MFT Idol Chalenge - Frame It!

This is my submission for another week of My Favorite Things Idol Challenge. The top contestans have been whittled down to four! The fune parrt is that judgegs can participate aong with the same theme for a chance at winning a $10 gift cerrtificate. This weeks theme was "Frame It" those words were up to your interpretation. I decided to make an altered clothespin picture holder and coordinating frame.

I borrowed the Friends Furever set from my friend Katie. I think the set is sooo cute and would look perfect paired with a picture of Mr. Buckles when he was a puppy. I used the DCWV "Pet Stack" PP and created a little collar to go around the holder with some ribbon and a brass accent from SU! Hodge Podge Hardware. I stamped the little kid and puppy, colored him with copics, cut the image out and adhererd him to the frame corner. Paws were hand drawn and the name on the tag was comuter generated and then stamped the tag over it.

Thanks for looking!

Recipe:

Stamps: My Ffavorite Things-Friends Furever

Paper: SU!, DCWV Pet Stack

Ink: Staz On Black, Copics, SU! pads - Tangerine Tango, Pacific Point

Accessories: Clothespin - Oriental Trading, Ribbon/Twine - Michaels, SU! Hodgeg Podge Hardware

PMS Monday Challenge

This Monday's challenge over at the PMS blog was a sketch challenge. I used my PMS Nuts About You set. He's very cute. Last time I colored him in he looked like a brown squirrel that fell down a chimney! - a very dirty brown. This time I decided to make him a grey squirrel and used my new Copics :0) I'm still learning the whole shading, blending thing and I haven't quite got the hang of it yet, but I thought Mr. "Grey squirrel, grey squirrel, bushy bushy tail" (Anyone with preschooler might know that song :0)) turned out pretty cute. I did use the copic blender pen to create the little dots on top of the acorn! Thanks for stopping by!

Recipe:

Stamps: Paper Makeup Stamps

Ink: Staz On black, SU! Markers, Copic Markers

Paper: SU! carrdstock, DCWV Greenstack

Accessories: Paper Piercer, Ribbon -Making Memories, Cuttle bug and embossing folder, Nestabilities circle die

Paper Challenge Birdie

So once again I'm behind on my monthy paper challenge with my friends at work and once again the "hounding" has started. But this time I'm only behind by less than a week. So this weekend was all about getting those done (in between Ju Jitsu, rained out baseball games, cards with friends, watching the Backhawks WIN!!! and spending too much money at a friends jewelry party :))

Any-hoo, I submitted a request to my PCG's for a "springy" paper and this is what I got. Unfortunately, the paper name was not listed on the back of the single 12x12 I received. I knew I wanted to play with these little paperboard birdie shapes I got at Michaels. 12 of them in a pack for less than $3.00!!! They're sturdy, easy to Cropadile through and just too darn cute! I fell in LOVE with them when I say Anna Wight play with them. You can check out her fabulous version here.

Each wing was created using one white silk flower. I cut the flower in different sized wedges and then secured each layer on top of each other with a glue dot. The final layer is a punched out heart. I stamped on the little wooden tags with staz on brown. They're too cute. A package of six already distressed - gotta love it!

And what better card to go with this darling little birdie than an equally darling little bird-house card. I finished up using the scraps from the paper challenge to create the roof of the house. I created the template and popped up the roof to give the house some dimension. I wanted the card to coordinate with the birdie so I used the same ribbon on the bottom perch/porch. I used my Crafty Secrets Bird Notes stamp set to stamp on the inside of the card positioned so that it would show through the hole to the front of the card. So, what do you think? Worth the wait right ;0)

Thanks for looking, havee a GREAT week!

Recipe:

Stamps: Crafty Secrets Bird Notes,Michaels (Studio G $1 bin)

Paper: Cardstock SU!, PP is unkown

Ink: Staz On (Brown), Ranger distress ink (Sepia), Coor Box Chalk Ink (Olive Pastel)

Accessories: Joanns -ribbonFX, Wooden tags, Michaels - ribbon, bird shapes, wire, bells, Paper studio buttons, silk flowers, Su! copper cording, sewing machine

How Cool Is This!!

