Joyous Garden card -->> for Happy St. Patty's? Sure, why not?

So I've already mentioned about the stamp rental thing I'm doing through Raisin Boat...I so loved the two stamp sets that I got from them last month that I bought them! Now I'm on my next two sets, and the first one I tried, Joyous Garden, made me completely gaga. I'll be buying this set too, for certain! (Wait, wasn't I supposed to be saving money through this deal? Yikes, don't tell my husband! ;)

Anyway, I wanted a super simple card, just the stamped image and sentiment with a tiny bit of embellishment. I stamped the image and then colored it with watercolor pencils and then simply dabbed at the colored pencil with a water brush. The results? I'm smitten! I'm completely in love with this kind of hand drawn set. And my watercolor pencils that have been gathering dust? In love with those again too!

As of recently, I have been following the Create blog (Northridge Publishing's CARDS & Scrapbook Trends) and wanting to participate in one of their challenges. This week's was "St. Patrick's Day cards". Since I don't normally celebrate St. Patty's day much, (and I don't own a single stamp that says Happy St. Patrick's day, plus who would I give that card to?)...I just made today's little card all in green and thought that the sentiment sounded kind of like an "Irish Blessing". Will it pass for an SPD card? Sure, why not? ;)



Supplies used:

Cardstock: greens from Stampin' Up (not sure which ones)
Patterned Paper: none
Stamp Set(s): Joyous Garden (Raisin Boat)
Ink: Black (CTMH)
Embellishments: grograin & organza ribbon (CTMH)
Tools: Score tool (Martha Stewart)

Make It Monday #5: Distressing Edges

I was inspired by Lisa Johnson's simple, yet lovely card that she made for the Make It Monday video. I'm always challenged when it comes to making simple cards that I end up liking. I decided to try and keep this card simple.

However, I had to use Guidelines, because it's a set I've had for awhile now and have never used. I tried it out, and boy do I love this little background making set! Such a fun (and relatively easy to create) result! I borrowed a bright color combo that Dawn listed as her favorite for the color combo challenge during PTI's anniversary week. I love these bright colors! Unfortunately, they're terribly tough to photograph for a non-professional like me, so I'm afraid the picture doesn't do the fun colors their proper justice.

I also had to try to photograph the punched border on the bottom with the bright turquoise peeking through..another bit of a challenge. In addition, the distressed edges of my frames are a bit hard to make out due to the limitations of my camera. SOMEDAY...I will have a better photo-taking studio situation! ;) For now, this will have to do! :)



Supplies used:

Cardstock: Raspberry Fizz (PTI); Tempting Turquoise? (SU); red (scrap)
Patterned Paper: none
Stamp Set(s): Guidelines, Birthday Bash Sentiments, Vintage Labels (PTI)
Ink: Chocolate, Black (CTMH); Dark Chocolate (PTI); Dark Brown chalk ink (Colorbox)
Embellishments:
Tools: Labels One dies (Spellbinders); Open scallop border punch (SU); Chizzel-it tool (for distressing) (Provo Craft)

Mojo Monday 181

For Mojo Monday this week, I thought I'd pull out some of my sadly neglected Verve stamps! I thought it appropriate, since it is Verve that sponsors the Mojo Monday sketches... :) I just have too many wonderful stamps and never enough time to use them all! (same thing with papers)...

Speaking of papers, I finally was able to use some papers that I bought ages ago and have been holding onto for probably close to a decade...and they're still totally cute! They have survived numerous purgings of paper crafting supplies, because every time I looked at them, I thought, "I still think these are simply fabulous." And today I finally used them. They are from Creative Imaginations, and I just love the coffee theme. (as I love coffee!)

I loved the sketch this week:


Sometimes sketches come together easily and others I struggle with. But for some reason, this one just worked for me.

Et voilà my card! (I wish I were a better photographer, as I did the best I could, but the picture is still just not quite right...the colors look so much better in real life!) I think I'll send it to a fellow coffee-loving friend whom I haven't seen in awhile. We need to be reminded of the important things in life!



