Friday, October 1, 2010

Oh my - how did it get to be October already. I guess it is time to go on leaf watch and hope my oak trees drop their leaves soon so I can get them raked - of course - that is a neighborhood fun time - all the kids come over and rake so they can play in the piles - they also love to use the leaf blower. I do enjoy that time with the kiddos.

The card I am sharing today is based off the sketch from 2 Sketches 4 You - thank you for encouraging me to use the die cuts I bought (Tim Holtz alterations). I love how the card turned out - I think I may make some more for holiday cards. It was actually very easy. The pleating of the ribbon took the longest - I just handstitched it together and I love that little row of stitches on top. The tutorial on the Operation Write Home card blog was hand stitching so will put my card over there also.

Everyone have a wonderful day - we have a cold front coming in for the week end so I think it will be time to do some baking and make a pot of soup or chili. I did buy a new soup cookbook - I just need to get it back from a co worker. I have leeks in the refrig I need to use and the neighbors need to get their annual offering of apple cake.

Card Details:

Size: 4.25 x 5.5

Patterned Paper: Basic Grey

Kraft cardstock: Hobby Lobby

Stamp: Tim Holtz - Stampers Anonymous

Ink: Colorbox Chalk Ink - Chestnut Roan

Ribbon and button from my supplies

Twine: May Arts

Die Cut: Tim Holtz Alterations by Sizzix

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Good Thursday evening - hope your day was good. Mine went very fast at work today - playing catch up from vacation is hard. Sometimes you wonder why you go on vacation.

Last night I did get a chance to play with some paper. I so wanted to sew on this card but my sewing machine has an issue - it is a computerized machine - so I am afraid to even think of what it might cost - I guess I will call the vendor with the message and see if they can tell me anything - it may be cheaper to just buy an inexpensive machine for my card making and keep it in the basement where I make my cards. I actually ended up doing hand sewing on this card. I wanted the lace on both sides and so had to baste it onto my strip of tea dyed muslin.

To make my tea dyed muslin, I just tear narrow strips of unbleached muslin, brew up some tea - two tea bags to about a cup of water, let it steep for awhile, and then just place my strips in the tea. I let them sit in the tea for awhile and then I will rinse them, wring them out and let them dry. They end up with such a nice color and I love the look on cards. I also tea dyed my lace.

This card was going to be a baby boy card but as it evolved and I kept adding things - it is now a baby girl card - luckily I know a couple baby girls who are going to be born this year. But - I still need that baby boy card. Maybe I will go for a clean and simple style for that one.

This card is based off the sketch at 2 Sketches 4 You. A fun sketch which is really not that difficult to create with - I like sketches like that. It also satisfies the challenge on Moxie Fab for Shabby/Vintage. Paper Crafts is introducing their new publication "Card Style" - I can't wait to see that issue.

Everyone have a wonderful evening. I hope to make another card - maybe that little boy card.

Card Details:
Size - 5 x 7
All paper - Hobby Lobby (love that half price sale new mo jo)
Buttons from my supplies
Lace and muslin from by supplies - tea dyed
Sticker - SRM Stickers
Scallop Border - Papertrey Ink

Saturday May 1, 2010

Prize Package for Oldie Moldie Monday Challenge May 3

Sketch Challenge 2 Sketches 4 You

And you say - what is this about a PRIZE PACKAGE. Come back on Monday and play along with Ivanka and I on “Oldie Moldie Monday – the day of the week when you dig out that once loved paper that has gotten buried by new loves – dig it out and create a card or cards from it. Ivanka and I are offering up prizes (yes we each have a prize) – but of course they is a little bit more to the challenge. Come back on Monday and play with us.
My prize includes a pad of Basic Grey paper and 3 different sticker collections from SRM Stickers. Intrigued - I hope so - and you don't need a blog to play - we have a Flicker gallery where you can post your creations.