Are you kidding me! Check out all of this fabulous stuff! This would be a dream come true for me!! I'm salivating and wanting to jump through the computer screen just looking at this picture!! This has got to be one of the best blog candys I've ever seen!!

Debbie is celebrating her blogoversary in a BIG way! Over 62,000 hits in a year - tells you she must be doing something right and she's ONE CRAFTY GAL!! Want to win this ???? (Please, put your tongues back in your mouth). Just visit her site and read the details! You've got until April 30th so hurry up and click on over to Passion for Crafts!

Unity, Mom and Coffee

Sorry I've been away for the past couple of days. As I say in my profile, life takes precedence. As the warm weather starts in, activities pick up. And as the end of the school year gets closer, the number of school projects pick up too!. These past few days I've spent helping my son with a 6th grade term paper and project. 75% of his grade for both Social Studies/History and English will come from this project. "screw up and you'll be going to summer school" is what the teacher told him.

Anyway, onto the cards. I made these to send to the Ohio coffee shop. They are having a Mother's Day event so we thought it would be a good idea to get some Mom's Day cards to them. Luckily I got my order of new Unity stamps in the night before they were supposed to be sent!! I fell in love with some of their images the moment I saw them. They are pre-cut real red rubber with a cling mount backing - my fav! I love the impression you get from real red rubber :0)

The cards were pretty simple and pulled together very quickly. I think they turned out pretty cute, well, actually - adorable! Hopefully others will like them to and some well deserving Mom's out there will receive one :0) Have a great weekend. Thanks for stopping by!

Recipe:

Stamps: Unity - Shine On, Love Ewe

Ink: Black Staz On, SU! and Copic markers

Accessories: Walmat Ribbon, Cuttle Bug embossing folder, Sewing machine, scalloped edge punch

Paper Butterfly

It's a rainy spring morning here . . . again, but they PROMISE sunshine and 80's by this weekend! YIPPEE! This card was created with two challenges in mind;

1. Jen Del Muro's SFYTT (Sketch for You to Try) and
2. Paper Makeup Stamps Weekly Challenge

The Paper Makeup challenge was to use the colors Kraft, Old Olive, Cameo Coral and Summer Sun. I cheated a little and threw in some black, but I consider that a neutral :) The colors and DP I chose had a "springy" feel to it so I decided to use the butterfly image from Paper Makeup Stamps -Buggy Sayings set. I stamped, colored and cut it out but I thought it needed to be more of a focal point so I stamped it again in the same DP, cut it out and layered it on top of the first image. This way I was able to fan the wings out and give it some dimension.

The sentiment is a $1 stamp I found at Michaels. I thought it went well with this card and could easily be used for a new house or even Mothers Day. Thanks for looking!

Recipe:
Stamps: Paper Makeup, Studio G
Ink: Black Staz On, SU! markers, Prisma Colored pencils and Gamsol
Paper! SU! Kraft, Summer Sun, Basic Black, Wings and Things by Beth Cote
Accessories: Metal Dots by Colorbok, Offray ribbon, sewing machine, Cuttlebug, dies and embossing folder

MFT Idol Judges Challenge Week 6

This was my submission for Week 6 of the My Favorite Things Idol Judges Challenge. The theme this week was to make a one layer wonder card - yep that's right! No layers and only MFT stamps.

I decided to case one of my favorite stamping artists, Amy Sheffer. She makes the most beautiful cards with LOTS of layers and details. You can view the awesome original here.

So, to try to create this same layout with NO layers I first cut all of the pieces I would need and saved the "scraps" as well to.

