Flowers, flourishes, ink - oh my!

On Practical Scrappers, there was an inspiring sketch (which I turned 90 degrees counter clockwise). The inspiration on 365 Cards forced me to find my flourishes stamp set. The Belli challenge led me to dig through an embellishment baggie and find this "reminisce" tag floating amidst a sea of flowers and buttons,

Supplies: Stamp set - CTMH Playful Fluorishes; Ink - CTMH Grey Wool; Embellishments - CTMH Clear sparkles, CTMH Flower sparkles, CTMH hemp, unknown flowers and buttons.

I had fun using up things from the stash.

Feeling blue

I bought me a treat from WalMart. While unsuccessfully shopping for photo frames (why did I wait until Christmas Eve?), I stumbled across a cute mini easel for $7. It's mine! Hopefully, it adds some 'class' to my card photos!

Yesterday, at 365 Cards, the challenge was to create a snowflake. Ok, so I must admit it has been for-evah since I last cut out a snowflake. What fun I had ... although I have little bitty pieces of paper on the floor now!





Supplies: Everything is from my stash, all from unknown sources.



Today's challenge at 365 Cards was to tear paper. I combined that with Bizzy Becs challenge. The stamp image had never seen ink until today. The ricrac is from a swap from CKU 2005.

Supplies: Stamp sets - CTMH Spunky Greetings, CTMH Heartthrob. Ink - CTMH Moonstruck. Paper - Carolee's Creations (so very old!). Embellishments: Doodlebug ricrac, CTMH clear sparkles.

Almost 2010

Merry Christmas to those of you visiting today!

I woke up at my usual 4am and waited for the kids to wake up on this Christmas morning. I was able to create a single card before Bekah wandered in at 6am, ready to see what Santa had brought.

Cute Card Thursday had a challenge to use a New Year's theme which I mixed with Kazan's sketch at 2 sketches 4 you. I tried to use Penny's monochromatic challenge as I selected a series of blue papers, but I couldn't resist adding the red and white polka dot ribbon.

Supplies: Tools - SU spiral punch, SU scallop circle punch. Stamps - CTMH Spunky greetings, CTMH Today's date. Paper & ribbon from the stash. Colors - CTMH Holiday red, CTMH Outdoor denim. Foam tape for dimension.

4U friend & some blog candy

My card for totday fulfills the challenge at No Time to Stamp, which was to use the word "friend".

It also fullfils the Tealy Good challenge at Cute Card Thursday which was to use a teal/red color combo. I will admit that these are colors that I would never have put together if it weren't for the challenge. Nor would I have searched for my Friendship word puzzle so I could have the word "friend" on this card.

And, since I was feeling a little "out of my box" with the colors, I searched for a sketch and found one on Truly Scrumptious. So, this card, in its entirety was challenge based. I'm so glad there are blogs to help us feed our mojo.

Here's my card:

Again, I know you can't tell - but the rectangular piece in the middle is attached with foam tape. The button and ribbon at the corner hide a stamping error - my laziness got the best of me and I tried to stamp with an incorrect size acrylic block ... um, let's just say after that I got up and got my blocks! Oh, and I put the paper in the Cuttlebug upside down, so my dots are "reverse embossed" ... uh, yeah. Only you paper crafters would know ... (or understand the error, perhaps?).

Supplies: Stamp set - CTMH Friendship word puzzle. Paper - really old DCWV and American Crafts. Embellishments - all unknown sources, from my stash. Tools - Cuttlebug dot folder, EKSuccess scallop circle punch.

And, while you're blog hopping today, be sure to visit Alanna. She is celebrating 300 posts and a whole lot of hits. Visit her blog!

Make it a great day today!

For my priest at church

This card is for my priest at church. Members of the congregation signed up for dates to send cards to Monsignor. I chose three dates - July 24, Oct 27, and Nov 20. These are all birthdates in the Harris family (so I wouldn't forget what dates I signed up for!)