Now onto the card for today - it is based on the weekly sketch at 2 Sketches 4 You. A fun sketch - I have been wanting to make a baby card for a co worker who just became a grandparent - this card is for her and her husband. I still need to make a card for the parents. I love to use non traditional items on my cards. The main focus is the iron on applique giraffe - he has so much character - plus he was on sale.

The card also satisfies the midweek challenge on the Operation Write Home Card Blog - "wild thing" - I think my giraffe qualifies.

This card also qualifies for Circles 3 Different Ways on 365 Cards - circles on the giraffe, buttons, polka dots on the paper and the also the O's in my sentiments.

Beautiful weather here - so have been trying to work outside and inside and play with a little paper. The lawn is mostly mowed - at least what the public sees so the neighborhood doesn't look bad. Everyone enjoy your evening.

Size: 5 x 7

Patterned Paper - Hot Off the Press (this qualify as Oldie Moldie)

Giraffe - Duncan Enterprises

Ribbon - May Art

Sticker - SRM Stickers

Buttons - American Crafts

DMC Embroidery Floss

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Cardmaking goes green. Earth Day is tomorrow - it is founded by Gaylord Nelson 40 years ago. Gaylord Nelson is from Wisconsin.

In an ongoing effort to save trees and money, I have been trying to make cards from my oldie moldie supplies - they are still beautiful - they just got buried by all the new supplies we buy - now don't get me wrong - I have not completely stopped buying - I still can not resist the call of new paper - but if you stay out of the stores it sure helps - and stay off the internet. My cards cut across several challenges. Both cards are from the sketch designs at 2 Sketches 4 You - haven't done these sketches for awhile - I just hate it when life gets in the way of playing with paper. The second challenge is from Die Cuts R Us - it is an earth day challenge to add at least one earth related embellishment. The third challenge is from 365 Cards - Day 50 - item more than a year old (paper), something given to you (shopping bag) and something forgotten (lace) - when you sew you forget you have all these pieces of stuff laying around. Luckily there was enough for the 2 cards.

My embellishments (the flowers) are made from the shopping bag from one of my favorite stores in Madison, WI - The Scrapbook Superstore - I used my Cuddlebug and the circle dies from Spellbinders to cut layers of 3 different sized circles for the large flower. The smaller flowers only use two sized circles but many layers. I distressed them and added a brad to hold them together.

The card base on each card is the covers from programs. I can not throw away good cardstock - even if I have to tear it off things that are being recycled in the trash.

I hope you enjoyed my "a little bit green" creations.

Card One:

Pattern Paper: Carson Dellosa
Stamp: Inkadinkado
Ink: Colorbox Chalk Ink (Chestnut Roan)

Pearl flourish: Prima

Pearl Brads: Spare Parts (Hobby Lobby Brand)

Lace: Sewing Supplies

Card Two:
Pattern Paper: Carson DellosaStamp: InkadinkadoInk: Colorbox Chalk Ink (Chestnut Roan)
Pearl flourish: Prima
Pearl Brads: Spare Parts (Hobby Lobby Brand)

Lace: Sewing Supplies

Thursday - 3/25/10

Do you realize Christmas is 9 months from today? OK - now that we are in a panic mode - no holiday cards made yet - let's sit back and enjoy Easter and spring. It is very chilly here but the weather man is dangling a carrot saying it is suppose to be 70 degrees at the end of next week - I hope so - I would so love to be home and to be able to open my house up some.

I am taking Friday off so I have a 3 day week end - going to an adult PJ party on Saturday where my friend Shari is the guest of honor - it will be great fun. Watch movies, talk, giggle, maybe drink a little, eat too much. I am going to make stuffed shells - no recipe - going to wing it. I know what I want to use - and I bought it - but chicken and broccoli, alfredo sauce and lots of cheese. Cheese makes everything taste good. I hope. I will let you know.

