to play along over at Use It!, which is a newer challenge blog to help you use up all those supplies you already have. I made this adorable (in my opinion) ladybug baby card:

For Use It!, the challenge was to use scraps of any kind (I used cardstock and paper scraps), punches and/or diecuts (my ladybug is made entirely of diecuts and a hole punch), two or more different ribbons (baby girl ribbon and brown grosgrain ribbon), and one or more embellishment that you used to use a lot but haven't used in a long time (the paperclips--it took me forever to find them!). Thanks for looking!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Making Memories and various scraps
Patterned Paper: gcd studios
Stamp & Ink: Vap! Scrap sentiment in StazOn Timber Brown
Diecuts: Sizzix circles and Sizzlet script alphabet
Miscellaneous: American Crafts and Michael's ribbon, paper clips

March 28, 2009

2S4Y Laura's Sketch 22

Even though I spent way too much time making cards yesterday and today, I had to make a card for Laura's Sketch 22. I used leftover paper from my last 365 Cards challenge.


I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm tired of crafting and blogging so I think I'm going to call it a day. I have my Omaha Etsy craft night tonight, and we're altering shoes, so hopefully I'll be recharged by then. Thanks for looking!

365 Cards Day 28 - Scraplift Yourself

Since I'm not a scrapbooker (and I've tried), I found a layout to scraplift. I found lots of inspiration at the Archiver's website and decided to use this layout. (If you click on the link it will take you to the page. I figured I'd better not post the photo.) I was immediately drawn to the colors, the buttons, the offset pieces, and the little strips of cardstock because I have a whole basket of little strips of cardstock that I know can be used for something. I made this card:


It wasn't as easy as I thought it would be, but it never is. I had trouble finding patterned papers in my stash I liked, and then I didn't have any buttons that matched so I used some brads. Trying to find the right sizes of paper was troublesome at first, but it's a great way to use up scraps. Thanks for looking!

March 27, 2009

365 Cards Day 27/Caardvarks Sketch Challenge

I got one more card made today that works for both 365 Cards Day 27 - Touchy Feely Friday and the Caardvarks sketch challenge. Here's my texture-filled card based on the Caardvarks sketch:


I used textured navy blue cardstock for the card and corrugated cardstock. I scored the ivory cardstock with my Scor-it and used some Tim Holtz vintage photo distress ink to emphasize the scoring. The star is a Sizzix die cut that I painted, sanded, and distress the edges. My final bit of texture is the piece of ticking fabric. Thanks for looking!

365 Cards Day 25 & 26

My husband took my son to visit Nana today, so I had a little time to catch up on card challenges. The challenge for 365 Cards Day 25 - Ad Inspired was to make a card based on this ad chosen by Kristie:


I was immediately drawn to the colors and floral pattern, but I love just about anything that has green in it. Here's my card:


I used by Cuttlebug to emboss the cardstock and used a little white paint to emphasize the embossing.

For Day 26, the challenge was to use colors we normally don't. I surveyed my cardstock and paper stash and found a lot of unused gray and yellow from my paper packs, so I made this card--


It reminds me of the circus. I printed "happy birthday" on the inside and will be mailing this one off to my good friend tomorrow. Thanks for looking!

March 25, 2009

365 Card Day 24 - Setting the Scene

So the challenge was to make a card with a nature scene. Nothing I had in mind was working out, so I went a little more abstract and made this nature-inspired card:


Kind of looks like a swarm of butterflies fluttering through the trees. I also cheated because this is a remake of a card I made awhile back (just with a different patterned paper and sentiment). I always want to remake cards I really like but never do because there are so many new cards to make. The sentiment stamp is one I had in my stash but had never used. I felt it was fitting for this card, though. Thanks for looking!

365 Cards Day 22 & 23

I'm having a creative block this week where nothing is coming together like I envision it. Oh, well. It was bound to happen eventually. Here's my card for Day 22 - Super Sketchy Sunday--

The color combination was inspired by the skirt I'm making myself for Easter. I cut the little flowers from some pink fabric using a Sizzix die and put some Stickles in the middle. Kind of plain.

And my card for Day 23 - Crossword Connection--

I stamped the background repeatedly with a "forever" stamp. The crossword is attached with foam squares, so it has a little dimension. It's simple, but a good masuline card. I'll save this one for my husband--maybe for our anniversary. Thanks for looking!