Supplies used:

Cardstock: red (not sure which red) (SU)
Patterned Paper: Pink Java, Java Beans, Mocha Stripes & Latte Dots (Creative Imaginations); copper shimmer (?)
Stamp Set(s): Delightful & Delicious (Verve)
Ink: Chocolate (CTMH); Dark Chocolate (PTI); Tea Dye Distress ink (Ranger)
Embellishments: Mocha Pearls (CTMH)
Tools: Abstract Flower & Postage Stamp border punches (EK Success); Labels 9 dies (Spellbinders); Leafy punch (Martha Stewart)

H2H Challenge Times 3

So H2H gives the challenge to stamp three of something to make a "scene". I've realized lately that I am not particularly good at this...but there is another purple stamp set I wanted to use called Kindred Spirits. This one goes way back; not sure if anyone will even remember this one, but it falls exactly into the same category as the set I mentioned in my last post, the "oooh, super cute, MUST HAVE" then buy and never use category.

But, I'm always up for a challenge, and every day is a chance to learn something new, stretch my creativity, and even failures in the craft room help me to learn, so I pulled out this set and attempted THE SCENE. In case you CTMHers out there have forgotten what this set looks like (it's long retired, as it was some sort of special hostess promotion LONG ago), here it is:



I had quite the challenge with this one! However, I wanted a card that I could give to my daughter as a lunchbox note, and I liked the kind of "elementary" feel that this has to it in its finished form. My daughter loves to draw & color, and this finished card really makes me think of her, so I'm happy with it ultimately.

Again, WAY too time consuming. Oh, I also pulled out and dusted off my CTMH colored pencils for this one...that was kind of fun! I had forgotten how coloring with pencils allows you to go over outlines nicely without the danger of covering up the design too much.

Anyway, I know this scene is not to scale or anything, but I hope my daughter will like it. I know it will brighten her lunchbox & her day.



Supplies used:

Cardstock: Spring Rain (PTI), White Daisy (CTMH); So Saffron (?) (SU)
Patterned Paper: none
Stamp Set(s): Kindred Spirits (CTMH)
Ink: Clover Meadow, Topiary, Smoothie, Spring Iris, Hydrangea, Chocolate, Sunflower, Bamboo (CTMH); blue & green chalk ink (Colorbox); Colored Pencils (all CTMH)
Embellishments:none
Tools: scissors (CTMH)

Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge #37

This week's WMS sketch challenge was very basic, so the challenge is, what will I do with it to "dress it up"?...well, I'm still on the kick to use stamp sets in my stash that I've never used before, for the purpose of determining whether I want to keep them or put them in the "purge" pile. Next up in my list of these kind of stamp sets - I call them the "purple" sets because I keep a stamp set inventory (I know, I'm a nerd) and the ones that are up for potential sale get marked in purple - is a CTMH set I've had for ages called Around the Block. It is one of those sets that you first see and go "Ooooh, super cute!" But then you buy it and are never quite sure what to do with it. Here's a picture of it:



So I decided to base my card on the use of this set. I must say that although I had fun putting this together and I like the way it turned out, this stamp set falls into my "cute, but WAY too time consuming to use" category...this card took me a couple of hours to put together because of all the piecing, coloring, cutting of teeny details and assembling in many layers. I suppose a more creative person would find a way to use it more simply, but I just look at all those little parts of the house and my brain goes crazy with the possibility that lies in the details! The verdict: sell. I will keep saying to myself, "I will not be a hoarder, I will not be a hoarder..." ;-)

Well, here's the WMS sketch from this week:



And here's my little house card. Fun stuff. A time luxury.