Last night I decided to channel vintage into my card. I have this beautiful vintage paper by Karen Foster so I knew I wanted to use lace on it. The sketch from 2 Sketches 4 You - made into a 5 x 7 card - highlighted some of the beautiful bunny paper. Caardvarks also has the challenge to use lace on a stamped card. If you look carefully - the sentiment is stamped in the corner of the card - the sentiment is from Stampendous. I had bought the cream buttons last night on clearance at Hobby Lobby - and they worked perfectly on the card.

Well everyone have a wonderful evening. I am a little tired tonight - don't know if I will create much - I do need to make some recipe cards for the PJ party of Shari's favorite recipe. Peanut butter balls. Yummy - I will share the recipe and recipe card later.

Card - 5 x 7

Card base: Bo Bunny

Patterned Paper: Karen Foster

Lace and pink button from my supplies

Cream Buttons: Dress It Up

Ribbon and twine: May Arts

Sentiment Stamp: Stampendous

Ink: Colorbox Chalk Ink - Chestnut Roan

Thursday, February 25

Good Thursday evening - I am so excited - I have the day off tomorrow from work and I feel good and I am spending it with a friend. I actually feel giddy about it. It is amazing when you have sick for a couple weeks - how wonderful it is to feel good. We may go shopping - I can show her some new shops I know she has never seen or we may just play.

I have enjoyed being able to create this week. My card tonight is based on the sketch at 2 Sketches 4 You. I don't know if I have ever made a card where I have free floating paper on the left side. I do it on the top sometimes. It was a fun sketch.

Everyone enjoy your evening. Team US is playing Canada in Women's Hockey for the gold - go USA. Later the Wisconsin Badgers (men) play basketball and figure skating is on also. I guess I will be doing a little channel jumping tonight.

Paper - Making Memories

Stamp - Inkadinkado ($1 stamp purchased at JoAnn's) colored with Copics

Ribbon - Offray

Button - from the button box

Lace - unknown

Everything inked with Colorbox Chalk Ink

Wednesday - 2-10-2010

Good evening - I seem to be having a few issues tonight - decided to just scan instead of doing a photo - well you can see what we got and where it put it - and I feel so lousy - I am not going to fight tonight. I did work around 6 hours today - hit the wall of no return - and came home. I still have a sidewalk of snow that needs to be plowed - my sidewalk was clear when I went to bed - but the city came through and plowed and filled it up. It made me want to cry - I may still cry. I have called my neighbor and asked him to come over so hopefully he will take mercy upon Neighbor Grandma and do it for me.

Tonight's card is based on the sketch at 2 Sketches 4 You A valentine card for one of my student workers. I know she will enjoy it.

Everyone have a wonderful evening.

Size - 4 x 7

Paper - Paper Studio

Stamp - Craftsmart - Michael's $1 stamps (come back toward Easter and see the cute Easter stamps I got

Colored with Copics

Clear Stickles to heart

Thursday, January 28

Good Thursday evening - yeah one more day in the work week - the faster I go the further behind I get.

I did manage to make a card last night - I had colored the image a couple nights ago just trying to figure out colors to go with this paper. I think it turned out OK. The card is based on the weekly sketch at 2 Sketches 4 You. The stamp is a $1 stamp I found at JoAnn's. Can't beat $1 for a cute stamp - even if you only use it a few times - you sure get your money's worth out of it. Basketball on TV I want to watch so this is a short post. Go snuggle under my blanket to watch the game. Hopefully I do not fall asleep this early in the evening. Everyone enjoy yourself.

Stamp - Inkadinkado colored with Copics

Patterned Paper - 8 x 8 pad Die Cuts With a View - Crafty Pad

Button - American Crafts

Lace - tea dyed - from my supplies

Thursday, January 21

Isn't that an exciting title for a blog post - it was the best I could come up with. A quick post tonight - I am not feeling 100% tonight so going to go relax. I guess those dirty dishes will have to wait another evening.

