Paper Smooches, Seize the Sketch and House of Cards Unite

I finally got a card made for the challenge on the Paper Smooches Spark Challenge Blog where anything goes.  This is a great challenge because then you can do anything you want, use any color and design.

Just like most cardmakers, we collect stuff.  I had this cute little monkey in my collection of Paper Smooches Stuff and I wanted to use it.  I have not made my Mom a card for ages so I thought this card would brighten her room at the nursing home.  I got to use some of my favorite colors.  Teal and orange - I was never much of an orange fan until I had a student worker who loved orange and she opened my eyes to it's creative possibilities.

I used the sketch from Seize the Sketch.  A great sketch you can do lots with.

I also am entering it in a new monthly challenge I found - House of Cards.  There challenge is to use a bow.  I don't use lots of bows on my cards because the majority of my cards are for Operation Write Home and I try to keep my bulk down on these cards since they travel so many miles.

The patterned paper is from Basic Grey.  I believe the ribbon is May Arts.  I added some extra hearts in the lower left hand corner of the image.  I fussy cut all the hearts.  The little teal hearts have Glossy Accents on them to make them a little dimensional.  The big heart and the image are pop dotted for more dimension.  Did you see our little monkey has her belly button pierced.  She is such a little rebel.

If you wish to buy your own supply of Paper Smooches stamps and dies, you can shop at their online store.

Seize the Sketch

Did you hear the squeeling of the die cutter as I slid into the last hours of the sketch challenge at Seize the Sketch.  I have liked this sketch since it was posted and decided I wanted to do it before the challenge ended.

It took two attempts.  I did not like the die cut I first decided to use - it was too small - so thus the 2nd card was born.  Here is my card.

The stamp is from Techniques Tuesday.  This entire set of sentiments in this set are great for Operation Write Home stamps.  The paper is from American Crafts - Dear Lizzy collection.  I think you will see more of this paper in upcoming Oldie Moldie Monday posts.

Here is my second card.  The die cut was too small for the sketch and of course I did not have enough of the darker paper for the sketch card.  This stamp is a $1 stamp I bought somewhere.

Enjoy the remainder of your Sunday.

Watercolor, Hero Arts, and Seize the Sketch

I have had this piece of background paper I made in the online watercolor class sitting on my table.  I have been trying to use it but nothing ever came together.  Finally we have a card.  The background is made by wetting a piece of watercolor paper and I add a light wash of color.  I then put a stencil over the top and then brush more watercolor over the openings in the stencil.  It never turns out the same.  This is one of my favorite color combos of distress ink.  I decided to use a piece of the background paper in the sketch from Seize the Sketch.

I had watercolored the flower awhile back.  It was colored with distress inks also.  This is a new Hero Arts stamp set for me with a coordinating die set.  Yes I do have other embossing folders besides this one but I love the subtle effects of this embossing folder.  The pearls came from my supplies which I must start using.  I died the crochet thread with distress ink so it would match the card perfectly.

I hope you enjoy my take on the sketch.  It is a sketch with great possibilities.  Now I need to do some work for work.  I need to put in a few hours today to finish up a project.  Everyone enjoy their Sunday.

Seize the Sketch and Basic Grey

This week on Seize the Sketch challenge blog they have a great sketch.

I needed to make some thank you notes for my daughter.  She has had some wonderful friends who have helped her through a very rough time in her life.  Her good friends came and took care of the dogs many days so Staci was able to be at the hospital with her husband and while the family were with Chris during his final hours, they brought the family food and drink to sustain them through the night.  What can you do to thank a family for such kindness and friendship?

This is my version of the sketch made into a square card.  I thought this image of a dog was very appropriate since one of Staci's dogs is a yellow lab and Axel alias Squirt is also yellow in color.  I just noticed I forgot to color the collar.  I think it will be red.  Both stamps are from Whipper Snapper Stamps.  The paper is from Basic Grey.

Thanks for stopping by.

Back to Playing With Paper

I have been on vacation and had a few days of rest before I wanted to create again.  Today I finally got some creative juices flowing along with the laundry.  I decided to do a card using the weekly sketch from Seize the Sketch.

I used a new stamp set from Hero Arts.  This is one of the new sets that part of the proceeds go to Operation Write Home.  The set has some really cute animals on it.  The paper is from My Mind's Eye.

I added some glossy accents to the eyes and nose of the owl.  I hope it cheers the person I am sending it to.

The Badgers are playing tonight so I am heading to the neighbors to have dinner and watch the game.

Come back tomorrow to see another card made with the same papers and stamped image.

Size the Sketch With Happy Thoughts

I discovered a new sketch site so thought I would play along.  It is Seize the Sketch.  This is their sketch for this week.  

I decided to use some paper from Prima I have had for awhile.  I love the colors in this set.  For the rectangle I had paper that has strips in it so did not have to do two different papers on the rectangle.  Of course, I had to add something extra to the sketch.  I wanted to bring a little more pink on the card so I added the strip that I put across the card at an angle.  Sweet sentiment for the corner embellishment.  I added some embellishments scattered across the card.

When my children had problems sleeping, I always told them to think happy thoughts.

Enjoy the remainder of your Sunday.  I have a big pot of chili on the stove.  New recipe and it may be a little spicy for my; I may have to share at work tomorrow.