It's All About the BLUES ...

It's difficult during these winter months not to come down with a case of "the blues" but never fear ... Spring is right around the corner! Well, at least I am hanging on to that thought!! And if you can't PLAY OUTSIDE ... you may as well PLAY IN YOUR CRAFTROOM!!!


My creation today covers various challenges and a few of those challenges were looking for you to use the color "blue". The items used on this card are as follows:

Papers: Blue Bayou, SU Blue Bayou designer paper, Garden Green, Whisper White
Inks: Blue Bayou, Ranger Vintage Photo
Accessories: Image from The Lady's Closet, white paper doily, Basic Grey Opalite half pearls, Basic Grey pearled brad, JoAnn's Clear Iris String Pears, Prima flowers, Creative Memories corner rounder, distresser, sponge, Martha Stewart branch punch

And the challenges it covers are:

Simon Says Challenge Blog - Shabby Chic

Stamp Something - Blue & White

The Play Date Cafe (PDCC12) - Shades of Blue

Our Creative Corner - Blue & Green

Crazy 4 Challenge (C4C20) - Sketch

Stamp, Scrap & Doodle Saturday - Girly

WOW ... I think that's the most challenges I've ever put together on one card! You ladies who do this all the time must be "rubbing off " on me!! LOL!! Plus the fact that I'm suffering from bicep tendinitis/arthritis in both arms/shoulders right now and crafting/typing is a bit painful ... guess my brain said, "put them all together and get back to resting those shoulders"! So that's what I've done!

Hope you find inspiration from this creation and thanks so much for stopping by today! Have a great weekend everyone!!!

OCC & Stamp Something Challenges

This is my LAST posting for today ... sorry if I've overloaded you today! But I'm just having so much fun I couldn't stop myself, LOL!!

This creation is to satisfy two challenges. The Our Creative Corner Challenge - Monochromatic and the Stamp Something - your Favorite Layout/Sketch.

I purchased a Thomas Kinkade Christmas Series 8x8 pack last year from Cornish Heritage Farms and just never got around to using them. After viewing THIS creation on my friend Joanne's (Ambrosia & Iron) blog, I decided it was time to open the package and this image would be perfect for the layout I wanted to use and the monochromatic portion of the card fell right into place. The felt snowflakes and brads are by Creative Impressions and the satin ribbon is by Darice. The background paper is from the DCWV Old World pack and the sentiment is from the SU "A Cardinal Christmas" stamp set.

Thanks for stopping by today! I can only hope you find inspiration in my work ... Good Night!

CCEE Challenge & Our Creative Corner Challenge

I have a couple cards to share with you today! For this posting, my creation covers two challenges ... the sketch challenge offered over on the CCEE Stampers Blog and the Stars & Stripes offered over on the Our Creative Corner Challenge Blog.


Recipe:

Stamps: Great Impressions, Technique Tuesday (sentiment)
Papers: Sandylion designer paper, Whisper White, Real Red, Navy cs
Inks: Versafine black, Real Red, Kaleidocolor-spectrum
Accessories: Nestabilities (circles), Offray grosgrain red ribbon, Sponge, Prisma pencils, Stampendous diamond dots, dimensional tape



I can't believe that the Labor Day Weekend is nearly over! Is this year going fast for you too??? Or is it just me??? Either way ... I'm so glad you stopped by today ... I hope you had a WONDERFUL weekend!!!

OCC & SK082209 Challenges

This morning I have a couple cards to share with you. This card covers the requirements of two different challenges. This week's OCC Challenge was to use the new IN-Colors ... and the layout is for the Paper Craft Planet (PCP) sketch challenge (sk082209).

The IN-colors I chose to use are: Bermuda Bay, Rich Razzleberry & Melon Mambo. The designer paper is by Karen Foster and the inks I've used are Versafine Black and Bermuda Bay. The ribbon is also the new IN-color Bermuda Bay grosgrain. My images are Penny Black (flowers) and SU Heartfelt Thanks (sentiment).