Tonight's card is based on the sketch at 2 Sketches 4 You. A pretty basic design you could do lots with. I did some very simple stamping. Only took me 3 or 4 times to get the bird and sentiment stamped on the same piece of paper so they both looked OK. I am onec again using up some of my older paper. I have a drawer of pink and brown paper and so I dug in there for this card. Notice the inking - I ended up with a smudge so had to add the extra inking - don't know if this is a card for someone or if it is going into a card set.

Everyone have a wonderful evening.

size - 4.25 x 5.5

Paper - Making Memories, EK Success

Stamp - Inkadinkado

Ink - Colorbox Chalk Inky by ClearSnap - Chestnut Roan

Buttons - Fancy Pants

Twine - May Arts

Baby It's Cold Outside

14 inches of snow and then a cold snap - we will be below zero tonight - the sun shines during the day but it is still miserable. We had a snow day on Wednesday so my week is all out of whack - I kept thinking I had my week end yesterday but no tomorrow is Friday. Been a very strange week with the weather and holiday happenings.

I helped a freind make peanut butter balls tonight - we made 4 batches but with 4 of us - it did not take long at all to get them done. Made some soup for us for dinner. It was very tasty and healthy also. I came home with one batch of peanut butter balls so I have something baked for Xmas dinner treats.

I am trying to get some cards made before Saturday for a gathering I am hosting. 1 done - 2 to go. This card is based on the sketch at 2 Sketches 4 You - a fun sketch.

Stamp - Stampendous colored with Copics
Patterned Paper - My Mind's Eye
Ribbon - Michael's dollar bin

Favorites

Favorite things is the challenge on the Cuddlebug Challenge site. I think my favorite things change every day or maybe it depends on whatever is happening that day. It seems sometimes in my creativity - there are favorites that spring up. Argyle - argyle is a favorite - love argyle sweaters or socks - how about argyle patterned paper or the argyle cuddlebug folder that I used on part of this card. This stamp - seems to be my go to stamp - for birthdays this fall. I think this is my 3rd or 4th card made with this stamp but it could be used for so many other occasions. I love this particular paper - it has some of my favorite colors for creating - browns, reds, greens. Those are my favorites for this particular point in time.

The card design is based on the sketch at 2 Sketches 4 You - of course - it is a loose interpretation. The bow represents the circle on the sketch.

Everyone have a wonderful evening.

Patterned paper - Cosmo Cricket (all I have left are some scraps to use to finish the inside of the cards
Stamp - Hero Arts
Ink - Colorbox Chalk Ink - Chestnut Roan
Ribbon - I think is American Crafts
Cuddlebug embossing folder
5 x 7 size

Hump Day Wednesday

Yeah the work week is half over - downward slide now. I was able to create one card last night. Need a few thanksgiving cards so thought I should get started on them. I found this cute wooden scarecrow at Hobby Lobby on sale and thought he would make a great addition to a card, The background around him was white but a little brown ink and he has a nice antiqued finish. The card was based on the sketch at 2 Sketches 4 You.

Here is a close up of my bow. I just make 4 loops and then tie something around the center of the loops. You can either wrap the center or decorate it like I did with the buttons and twine.

Thanks for stopping by.

Paper - Basic Grey and Cosmo Cricket

Fiskar's Border Punch

Twill tape - Wrights

Button - American Crafts

Twine - May Arts

Yeah Friday

Yeah - it is Friday - made it through 5 days of work - the last couple weeks I haven't worked a whole week - I really liked that - But I did get lots accomplished this week. That feels good.

Working on my cards that I need for October - my mom's birthday is October 12 and she will be 91. Still lives on her own and bakes a wonderful apple pie. I try to send her a card every day of her birthday week. Gives her something to look forward to. I should send her a card every month - heck - it is not as if I don't have enough paper and supplies in my house.

My card tonight is based on the weekly sketch at 2 Sketches 4 You. Had this new stamp I wanted to use and the Crate paper was still sitting out so I used it again. I believe this is the third card out of that paper collection.