Supplies used:

Cardstock: Chocolate Chip (SU)
Patterned Paper: all from Berry Bliss Designer Series Paper (SU)
Stamp Set(s): Around the Block (CTMH); Frames & Messages (Hero Arts)
Ink: Chocolate, Vineyard Berry, Cocoa, Black, Grey Wool; coordinating markers from CTMH & SU; Colorbox brown chalk ink
Embellishments: none!
Tools: Scissors (Tim Holtz & CTMH)

Friends are Treasures

These days, when I walk into my craft room, I feel overwhelmed. I love all of my goodies, but when one has so many, one often doesn't know where to begin. Since I'm always on the lookout for items that I can "recycle" that I'm no longer using, I've decided that one of my taking off points will be stamp sets that I haven't used in a long time (or ever used!) Not only do I want to ink up ones that have been neglected for far too long, but I also find it both inspiring and challenging to be creative with a given product, rather than using a sketch to start and finding products to work with that sketch. Plus I can then determine if a given stamp set or other product is one that can be added to the "sell" pile, to make room for new stuff.

With that in mind, the cards I made today were using stamp sets from my Close To My Heart library that I haven't used in quite awhile. I pulled them out and got to work! I found that there were a couple that I still like and will continue to use, and one I could part with.

I also have been thinking about my old friends lately, the ones in California that I don't see much anymore but whose friendship I will always greatly appreciate, and decided I needed to make some friend cards today! The following two cards are the result of all my musings & strategizing. :)

This set uses the CTMH set Treasures. I had an inspiration photo and I wanted a large stamp for the bottom corner. I went through my stamp catalog and realized that I don't have very many large medallion-sized stamps (must shop NOW! ;) But I found this set, so I pulled it out with its large dandelion and swirly sentiments.


This set uses another older CTMH set, Endless Love, that still tickles my fancy. I have always been drawn to border stamps but when it comes time to use them, I'm not sure exactly how. Since I have tons of them, I've decided to pull them out more often and challenge myself to use them in new & creative ways. I like the way this border + large corner stamp turned out. This stamp set will remain in my arsenal! :) I also pulled out another cute frame & sentiment set called True Friends. I've loved this one since day one with its distressed looking frames and friend-oriented sentiments. Can't part with this one yet either!


Supplies used:

Dandelion card:
Cardstock: White pre-made 5x7 base (Current)
Patterned Paper: Making Memories Je T'Adore
Stamp Set(s): Treasures
Ink: Hollyhock, Black (CTMH)
Embellishments: Glitter buttons (Oriental Trading); Sparkles (CTMH); embroidery floss

Endless love card:
Cardstock: White pre-made 5x7 base (Current)
Patterned Paper: Making Memories Je T'Adore
Stamp Set(s): Endless Love, True Friends
Ink: Smoothie, Blush (CTMH)
Embellishments: Paper flowers (OT); Epoxy brad from Two Scoops collection (Basic Grey)

Guilty Pleasures -->> just for fun! ;)

I didn't have any particular challenge to post to today, but I still have this wonderful stamp set that I'm in love with called "Guilty Pleasures". So I made a few more cards with it.

I decided to keep this set (rather than return it, as it was a rental from Raisin Boat), so I'm sure I'll have more cards in the future with it.

I made the square card first and had some paper left over so I decided to try my hand at making a *gasp* one layer card...something I'm not terribly good at, but would love to get better! I'm pretty happy with the way all these turned out. I'm learning that not every card has to be a masterpiece to be worth making. Even simple cards can be fun & rewarding.

I have a good friend who is a bit under the weather this week and with whom I like to share a good cup of coffee...when I made the coffee cup card I thought of her and so it will be in the mail tomorrow! (The inside reads "feel better soon.") This is what I love about card making...in a short period of time you can have a sweet little handmade piece of art to share with others & hopefully bless their day.

If you're looking at these I hope they bless your day a little bit too! :)









Supplies used:

Cardstock: Summer Sunrise, Berry Sorbet (PTI)
Patterned Paper: striped flourish & cupcake papers from the Sweet Collection paper pad by DCWV; pink glitter flourish paper by Kay & Co; brown heart paper from Basic Grey Bittersweet
Stamp Set(s): Guilty Pleasures (Raisin Boat); Warm Happiness (PTI)
Ink: Dark Chocolate (PTI); Watermelon (CTMH); assorted markers by SU & CTMH
Embellishments: Pink Rox (Queen & Co)
Tools: just a paper trimmer & Tim Holtz scissors today... pretty simple!