I used some blog challenges to get me going. By using monochromatic papers, layered flowers, stamps, and a label, I fulfilled the Use It! challenge. As I was playing with these pieces of paper, I thought that I should find a sketch to guide me. I decided to used Kazan's sketch.

Supplies: All were from my stash. (Oh so old papers!) Bazzill cardstock. K&Co patterned paper. Chatterbox vellum. Silk flowers. Ribbon. Stamp set: CTMH He Is Risen and Faith.

365 Cards: Day 134

I was out of town yesterday, and when I got home, I had some other business things to tend to ... so I am just now finding time to craft.



Yesterday's 365 Cards inspiration was a sketch. I combined that sketch from 365 Cards with a color inspiration from Jeanette's blog to create this card. I intended to do some masking as I stamped in the corner, but I just don't have the mojo today to do that. (Maybe the mojo will hit me later in the day. I hope so!)



Supplies - All CTMH. Stamps sets: Circle Around and A Huge Thanks. Colors: Bamboo, heavenly blue, clover meadow. Embellishments: buttons and thread.

Day 132 of 365 Cards

In my series of blog hops yesterday (you know, where you just keep clicking and finding inspiration -- never knowing where you're headed, just clicking on link after link after link ...), I stumbled across this blog called 365 Cards. An inspiration a day. A card a day. A great place to go to get that mojo going, don't you think?

So, "just for kicks" I pop on over there today (at 5am, since I cannot sleep). I see the inspiration. Ahh, birthday. Then I scroll down for the design team's creations. There, I see it. A card that completely inspires because I have the perfect stamp set in my collection! And, so - yes, around 515am - I begin to create. What a great way to start the day, don't you think?


For Day 132, this is the card I created (which is very much inspired by Sophie's card, if your couldn't tell!). Sherry's ad led me to choose white and primary colors for my card's palette today, as well as the red/white polka dot ribbon. I put stickles on the candle flames.

Supplies - Tools: Fiskars eyelet border. Stamp sets: (all CTMH) Spunky Greeting and It's Your Day [August 2009 SOTM]. Colors: (all CTMH) Black, Holiday Red, Sunny Yellow, Clover Meadow, Dutch Blue, Hydrangea. Embellishment: ribbon, stickles.

Unscripted sketch

I made this card based on the Unscripted Sketch for this week. I was inspired by Alanna's card.


Supplies: All CTMH. Paper: Notebook. Stamp set: Star Struck and A Huge Thanks. Colors: White Pigment, Blush and Crystal Blue. Embellishments: Hollyhock stitched ribbon.

From the stash

My craft area recently underwent an overhaul, i.e. cleaning and rearranging.


In the clean up process, I unearthed (yes, they were buried in the great depths of hoarded items) lots of old embellishments. Being the frugal hoarder that I am, I am not one to just "give away" the unwanteds and the unused. Instead, I put out a box to collect these "gems" with the intent to use them on layouts and cards.
As you look at these cards for tonight, know that I know they aren't breathtaking or anything spectacular, but maybe - just maybe - I'll motivate you to look for something old from your stash to use on your next card!


So, with that in mind ... here's what I created tonight:


First of all, cleaning meant that I now have a space for my Sizzix machine to actually be used. Yes, I have an old, red Sizzix machine. I know, I know. I know that the dies will fit through the Cuttlebug. Yes, I know. But, I kept the Sizzix machine and a few shaped dies for my kids. Bekah loves my "cutting machine" and I dare not show her how much easier life is with a Cricut. So, yes - now my work area has dedicated space for the Cricut, the Sizzix, and the Cuttlebug.


So, I pulled out some random paper to inspire me (which happened to be old Carolee's Creations paper from a Halloween layout I did long ago) and it was only natural that I then cut out ghosts using the now-accessible Sizzix machine. Add ribbon and a CTMH stamped sentiment, and I have a card ready to be sent in October.




