June 29, 2009

CardPatterns Sketch 21

I didn't have much time to make many cards this past weekend, but I did make one for Card Patterns Sketch 21. I ran out of time for their previous challenge, so I wanted to get an early start on this one. Here's the sketch:

And my card--nothing too fancy:
Thanks for looking!

June 27, 2009

2S4Y Kazan's Sketch 29

I can't believe I had time to make just one card this week. But the basement is almost completely cleaned out (finally!), and I did work on some sewing projects. There just isn't enough free time for all the fun stuff. I used Kazan's Sketch 29 from 2S4Y:


My card idea was one of those that was really nice in theory, but it didn't turn out exactly like I wanted it to.

While cleaning the basement, I found so many scraps of fabric, ribbon, and other stuff that I used some on my card. I've used the felt elephant before, but he's so cute I used him again. My good friend just had her second baby boy, so I think I'll send this card off to her. Thanks for looking!

June 21, 2009

Baby Blanket & Personalized Tote Bag

I'm just starting to get back into sewing since my little boy is now 2 & 1/2--just old enough to entertain himself while I'm happily sewing away on my machine set up at the kitchen table. It's been awhile since I've done any sewing for gifts. In my pre-child days, I had lots of time to devote to making lovely, handmade gifts (usually blankets and diaper bags) for my friends having babies. Now my sewing to-do list is much longer than I have time for. A very good friend of mine just had her second son, and I decided to make a blanket for the baby and a personalized tote bag and crayon roll for his new big brother. The fabric for both projects are from my huge stash, and most of the fabrics were remnants.


I have a really nice Bernina machine I splurged on about five years ago. I purchased a walking foot for it and apparently never used it correctly. I ended up being so frustrated with it that the walking foot went right back in the box where it remained for a few years. I starting the quilting on this blanket, and it looked TERRIBLE! I decided to give the walking foot another try (it certainly couldn't look any worse), and it worked perfectly. This was the most enjoyable blanket I have ever made. I quilted it with "wavy" seams (yes, it's crooked on purpose), and I think it turned out so cute. And big brother's tote bag:

The fabric has tools on it, so hopefully it's boyish enough. I still have to make the crayon roll. The first one didn't turn out as nicely as I'd hoped, so I gave that one to my son. He doesn't care if it isn't perfect!

June 20, 2009

365 Cards & Card Positioning Systems

I've got three more cards to show off--it was a very productive naptime today. For 365 Cards Day 109 - Color Scheme the challenge is to make a feminine card using these colors:

I also used CPS Card Sketch 20:

The patterned paper is some KI Memories I bought at least a year ago. I think it's supposed to be Thanksgiving paper, but it had all the colors I needed so I used it anyway.

For 365 Cards Day 111 - Say it with Stripes: "your challenge is to create a card with Bold Colors and Stripes." I used more of my favorite American Crafts papers to make this:


And finally for 365 Cards Day 112 - Everlasting Love: "Create a wedding card, and use the word "Love" in the sentiment."


I really like the way this one turned out. It's simple, but sometimes simple is nice. The metal "Love" is a clearance bargain from Michael's, and the patterned paper is Martha Stewart (also on clearance).

I may have time tonight to finish up my argyle card and complete the week of 365 Card challenges. On a side note, my 2&1/2 year old son is making Father's Day cards for Daddy and Papa. (He loves gluing scraps of patterned paper to cardstock to make his cards.) I had to laugh when he sat down, looked at his paper, and said "Now what?" I feel the same way sometimes. Thanks for looking!

June 19, 2009

365 Cards Day 107 & CardPatterns Sketch 19

For 365 Cards Day 107 - So Girly: "The word "Girl" must be somewhere on the card - and make the card very girly!" I also used CardPatterns Sketch 19 to make my card.


The patterned papers are from Making Memories Eliza pack. Thanks for looking!

June 17, 2009

365 Cards Day 108 & 2S4Y Sketch 28

I was excited to see the challenge at 365 Cards Day 108 - Oh Boy!: "let's see some cards that are all boy - make a masculine birthday card, but not for an adult." As a mom of a two-year-old boy, I appreciate cute little boy stuff. There's just not enough of it! I knew right away I wanted to use my favorite "little boy" patterned paper. I also used Laura's Sketch 28 from 2 Sketches 4 You:




I stamped the sentiment using words from 4 different stamps. I initially has a ribbon tied around the card, but it didn't look quite right. I decided to use a scrap piece of fabric instead (with some zig zag stitching), and I think the frayed edges fit with the rest of the card. It didn't turn out at all like what I had initially planned, but I love it! Thanks for looking!

June 15, 2009

365 Cards Day 106 & Use It! No. 14

I'm trying to get an early start on my card making this week. Here's the sketch for 365 Cards Day 106 - Super Sketchy Sunday:


I combined this challenge with Use It! Challenge No. 14:

1. Use pink!
(I used hot pink cardstock which I embossed, and there's pink in my fav American Craft patterned papers.)
...
2. Add scallops
(I cut some scallops with Fiskars scissors.)
...
3. Add a tag
(I love tags! I cut a little tag and stamped it with "happy birthday.")
...
4. Enjoy the creative process
as much as the finished card!