March 21, 2009

365 Cards--Catching Up on Week #3

I had to work today, so I was limited on time to catch up on this week's challenges. After getting home, playing with my son, reading a lot of books, bathtime, and eating dinner, I took a little time to make the last two cards. Here's my card for Day 20 - Inside Out--



I used a star punch to make the little see-through border on the bottom. I love that the card looks kind of plain from the outside but kind of fancy on the inside.

I also whipped up a card for Day #21 - Sing Along Saturday. I also really like the song "Stand by Me" and feel like this card reflects that theme--

I made the stamp at one of my Omaha Etsy team meetings last year. I haven't used it since I made it, but I thought the tree image was fitting for the sentiment which I printed using my computer. It's clean and simple, but it would be a great card to show somebody your support. Thanks for looking!

March 19, 2009

2S4Y Kazan's Sketch 22

It took me several tries to complete my card for Kazan's Sketch over at 2S4Y. I finally decided that clean and simple was what worked for this Father's Day card for my dad--

I used my computer and printer to make the sentiment. It was something I saw on a picture frame at Hallmark a few years ago. The original wording had "Grandpa," but my dad is a "Papa" so I used that instead. I think he'll like it.

This week, we were also invited to share a card our child(ren) made. Logan and I sat down on Tuesday morning so he could make this card for Daddy's birthday next month--

Pretty good for a two year old considering I didn't help him that much (except for the cutting and applying the glue). He first colored the card (front, back, AND on the inside). He then picked out the paper pieces and die cuts he wanted to use from my scrap box. I put on the glue, and he showed me where to place them. His favorite part was the glitter glue. We had a lot of fun, and I look forward to many future art projects. Thanks for looking!

More 365 Cards

I finished up a couple more cards for this week's challenges at 365 Cards. For Day 18 - Going Green I made a Father's Day card. I love that I am using these challenges to plan ahead this year. A Father's Day card done in March--unheard of for me! I cheated a little and used a few other colors besides green, but I love the result. It's still mostly green, right?


For Day 19 - Keep it to Yourself, I made this birthday card.

It's supposed to be a party hat. It kind of looks like a party hat, doesn't it? Now off to do some tidying up before my hubby gets home. I have to make it look like I got something done on my day off. :)

March 17, 2009

365 Cards Days 16 & 17

I made two cards today for the challenges over at 365 Cards. Here's my sunshine-themed card for Day 16 - Imagine This--

We have had a lot of sunshine-filled days recently, although it's been bitterly cold up until a few days ago. I love the beautiful blue skies, and I tried to capture that with my card.

And my card for Day 17 - Buttons and Bows. You can barely see the 3 buttons since they're covered by my 3 bows, but they are there!

Kind of simple, but cute. Thanks for looking!

March 15, 2009

365 Cards Day #15--Super Sketchy Sunday

I'm off to a good start this week with my card for Super Sketchy Sunday--

One great thing about all of these challenges is I'm getting quicker at making nice, good-quality cards (at least they're nice in my opinion). I check in at 365 Cards first thing in the morning, think about the challenge while I'm going out my day, then try to crank out a card before the day is over. Thanks for looking!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Making Memories, ivory linen from http://paperandmore.com
PP: K & Company
Stamp/Ink: studio g letter stamps (sentiment), Stampabilities script stamp (on ribbon), StazOn Timber Brown ink
Other: wired ribbon, buttons

March 14, 2009

365 Cards Day #14--DIY

Here's my card with my DIY flower embellishment made out of paper.


I used that paper twist stuff to make my flower. I cut one edge of the paper with scallop scissors then gathered and glued it to the card. It looks more like a county fair blue ribbon than it does a flower. It's a good thing my mom thinks every card I make is beautiful. :)

I completed the whole week of challenges, so I'm pretty proud of myself. I have so many sewing projects lined up now that it may be awhile before I complete another full week.

March 13, 2009

365 Cards--3 More Cards for Week #2

I'm all caught up for the week (I think), and if I can make a card for tomorrow's challenge I'll have completed a full week of challenges. I know there is no way I can keep this up. I only had to work three days this week, and I barely got my cards done! I'm so happy, though, because I have made SO many cards in the past two weeks. I really need to find a good way to organize them (like a cute card box) because they're really starting to pile up! Anyway, on to my cards.