Materials: Paper by Carolee's Creations, ribbon by Offray, dies by Sizzix (ghosts, photo corner), black ink by CTMH, Say It In Style stamp set by CTMH


As I rifled through this box of collected oldies, I came across summery accents - Fresh Cuts by Rebecca Sower. Don't lie. I know you have some too, somewhere ... or, at least you did have some one day long ago. So, I pulled the Fresh Cuts out, went through my scraps to find papers to coordinate ... and viola I created these. While they aren't masterpieces, I smiled as I made them knowing I was using up some stuff and still making something I didn't mind claiming as something *I* created.




Materials: textured cardstock by Bazzill, Rebecca Sower Fresh Cuts by EKSuccess, black ink by CTMH, Say It In Style stamp set by CTMH


This card, in fact, follows Beate's weekend sketch.



Materials: textured cardstock by Bazzill, Rebecca Sower Fresh Cuts by EKSuccess, black ink by CTMH, Say It In Style and Playful Flourish stamp sets by CTMH, acrylic discs from Michaels, edge distresser by CTMH


WEEKEND PLANS: Before we went on vacation, a friend of ours had a yard sale. Of course, I went to see what treasures she had for sale. I found a few home decor items (a couple frames, a couple mirrors, a birdcage - for decor only, some lights - to use when I make my lightbox), but my big find was an Ikea desk. It's L-shaped, perfect for my crafting area. So, yes - another overhaul will be happening this weekend in the craft room. I envision vertical shelving above the desk (if Chris will cooperate with that idea). So, I'll be cleaning ... again ... to get this room in order, but when it's done ... when it's done ... when it's done ...


Well, let's just say - I can hardly wait!

Labor of Love

Sometimes the creative mojo flows, sometimes it doesn't. This is one of those doesn't sort of times. If you could see the pieces in the trash, you might appreciate this card a little more. This was one of those times that I cut, embossed, and inked several pieces -- all of which didn't work for me and found their way into the trash. I was getting discouraged and the mess I was making with nothing to show for it was frustrating.


But finally, pieces came together to make something with which I could be satisfied.



I had a sigh of relief when I created what ended up being a rather simple card. I created something, something that I'm happy with, and something I would not be ashamed to put in the mail to a friend. Whew.


Most of you know that I spend quite a bit of time blog surfing, collecting inspiration but doing little with it than saying "Ahh ... what a great idea." Well, I finished this card and realized that I fulfilled challenges posted on Nona's blog to use "collector's items". What did I use, you ask? Well, dare I admit that I purchased those Cuttlebug embossing folders back in February and this was the first time Swiss Dots has been used for something that didn't go into the trash. And, the SU! scallop punch that I just had to have back in February as well ... well, it saw light today as well.


So, a card I'm happy with, a challenge I successfully completed, using up papers from my stash, using tools I hadn't used yet ... it's a great way to start a Sunday. Bring on the day!


Materials: CS by Canon, PP by Provo Craft (an oldie from my stash), ribbon by Michaels, SU! scallop punch, cocoa ink by CTMH, Make My Day stamp set by CTMH, Swiss Dot embossing folder.

You're in my heart

This is a card that we made at Margaret's Home Gathering on Friday. It is a late inspiration from Beate's weekend challenge.



Materials: [all CTMH] Sihouette Creative Basics papers, write & rub pen, prisma glitter, black bitty brads, sparkles, black collection ribbon, you & me stamp set, make my day stamp set, cranberry & black ink pad

Laugh

I saw Heidi's challenge here and thought it would be fun to play along. I didn't finish it in time for her deadline, but here's what I created.

Instead of just having a tag, I made it into a card. Now it is cute and functional!



Materials -- Paper: Let's Get Together & Garden Green CS; Ink: Black; Stamp set: Friendship word puzzle; stitched grossgrain ribbon; colonial white minibrad; Cuttlebug swiss dot embossing folder