This will be a sympathy card that will go into my stash that I hope I never need to use!! Thanks for stopping by today .. have a great one!!

OCC Challenge

Happy Saturday everyone!! It's again time for one of my favorite challenge blogs ... Our Creative Corner. Today's challenge is an inspirational challenge hosted by the August Hostess - Loretta Lock. With this comment: In rural communities, it’s almost time for harvest ... that is the path I followed for my creation.

My card is A-6 in size and I have used the H&M Beverly Cole stamp set called "Old Fashioned Hayride" and the GinaK stamp set called "Happy Harvest". The sunflower image is from the Crafty Secrets Garden Cotton Scraps and it has been distressed and matted with Chocolate Chip cs. Although you can't see it very well in the photo ... the background green paper is linen designer paper by Making Memories. My sentiment was stamped in Versafine Sepia and clear embossed then diecut with Nestabilities Label Four and sponged in old olive & pumpkin pie before removing from the die. The pumpkins were stamped onto pumpkin pie cs with versafine black ink and clear embossed before being cut out with my swivel craft knife.

I hope you enjoy this FALL creation. Isn't it hard to believe that the summer is nearly over???? Gosh, time is sure flying by!!! Have a great weekend everyone!!

Friendships ...

My card today covers two challenges ... the sketch is from Carol's Sketch Fun #11 and the color choice comes from the OCC Challenge this week to use Shades of Purple.

Before I tell you about my card, I have to make a shout out to my new found, fellow Ohioan friend Angie Cortes who created my new watermark ... isn't it awesome!!! She was even kind enough to link me up with the "how to's" in watermarking!!!
And I only think it's fair to tell you that I found Angie through another Ohioan friend, Crystal (thanks girlie!!). What do you think? Kool,
huh!!!

Okay ... onto my creation. This card certainly uses a variety of Shades of Purple. And the fact that purple is my favorite color ... I couldn't control myself!!! Hopefully, I didn't overdue it!! Here are the details of this card:

Stamps: Stampabilities, Rubber Stampede, Stampin' Up Friendship Flowers (inside verse)

Papers: Lovely Lilac, Basic Black, Whisper White, BoBunny designer paper, Musical Note dp (unknown)

Inks: Versafine black, Elegant eggplant

Accessories: Nestabilities (oval & scallop oval), stipple brush, dimensionals, Creative Memories round tip black marker, Darice and Stampin' Up ribbons

I've been making an attempt to COMPLETE my cards and show you the inside when possible. This should make my friend Linda Davis VERY happy ... she's always said that "not enough people show the inside as well as the outside of their creations". See Linda ... I listened to you!!! LOL!!!



Thanks for stopping by today. Don't forget to leave a comment on my Blogaversary posting to be eligible for the blog candy ... become a follower and have your name put in the hat twice ... mention it on your blog and your name goes in three times!!! Hope you're having a great weekend!!

OCC Challenge

This week's Our Creative Corner Challenge was to use Red, White & Blue in your creation. I'm late getting around to doing this challenge ... and with July 4th already gone ... I decided to use my R,W & B in a summery creation.

I thought this image from the Stampin' Up "Summer by the Sea" set would work nicely and I finally got around to using my Michael Strong Mosaic Frame image (of which I cut out the center part).

On a piece of dry white cardstock I cotton balled my background using tones of blue chalk for the sky area and tones of green for the grassy area. I then stamped my image using Versafine Black and embossed it using Detail Clear embossing powder. Stampin' Up watercolor pencils & blender pen were used to do the coloring.

I stamped my frame image onto dry white cardstock using Not Quite Navy ink then embossed using PKGlitz "Squash Blossom" embossing glitter. I used my swivel craft knife to cut out the center part of the framing image. One of the nice things about this image is that you can use it all or cut away those pieces you don't want and reuse them on a different project.