Thanks for looking!

June 13, 2009

365 Cards Day 101

For 365 Cards Day 101 - Fun with Food: Veggies the challenge: "It's as simple as it sounds, just create a card with a veggie (or two or three...) on it." I made a baby card with a pumpkin:

Thanks for looking!

June 11, 2009

365 Cards Day 102 & Card Patterns 18

I can't belive it's already Thursday, and this is the first card I've made this week. I've been doing a lot of sewing though, and hopefully I'll have pictures of those projects to share soon. I made a card for 365 Cards Day 102 - Challenge Combo. The mission: "Combine three 365 challenges - one from March, one from April, and one from May. The challenges you combine are up to you, as long as there is one from each month." I used March Challenge Day 9 - Just the Scraps (use scraps of three different papers), April Challenge Day 52 - Tuesday's Trio (brad, blossom, circle), and May Challenge Day 80 - You're so Plaid (use plaid). I also combined this with Card Patterns Sketch 18 using this sketch:

And my card:

I think it would look better with a larger circle in the middle, but this is the biggest circle die cut I have. I really dislike cutting circles free hand or with a template because I like them to be perfect, so this will have to do. Thanks for looking!

June 10, 2009

Etsy Front Page!

I am so excited one of my dad cards made the Etsy front page today! I didn't get to see it while it was actually on the front page, but there's a copy over on the side of my blog. I'm not smart enough to figure out how to get it in this blog post!

June 6, 2009

2 Sketches 4 You--Ultimate Card Showdown Card #2

I decided to make a second card for the 2S4Y Ultimate Card Showdown. It's so late that the picture isn't great:


I used my new DCWV Animal Crackers Matstack. I don't need any more paper, but I justified the purchase since it was 50% off and I'll use it to scrapbook all the cute zoo pictures of my son. The monkey is a Cuttlebug die cut.

Thanks for looking, and best of luck to everyone who entered!

365 Cards Days 95, 96 & 98

I have three more cards to share for 365 Cards challenges. I really thought I was going to finish the whole week of challenges, but there two days I am stumped on. For Day 95 - Wacky Colors Wednesday: "Let's try BLUE, PINK, and ORANGE - try to stick with those colors as much as possible (that's the challenge part)."

The patterned paper is from a huge DCWV slab I got from my MIL for Christmas a few years back. It was one of the best gifts ever. The colors in this piece were perfect for the challenge.

For Day 96 - Fun With Fabric: "Any piece of fabric will do, except for fabric ribbon, buttons, or flowers. Of course you can add those things to your card, but they won't count as the fabric." I was excited when I saw this challenge because I have a huge fabric stash as my other favorite hobby is sewing.
I love this piece of fabric I got at a supply swap from Mari who makes wonderful handmade bags. I stamped the "Happy Birthday" on white fabric and put a little batting under it, so it looks like a little pillow. I iron fusible interfacing to the back of my fabrics so it's as easy as working with paper.

And finally, for Day 98 - It's an Anniversary!: "My husband and I are celebrating 11 years of wedded bliss today, so I want to see anniversary cards....with a catch (of course). Make the dominant color white -- what!? Oh yes, it can be done - it just requires simplicity." So, Happy Anniversary to Pam and her husband.


Thanks for looking!

June 3, 2009

2 Sketches 4 You--Ultimate Card Showdown!

Well, the 2S4Y Ultimate Card Showdown is finally here! For Week 1, 30 finalists will be chosen by past and present 2S4Y Design Team members. There are already so many beautiful cards. I'm glad I don't have to judge! The challenge is to make a card based on Laura's Sketch:

So, when I should have been spending my child-free morning cleaning the basement, I got distracted and made my card. I really wanted to go out and buy paper just for this card, but I made myself use stuff from my stash. Because I do NOT need any more paper. (I have to keep telling myself that.) Here's my card:

Since we're allowed to enter as many times as we'd like, I might have to make another one. I like how it turned out except I wish I'd left the stitching off. But that's how it goes. :) Thanks for looking!

365 Cards & Card Patterns

For 365 Cards Day 92 - Super Sketchy Sunday, the challenge is to make a card based on this sketch:
I've been sorting and organizing all of my crafting supplies so we can finally have our basement finished. I'm finding all kinds of papers I didn't know I had anymore. I used three of them to make my card:


For 365 Cards Day 94 - Ad Inspired, the challenge is to make a card based on this ad:


I also used Card Patterns Sketch 17:

I love the colors in the ad and used that as inspiration for my card:


The green patterned papers are from a Martha Stewart pack. I certainly didn't need them but couldn't resist the clearance deal! Thanks for looking!