1. Lay the square background piece over the card base and sponge the red border.
2. Place a mask for the "DP" and Scallop circle and sponge the yellow layer.
3. Place a mask of the negative of the scallop circle and the circle center and sponge the red scallop border.
4. Place the scallop mask and a border mask down and stamp the "DP".
5. Stamp image and draw in sidewalk.
6. Color images in, stamp sentiment.
7. Sew around edge of card.
8. Using exacto knife, cut along scalloped edge and insert ribbon.

This was fun, but took lots of "pre-thinking" :0) Thanks for looking!

Recipe:
Stamps: MFT - Let's Go For a Walk
Ink: Staz On Black, SU! Riding Hood Red, Marigold Morning, Bashful Blue, Prisma Colored Pencils and Gamsol
Accessories: Michaels Ribbon- Go With the Grain, Sewing machine

Go Hawks!

Here come the Hawks . . .the mighty BLACKHAWKS!!! I'm so excited that the Chicago Blackhawks won their 1st playoff game in 7 years last night to the Calgary Flames. We were at the game and it was unbelievably awesome!! The energy in the crowd was so exciting I got goosebumps just thinking about it and my voice has all but left me!

I was inspired by their win and a very simple and quick card my friend Katie made to come up with this card. So simple it took me maybe 7-10 minutes from start to end. It would probably have taken longer except for the fact that my sewing machine was already set-up threaded and just waiting for me - LOVE THAT! The middle flag is actually cut out and popped up on a dot. The 3 flags are one $1 bin stamp set, and the sentiment is from another $1 bin stamp set. I thought this would make a cute grad card or team win card. TFL, have a great weekend and root root root for the home team!! Go Hawks!

Recipe:

Stamps: We R Memory Keepers, G Studio

Ink: Black Staz On, Prisma Color Pencils and Gamsol

Windshield or Bug!

Isn't he the cutest thing! How could you not start feeling better after looking at him!! He just makes me giggle. This is my newest and currently favorite stamp from Anna Wight and Whipper Snapper - "Caught a Bug". I paired him with a new stamp set I recently acquired from Paper Makeup Stamps. On the inside of the card is a stamp of a splattered bug and the saying "feel better soon". Paper Makeup Stamps was hosting a challenge to use ribbon on your card. That was pretty easy for me! My cards feel naked without a little ribbon somewhere!!

I was feeling like a squished bug yesterday, not because I was feeling ill, but just felt like I kept hitting a bunch of obstacles. Ever have one of those? Hopefully today I'll have more of a windshield day ;0)

Recipe:
Stamps: Anna Wight - Whipper Snapper, Paper Makeup Stamps
Ink: Black Staz On, Prisma Color Pencils and Gamsol
Paper: DCWV First Grade, SU!
Accessories: Paper Studio Button, Ribbon - Basic Basic, Hemp Twine -SU!

April Monthly Swap

This card was created for the April monthly swap with my girlfriends at work. This months theme was to create a card using the SU! Pocket Silhouette stamp set. I tried to keep it simple because I had 15 of them to make!! I didn't have the ticket punch so I just used a small circle punch to shape the corners - worked like a charm :0).

It's hard to tell but I used both a bashful blue SU! marker and a Sakura stardust pen to go over the stems of the flower and give it some sparkle. I left the sentiment pretty generic so that the person giving the card could stamp a specific sentiment on the inside. It would make a very lovely Mother's Day, Birthday, or Thinking of You card. Thanks for looking!!

Notice that cute little banner flag/tag?! I picked up a package of 60 of these from the Martha Stewart craft section at Walmart. 60 tags in 3 assorted colors for only $1.97. I thought this was lots easier than trying to cut my little angles just perfect (which I can never do). This is going to be a Moms Day card for me. Have a GREAT Day! TFL (thanks for looking).