Day #10--Picture This

I think the card is really plain, but I suppose you don't want a really jazzy sympathy card. The beautiful photo is from Stacy M. Smith. She was kind enough to send me several photos last summer, and I was supposed to try incorporating them into my cards. I make holiday photo cards with pictures of my son all the time, but this was a bit of a challenge for me.

Day #12--Thursday's Theme

My moving card can be used for somebody who is moving away or just "moving on" to bigger and better things. I have students who work for me, so this would be a great thank you/congratulations/best wishes type card when they graduate. I used my new K & Company papers, Making Memories brads, machine stitching, and a computer-generated sentiment.

Day #13--Festive Friday

I also think this card is kind of plain, but I guess it's a good masculine or kid's card. I used textured red cardstock, ProvoCraft paper, a candle stamp colored with chalk and Stickles, and a "wish" stamp. Thanks for looking!

March 12, 2009

365 Cards Day #9--Just the Scraps

I never have a shortage of scraps and save every last bit of paper because I know it can be used for something. Here's my card for the scraps challenge--


This paper (maybe K & Company?) is what is leftover from a disasterous attempt at covering a cigar box at my last Omaha Etsy team meeting. At least this card turned out better than my box. :)

2S4Y Laura's Sketch 21

I don't normally make Easter cards, but after brainstorming about Laura's sketch for this week's 2S4Y challenge, I came up with this cute little card--


I had purchased a stamp with this sentiment, but it was too large for the card so I printed this using my computer and fancy printer. Now that I have a nice printer, I shouldn't be buying anymore sentiment stamps. I don't have that much willpower, though. I got the cute little bunny stamp from the $1 bin at Michael's. Now I just need to find a cute picture of my son to go inside and make more for the grandparents and great-grandparents. Thanks for looking!

Supplies: Making Memories and Hobby Lobby cardstock, KI Memories brown polka dot paper, the Paper Studio blue polka dot paper, studio G bunny stamp, buttons & machine stitching

March 11, 2009

365 Cards Day #11--Giving it all You've Got!

The 365 Cards challenge today is to use at least 5 patterned papers and 5 embellishments. Here's my card--

The papers (MME "Magnolia" slab) are all scraps, which is a bonus. Even the stamped sentiment (Wordsworth by Rubber Soul) is a leftover I found in my scrap pile. For my embellishments I used three ribbons, three buttons, and machine stitching. Thanks for looking!

Caardvarks Critter Caards

Here's my Critter Caard for the current Caardvarks challenge. I used a little bird stamp I've had forever but had never used--

My husband gave me an awesome printer for Christmas, so I was able to print a sentiment on the inside of the card--


Thanks for looking!
Supplies:
Cardstock: ivory linen from http://paperandmore.com/
Paper: K & Company "Roam" paper pad ($4.99 clearance @ Michael's!)
Stamp/Ink: Kolette Hall bird stamp colored with chalk, stamped in StazOn Timber Brown, Tim Holtz vintage photo distress ink
Tools: Fiskars Seagull scissors and hole punch to make the scallop border
Other: ribbon

March 8, 2009

365 Cards--Catching Up on Week #1

I finally finished up the last two cards for week #1, so now I'm all caught up. Here's my card for Day #6 Flashy Friday--


I never use much bling, so this is about as flashy as I get. It's really cloudy today, so the picture isn't great and doesn't really catch all the sparkle. I used a silver Archiver's flat card, some sparkly silver ribbon, and a Sizzix die cut heart with purple Stickles. I embossed the heart with the Cuttlebug swiss dots folder to give me a template for where to put the Stickles. The sentiment is Kolette Hall stamped in purple ink.

Here's my circle card for Day #7 Shape Up--

I used Making Memories cardstock and K & Company paper that I stamped with a Stampabilities script stamp. For the circle, I used a coaster I bought at Michael's a long time ago. (It's amazing what you find when you start cleaning and organizing.) I tied the coaster with some twine. The sentiment is Kolette Hall, and I hightlighed the letters and flower with Stickles (hard to tell in the photo). Thanks for looking!

365 Cards Day #8--Super Sketchy Sunday

I'm off to a good start this week as I've already made my card for 365 Cards Day #8 sketch. The sketch was designed by Kazan Clark, and I'm a huge fan of her work. I try to participate in all the weekly sketch challenges at her and Laura Davis' blog, 2 Sketches 4 You. Without further ado, here's my card--

The inspiration for this card (besides Kazan's awesome sketch) is a coaster from the $1 spot at Target. I bought some awhile ago to craft with, and they resurfaced in my craft space today when I was looking for something else. I also did some stitching on the inside of the card--

Thanks for looking!