My sentiment was stamped in versafine black ink onto a piece of dry white cardstock which I cut using my Rectangle Nestabilities. I used the next size up to cut the real red matting and I popped it up using dimensional tape. The main image was matted using basic black cardstock, added two little red brads by Making Memories and mounted it all onto a real red cardstock base.

As a last minute thought, I ran outside and took a photo of the "inside" of this card. After stamping my Inkadinkado birthday sentiment image, I used the same technique of using blue & green chalk with a cotton ball to give it color. I colored in the words with a red Spica glitter pen and the bottom was created using the Martha Stewart Arch Trellis border punch.

I hope you enjoyed my creation! Thanks for stopping by today!!

A vintage Birthday Wish ...

My last post for today and I think it is my favorite! This creation is for the Our Creative Corner Challenge (OCCC) where we were to use border punches. Also, I have used the sketch provided for the Sketch Challenge over on Papercraft Planet (sk061309).

I found this image on the internet and thought it would fit perfectly for this sketch layout and the designer paper I wanted to use. Here is the recipe for this card:

Stamps: Inkadinkado

Papers: River Rock, Sage Shadow, Pretty in Pink, K&Co. designer paper

Ink: Versafine Black

Accessories: Prima flowers, Hero Arts gems, Martha Stewart Arch Lattice border punch, Martha Stewart branch punch, Michael's pink satin ribbon, Internet image

Thanks for stopping by my blog today. My dear sweet husband is doing pretty good but the c-diff infection just doesn't seem to want to go away. Seems he's going to be here for at least a few more days. So, it's time for me to leave the hospital and get a few things done at home while he takes a nap. Happy Day Everyone!!

Our Creative Corner Challenge

Before heading back to Cleveland Clinic to sit with DH ... I quickly checked out the OCC challenge for today and found that it was a sketch challenge. Yippee ... I should be able to make a quick card ... don't have to come up with the layout, LOL!!




So, now I am here at the Clinic ... card completed and ready to share with all of you!! Quick Update: Mark is handling the extensive chemo he is receiving quite well (thank God!) and we are one day closer to the transplant and good health. He is experiencing more nausea (to be expected) and the doctor was just in and has ordered something to help with that issue. I have a little surprise for him tomorrow since he has to spend Easter here and I will share it with you all a little later! Keep those good thoughts & Prayers coming ... they are certainly helping him get through this difficult time (me too!!).





Now, onto to my card. First I had to decide what I wanted to use for my "star" panel and chose Butterflies for my theme. By using my "Butterfly Kisses" stamp, I created my designer paper and sentiment panels. I chose to use Brocade Blue and Groovy Guava inks as well as a little sponging of Ranger Antique Linen around the edges. My actual butterfly designer paper is by PSX Paper Designs and was matted with Brocade Blue cs.





I used my circular Nestabilities to cut the Goovy Guava panel then ran it through the Cuttlebug using a Sizzix A2 embossing folder. The butterfly embellishment was stamped using Palette Noir Black ink onto Very Vanila cs then cut out using my swivel craft knife and colored using Gelly Roll Stardust Pens. The addition of dimensional tape helped to give my butterfly some added character. (click on close up for larger view)






Once finished with my design, I felt it was missing something and of course RIBBON was the answer. Can never go wrong with a touch of ribbon in your designs!!! LOL!!! And believe you me ... I have plenty to pick from!!



It felt good to work on a challenge card this morning even if it was a bit hurried! The sun is shining today and that certainly helps to lift one's spirits. I hope the sun is shining down on you where every you may be today!!! Have a wonderful day my friends!!!

OCC Sketch Challenge

Here is the card I made for this week's Our Creative Corner challenge which was a sketch challenge.

Sorry if this photo's not the best ... it was taken with my phone and imported to my new laptop which is NOT compatible with my camera (Canon G3 ... old technology).