Recipe:
Stamp: SU! Pocket Silhouettes, Sentiment - Joanns $1 bin
Ink: Staz On black, SU! marker
Paper: SU!
Accessories: Martha Stewart banner tags, Sakura Stardust pen, Scalloped circle punch, circle punch

MFT Idol Judges Challenge

This purse card and gift card holder was made for this weeks My Favorite Things - Idol Judges Challenge. MFT graciously gave a week off to the top 6 contestants still in the running and made this week all about the judges. Open to anyone, you could create at will just as long you used MFT stamps.

I must say I was in a bit of a panic last night (at 10:30 p.m.) when I decided to check out the gallery and found out the cards needed to be submitted by this A.M.!! That's what I get for being a procrastinator and not reading the fine print :0). I had this idea in mind but with the hours ticking away, I didn't think I was going to be able to pull it together.

But I've participated every week so far (except the 1st week), and didn't want to miss this one. Especially when the prize was a $50 MFT shopping spree!! So up at 6 a.m. I was and managed to somehow get this accomplished between feeding the animals, getting the kids up and out the door for school and getting myself to work.

This view shows the gift card holder removed from the purse. My DH was just a little curious when he heard me sewing away at 7:00 this a.m. :0)

And finally this view shows a gift card in the holder. I can't take credit for the general purse/gift card holder idea and I can't remember where I saw it, but the rest is all me. I colored the image with my SU! markers and I paper pieced the bag on the gift card holder. For a little texture I Cuttlebug embossed the brown cardstock. Thanks for looking.

Recipe:

Stamps: MFT

Ink: Staz On Black, SU! markers

Accessories: Ribbon - SU!, Eylets - Cropadile, Cuttlebug & embossing folder, Bling -???

Techniques: Sewing

Kwerner Challenge#49

I had fun with this one! Loved the color combo. Pacific Point has got to be one of my favs. It's such a bright cheerful color. Limited stamping this time, but I had fun with the bold colors, geometric shapes and texture. Thanks for looking, Happy Easter!

Recipe:

Stamps: $1 bin at JoAnns

Accessories: Paper Studio button, Michael's ribbon, Circle Spellbinders, Cuttle bug Swiss Dots embossing folder, SU! Scalloped circle and circle punch, SU! hemp twine

Mojo Monday on Friday!

This is another cute little (actually fairly big) stamp set I ordered from Paper Make-up Stamps. I really love their images and the quality of their stamps. They are not photo-polymer but actually REAL rubber which I ordered with the EZ-mount backing so it works just like a clear stamp. The prints are deep and bold. I paired this stamped set with the DCWV Green Stack paper because it just seemed appropriate. I even paper pieced the tops of the acorns with the polka-dotted brown paper and used it as the back of the scalloped circle!

I think I'm going to uses this card for my Nephew's graduation. There is an inside joke with him and squirrels. The sentiment on the inside (also comes with the set) reads.

"The greatest oak was once a little nut who stood it's ground."

I love that and think it will fit in perfectly with graduation.

The images lended themselves perfectly to this weeks Mojo Monday sketch layout. There are some great samples so check them out by clicking on the Mojo Monday badge on the left side-bar. Have a GREAT weekend.

Recipe:
Stamps: Paper Makeup Stamps
Paper: DCWV Greenstack, SU!
Accessories: Michael's ribbon, Brads-Mark Richards

Archiver's Baby Cards

Lots of pics to share today. Last weekend I had a little personal "me" time and took a 1hour Archivers class. For $15 you could obtain one of these super cute Basic Grey card making packs and create these super adorable cards - 8 in all!! The pack contained everything you needed!! No stamping involved, sentiments and a few embellishments were rub-ons, the chipboard accents were self adhesive, and the DP was even precut punch outs! It really couldn't get any easier :0) A quick way to create some super cute hand made cards. Even the envies were included. They also have a birthday card pack currently available as well. Have a happy day!