Supplies:
Cardstock: ???
PP: ProvoCraft (green) and the Paper Studio (blue)
Sticker: JoAnn Craft Essentials
Other: ribbon, machine stitching

March 7, 2009

365 Cards--3 More Cards

I'm working frantically during naptime to make as many cards as I can. Here's three more cards for this week's challenges. I made this card for my mom for Mother's Day. It's based on the sketch for Day #1--

Here is my card for Day #4's ad-inspired challenge. I used the ad Kristie chose to make this card--

I also made a thank you card for the Day #5 challenge. This should have been easy, but I always try to make things more difficult than they should be! Here's what I finally ended up with which is a repeat of a design I have made several times before--

I'm going to attempt to finish the other two cards tonight, but it may not happen. I'm pretty pleased with my progress this week and the cards I've made. I don't know if I can keep this up for 51 more weeks, though!

2S4Y Kazan's Sketch 21

I was so busy with all the challenges over at 365 Cards this week, that I didn't know if I'd get a chance to make a card for Kazan's sketch. I think all the extra time thinking about her sketch helped my card come together pretty quickly when I finally got around to it.

It wasn't until after my card was complete that I realized there isn't any red in my patterned paper--it's orange. So it doesn't really coordinate too well with the red felt balloon, cardstock, or sentiment. I guess that's one of the downfalls of working in a poorly-lit basement!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Making Memories, scraps from other projects
PP: American Crafts
Sentiment: computer-generated
Other: glitter felt, ribbon, wire, Sizzix balloon die cut

March 5, 2009

365 Cards Day #2--Less is More

The challenge is to make a card with no more than two embellishments. I used one embellishment (twine) to make this Father's Day card for my grandpa--

I think it's easier to use fewer embellishments on masculine cards. Thanks for looking!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Making Memories
PP: Provo Craft Sizzix paper pad
Stamp/Ink: Stampabilities stamp with StazOn jet black ink
Other: twine, gray paint

March 3, 2009

365 Cards Day #3--Button/Bow/Ribbon Trio

365 Cards is in full swing and already to day #3. The thing I love about this card blog is that there will be variety in the challenges. All I've been doing lately is sketch challenges, so it will be nice to try something else. Here's my card for the trio challenge using a button, bow, and ribbon--This card went together pretty quickly, and I love how it turned out. I think I'll make a few more just like it for all my March birthdays.


Supplies:
Cardstock: Making Memories (yellow and navy blue), Paper Relfections (corrugated burgundy)
Stamp/Ink: Kolette Hall stamp, Marvy prussian blue brush marker, Tim Holtz vintage photo distress ink
Other: Offray ribbon, green button from my stash, twine, machine stitching

Caardvarks Kraft Challenge

My card for the Caardvarks Kraft challenge--

I used Paper Reflections kraft cardstock and ivory linen cardstock stamped with Stampabilities script stamp. I cut the flower petals from kraft cardstock, painted them, and embossed them using the Cuttlebug swiss dots embossing folder. The center of the flower is a Sizzix die cut circle also painted, embossed, and tied with some twine. The sentiment is Kolette Hall with a Making Memories brad. I finished off with some Tim Holtz distress ink in vintage photo and some machine stitching. I also stitched on the inside of the card--

Thanks for looking!

March 1, 2009

Cuttlebug Be Inspired #20--Sketch Challenge

I made a card for the Cuttlebug sketch challenge featuring a sketch by Valeria Salmon. It took me forever to finish because I had a two-year-old "helper" who wasn't so helpful.


My Omaha Etsy team held is monthly meeting last night. We all brought crafting supplies we didn't want anymore and had a swap. I got some of the most beautiful scraps of fabric from Mari. The fabric scrap I used on this card provided the inspiration for the color scheme. Thanks for looking!

Supplies:
Cardstock: light orange-Archiver's, brown-Making Memories, teal-painted cardboard, not sure on the darker orange
Embossing Folders: floral screen and floral fantasy (for the leaves)
Stamps/Ink: studio g letter stamps for sentiment in StazOn teal ink, Tim Holtz distress ink in vintage photo
Other: fabric, raffia, silk flowers, brad and eyelet are Making Memories