My image is by Impression Obsession and I've used a premade A-6 ivory card, mauve cs, mellow moss, regal rose and DCWV dp. I used my new SU border punch to punch the corners of the designer paper. My image was colored with watercolor pencils and American Crafts pens. My ribbon is Offray and I decided to add a little sparkle with mauve Stickles at the corners and on my main image.

Here is another card I took the time to make today. I puchased a set of embossing folders by Sizzix at Archiver's yesterday and was curious how they would work in my Cuttlebug.

They worked just fine but you had to be careful because they are a little thicker plastic than the ones by Cuttlebug. Still ... I liked this pattern and it was on sale! My image is by Inkadinkado and it too was a recent purchase that I was anxious to put ink to!! I forgot to write down all the details of this card so if you have any questions, please let me know and I'll get you the answers.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!! Tomorrow started DH's extensive chemo prior to the transplant so we'll be at Cleveland Clinic each day this week. Please keep him in your prayers ... this is going to be a rough week!!

OCCC -Gift Card/Money Holders

Here are a few money holders and gift card holders I've made for our gift giving this year! (You can click on the image for a larger view).

This week's challenge over on the Our Creative Corner blog is to make a gift card holder so this fits right in. On their challenge blog they also offer up a really cute gift card holder template from their guest designer, Tori Wild.

The gift card holders I have made start out with a 4 1/2" x 11" piece of cardstock ... scored in thirds. I've used the SU word window punch and circular Nestabilities to make the pull slot. If you'd like specific instructions, please let me know and I can get them to you. These are fun because you can decorate just the front ... or the inside left ... or the inside right ... or ALL sides! Which ever you choose. The holder in the back was made for a guy and I've used the SU "Nature Silouettes" as the main image. The inside has additional "animal" images and I bet you can guess where the gift card is for!!!

We have several "tweeners" in our family right now so gift giving is more difficult than when they were "little ones"!

The easy way out for us this year is to give them money ... of course, I'm sure they will ALL love having the money to put towards whatever electronic device they feel they HAVE TO HAVE this year, LOL!! The paper dimension is 6 1/2" x 8 1/4" ... scored in thirds. I've rounded the corners of the outer flap and the inside has an oval cut in the lower panel which when folded up to hold the money, you can see "which President" is looking back at you! The image on the front is by Impression Obsession and I've used Prisma pencils for the coloring. What a quick & easy way to dress up any President!

Thanks for stopping by and taking a look! Hope you are all having a wonderful day!

Papercraft Planet & OCC Challenges

Here is a card I did for a couple of challenges over on the Papercraft Planet. I found the sketch challenge to be intriguing and the colors for the color challenge (put on by the Treehouse Stamps - Ashley Bowen group) are some of my favorites.

Have you checked out the Papercraft Planet yet? I am still loving everything going on over on Splitcoaststampers, but am also enjoying some of the additional freedoms and styles of this new site. Check it out!! I'm sure you'll see some familiar faces ... at least one - mine. HaHaHa!!

This card is 5-1/2" square and the base card is Old Olive. The second panel is 5-1/4" and cut from Very Vanilla. I sponged around the edges using old olive. The designer paper used for the third panel is by Making Memories (snowflake Falala) which I purchased from my friend Tammy Hershberger at Toyrifix and the main image is by Stampendous. The snowflakes are by Creative Impressions and I inked them with old olive & certainly celery. I used a little diamond Stickles for a touch of sparkle and distressed the edges of the main panel before matting it with old olive.

This was a fun card and really liked the combination of colors and layout! What are your thoughts?? As always, thanks for stopping by and hope to see you again soon!!

My friend Tammy (mentioned above) also clued me in that this card fits the OCC challenge for this week Silouettes. I had this challenge printed out to work on but forgot what the topic was!! (memory isn't what it used to be, LOL!) Thanks Tammy!! This is another fun challenge ... when you get a chance, please check it out!!