Paper and Rub on - Crate Paper

Stamp - Hero Arts

Ink - Colorbox Chalk Ink (Chestnut Roan)

More Stimulation of the Economy

Friday - the best day of the week - even better when it is a day off from work and you go shopping. Happy Happy Happy. Went shopping with two friends - visited a couple quilt shops - did you know that Basic Grey designs are now in fabric - I saw the Christmas line - beautiful - it is put out by Moda - check it out. I sewed for many years so fabric still talks to me. I bought one little piece which I think will be great fall cards. We went to the home store for Whipper Snapper Stamps - boy was I in trouble. I have lots of fun coloring coming up.

My card is based on the sketch at 2 Sketches 4 You - Laura's Sketch 30.

Paper - Making Memories

Rub On - De Ja Views

Stamp - Purple Daisy Design

Punch - Paper Shapers (made for this butterfly stamp)

Flower/Button Brad - Imaginisce

Ribbon - Michaels

QuicKutz Scalloped border die cut

A Day of Vacation

Aren't vacation days lovely and I have two more this week. Yeah. Of course, you never accomplish much - but - that is OK. I am working on redoing my bedroom and bathroom so I have been hitting the stores looking for shower curtains, drapes, paint - I have the bedspread - so don't have to worry about that. It has not been updates for as long as I have lived in the house - also looking at new flooring. Oh my. But it will be well worth it when it is all done.

My card today is for some young people who worked in our office while they were in college, got married and now have had their first child. It was such fun making this card for them. It is based on the sketch at2 Sketches 4 You. A very fun versatile sketch - of course - I had to add all my layers.

Stamp – Bella colored with Copics
Basic Grey paper
One Heart One Mind Rub On
Ribbon from Michael’s
Eyelet from the stash
Brad – Target $1 bin
Flower – American Crafts

Everyone enjoy the remainder of your day.

Friday - Happy Dance

Whew Friday - I have been running my 30 day marathon at work and feel like I may live to talk about it. This week end feels like a relief - I have nothing scheduled for the week end - but have lots to do - I hope to get some work done and some playing with paper done. Have to reward my work time with play time. I plan on doing some remodeling so I need to go to the home improvement stores and look at things - I need to find paint, new carpet for my bedroom, new flooring for the bathroom and will most likely have to dig out the sewing machine and make drapes for the bedroom - I have a big patio door so I am sure I could make them much cheaper - need to do a little looking at my rod and see if I can make it work for the type I plan to make. I may even have to make the shower curtain and curtain in the bathroom - oh my goodness - that will be an entire week end of sewing or more. But at least it will be just straight sewing.

Well to the card - this is a special order - she saw my monkey card for a wedding last year and wanted one for her brother. I like how it turns out and she seemed to like it - I still need to do the inside for her. I based the card on the weekly sketch at 2 Sketches 4 You.

Stamp - Stampendous colored with Copics

Cuddlebug - hearts

Paper - My Mind's Eye

Ribbon - recycled

Letters - they are hiding - it is one of the paper companies Fiskar's had

Inked the edges with ColorBox Chalk ink

Everyone enjoy your evening and week end

Saturday - where did the week go

Hopefully 3rd time is a charm to get this card posted. Blogger and I are not friends tonight.
This card was done for the challenge at Caardvarks. Caardvarks is a card challenge blog. Fun place to visit. This challenge is two sketches done by the two young women over at
2 Sketches 4 You - Laura and Kazan. They have a sketch on their site each Monday.

My card is based on Laura's sketch.

Paper and Brad- Kaiser Scrapbooking
Rub on - Imaginisce
Fiskar's Border Punch
Sizzix die cut for flower - it started out light blue - amazing what a little ink can do.
Ink - Colorbox Chalk Ink by Clearsnap
Stickles by Ranger

Enjoy.