Recipe:

All supplies Basic Grey

Kitty Sympathy

This card is going out in the mail to my sister today. She just had to make the heartbreaking decision to put her faithful furry friend of 19 years (yes you read that right! 19 YEARS) to sleep. She got "Boots" (aka as Bootsie) when she was in high school. He was her first love. He survived a move to the West Coast, a marriage, 3 kids, two more cats and a dog!! It sucks that our furry companions have such a shorter life span. But for a kitty, Bootsie had a good long one. And a quick note about this card: I don't have that wavy label die, but Michael's had these in their clearance section. They are actually supposed to be used for wedding table cards! They are a heavier cardstock weight and already have the turquoise border around them. Just punch them out and you're done!

Recipe:

Stamps: Whipper Snapper, Paper Trey Ink

Paper: SU!

Accessories: Ribbon, Button- SU!, Printed Ribbon-Michaels

MFT Idol Judges Challenge Week 4

This weeks Idol Judges Challenge was to use a flower set from MFT to create a card. If you didn't have a flower set then you were allowed to use any flower image from MFT. Well, at first I didn't even t hink I was going to participate. I have 4 sets and they are all WTG (Who's that Girl) sets. The only flower I thought I had was either a purse with a flower on it, or the flowered chair that my How Sweet girl was sitting on!! Then I saw this one Lotus flower stamp in the Serenity Now set! This simple little card was very painstaking to put together. I was originally going to combine several challenges into one . . . Dawn McVey's color challenge and SFYTT. But whatever I did just didn't look right. So after HOURS of pushing paper around this is what I finally came up with! It's hard to tell in the photo but the back layer of blue cardstock has the circle coin image stamped on in Versa Mark. It looked really cool on a whole sheet, kinda like polka-dotted background paper. But the more I played with the layout, the smaller the card got and the less of the paper you could see :0(

Anywhoo . . . this is it. Thanks for looking.

Recipe:

Stamps: MFT - Serenity Now

Paper: SU! cardstock, DCWV "Greenstack"

Accessories: Paper piercer, Ribbon - Michaels

KWerner Color Inspiration #48

EDTA: The Turtle was really bugging me. He looked to yellow. I created another one and this time used brown as the back layer. I think the green stands out better now. The rest of the card stayed as is :0)

This turtle looks really yellow in the picture, but it is actually Kiwi Kiss. I got this cute little die in the clearance section at Michael's. It is actually a Cuttle Kids die, but works perfectly fine in my bug :0) The tag is a SU! metal circle tag. I punched out a circle of Baja Breeze and adhered that to the top. The sentiment is stamped with Staz On brown ink right on to the "Green Stack" paper.

Recipe:

Stamps: Cloud 9

Paper: Su! Cardstock, DCWV "Green Stack"

Accessories: SU! Button & twine, Basic Basic ribbon, Su! silver metal circle tag

TCP Tuesday Inspiration Challenge

The Cats Pajamas hosts a weekly challenge and depending on the week it could be color, a specific stamp set or a picture. I decided to participate when I saw this picture of colored pencils. The circles and bright colors just appealed to me and made me smile!

I used an image of sunflowers from Whipper Snapper and masked them to create a field full. I chose random bright colors to color them in and then grounded them all with the same color petals. I don't think Sunflowers or any flower comes in all these colors, but they're bright and cheerful and make me smile :0)

Recipe:

Stamps: Whipper Snapper, Amuse

Paper: SU!

Accessories: Ribbon, button - SU!

Introducing Argus

I missed KWerner's color inspiration challenge this week so I thought I would try Dawn McVey's. Her selection of colors were more springy and more to my liking. I HAD to ink up my new stamp ARGUS from Paper Makeup Stamps. He is just too stinkin' cute with his little teddy bear. Green just seemed to be his color and since we're on our way to see Monsters vs. Aliens at the IMAX today, he seemed like the perfect image to use :0)

Recipe:

Stamps: Paper Makeup Stamps, Michaels

Paper: Daisy D's, SU!

Accessories: SU! button and hemp twine, Ofray ribbon, Square scalloped Nestabilities and Cuttle bug