Merry Christmas

I'm back today with a card for the Get Sketchy sketch challenge. I received the stamps sets I won from Flourishes awhile back, and just had to use them. For this card I inked up the reindeer image from the Christmas Tea set. It's an outline image so I just colored it in with a black marker. Hope you're not tired of that plaid stamp from Martha Stewart, yet - I just love it - skies the limit with this one. I also stamped some polka dots on the black cs with black ink. I'ts hard to see on this picture, but it looks great in person!

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Supplies:

Stamps: Flourishes (Christmas Tea), Verve (Ornamental Christmas), PTI (Polka Dot Basics)

Cardstock: CTMH (Black, Cranberry, Colonial White)

Inks: CTMH (Black, Garnet)

Accessories: CTMH (Cranberry grosgrain ribbon), black button

Christmas Wishes

Hi There! Sorry I'm a little inconsistent with the blog posts lately. I mentioned on an earlier post that I have a house guest for two weeks, so I've been busy playing hostess and entertainer. I've been missing my studio time, so I was determined to make it happen today. While I was shopping at Target today, I saw their new Christmas table decor, and was inspired to make a card. The red, gray and cream with snowflakes just reminded me of an old pair of warm woolen mittens/sweater. I knew I wanted to take this look and translate it to a card for the Moxie Fab World Old Country Christmas Challenge. I scoured through the various sketch challenges this week in the blog world, and ran across this fantastic Sweet Sunday sketch from The Sweetest Thing Blog. I knew this was perfect. As you can see, I reduced the sketch to make it an accent on my card base. I love doing this - it gives it a whole new look.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Supplies:

Stamps: Verve(sentiment), all others from CTMH

Cardstock: CTMH (Grey Flannel, Colonial White, Tulip)

Inks: CTMH (Grey Wool, Tulip), Versamark

Accessories: PTI Vintage Button, Button Twine

Other: Marvy Snowflake Punch, Ivory Embossing Powder

So Thankful for You

What a challenge over at Just Us Girls this week! We are supposed to make a thank you card using pumpkin, rust and light blue. I love these colors together, but I had a hard time putting them together in a pleasing way. Here's my attempt:

I used CTMH's Goldrush, Autumn Terracotta and Crystal Blue. The blue is photographing a little aqua here, but IRL it's definately more blue. I also decided to use the sketch from Unscripted Sketches for the card. I LOVE this sketch, and will definately be using it again!!

Thanks for stopping by today!!

Supplies:

Stamps: PTI (Background Basics: Diamonds and Vintage Picnic), CTMH (Damask Tiles), Verve (So Happy)

Cardstock: CTMH (White Daisy, Goldrush and Crystal Blue)

Inks: CTMH (Crystal Blue, Autumn Terracotta, Goldrush, Sweet Leaf and Black)

Accessories: PTI (Vintage Buttons, Button Twine)

Thanks, Just Us Girls

Found out today that I was chosen as "Chic of the Week" for this card at Just Us Girls. So fun! Thanks, JUGS!

Celebrate Card Patterns

The sketch from Card Patterns this week is a great sketch with so much potential! For some reason, though, it scared me!! I was having a hard time wrapping my head around an idea. I was determined to not let it get the better of me - to conquer it! I'm glad I did. Though I'm not 100% happy with the outcome, I am 100% happy with my efforts! Ha Ha Ha!

I made a two-layer butterfly (idea from "Tips & Tricks" in the May 2009 issue of Creating Keepsakes) for the main focal point and added some pearls for softness. Thanks so much for stopping by today!

All supplies are from CTMH

Embossed Warmest Wishes

Hey There! It's been a couple days since I've posted! I've been busy preparing the house for a house guest who arrived today. She'll be staying for 2 weeks, so there was lots to prepare!! Anyhow, I've been dying to get back into the studio because there are some really great challenges out there this week! I made this card for the sketch challenge at 2 Sketches 4 You. It's a great sketch, but once again I struggled with the circle piece. After several different tries, I ended up with this card/pouch which I am pleased with. It's actually a pocket to hold hot chocolate, gift certificate or any other small gift.

I was also able to incorporate the dry embossing challenge at Just Us Girls, (We were supposed to make a birthday card, so I used the sentiment "warmest wishes" so that it could be used for either birthday or Christmas). I used the Quickutz embossing folder and then lightly sanded it so the white core could show through. Fun, huh? Hope you're not growing tired of this color combo, but I LOVE it! Thanks for stopping by today!

Supplies:

Stamps: Verve (Delightful & Delicious), Martha Stewart Clear Patterns, PTI (Holiday Treats), CTMH (Connections)

Cardstock: CTMH (Cocoa, Heavenly Blue and White Daisy)

Inks: CTMH (Cocoa and Tulip)

Accessories: Martha Stewart (Ribbon and Baker's Twine), CTMH (Craft Buttons)
Tools: EK Success Edge Punch, Marvy Circle Punch, Quickutz Embossing Folder

Be Still...

Needed a little creative time today, so decided to make a card for Unscripted Sketches #31. I struggled with this one a bit because of the 3 circles on the side. Not sure why it wasn't coming together, but after some playing around, and tweaking here and there, I came up with a composition that was pleasing to me. The sentiment stamp was a purchase from Verve Stamps last month, and I knew I wanted to ink it up for the first time on this card. The inside reads "Praying for you" (also from Verve). A perfect card for someone who's going through a hard time, or a great one for me to keep on my desk as a daily reminder of Who's in control!

I've said this before, but I love how sketches just get your creative juices flowing. I'll admit they can be frustrating at times, but then I know that I am stretching myself. You should give it a try!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Supplies:

Stamps: Verve Stamps (Psalm 46:10), Martha Stewart Clear Patterns

Cardstock: PTI Kraft, CTMH Colonial White

Patterned Paper: CTMH Perfect Day

Inks: CTMH Desert Sand, Colonial White, Blush

Accessories: CTMH Organic Dimensionals (Buttons), Grosgrain Ribbon

I Won!

Just hopped on the computer for the day and found out I won the Favorite Things challenge at the Flourish Blog for this project. THANK YOU SO MUCH, Flourishes!!

Happy Anniversary

A quick post today. My Dad and Mom will be celebrating their 45th Wedding Anniversary next month, so I wanted to have a card ready (I'm ususually scrambling to put one together because I get so caught up with the holiday hoopla). I used this clean and simple sketch #114 from CPS - a style that I love! CTMH's Childhood Portraits stamp set is one of the cutest sets! Isn't that silhouette of the boy & girl just precious. Perfect for an anniversary! No sentiment on the outside of this card, but the inside simply reads "happy anniversary".

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Supplies:

Stamps: PTI Borders and Corners Oval and Vintage Labels (for the patterned paper), CTMH Childhood Portraits

Cardstock: CTMH Colonial White, Cocoa, Tulip

Inks: CTMH Tulip, Cocoa and Desert Sand

Accessories: PTI Button Twine

Warmest Wishes for the Holidays!

I was doing a lot of blog hopping this past weekend and ran across another stamp company that was new to me! (I know, just what I need!) Anyhow, Flourishes, was the company that I happened upon and they were having a super fun challenge. The challenge is to create a card that is inspired by the song, These are a Few of My Favorite Things (click on the title to see the challenge details). Well, this got my wheels spinning! My first thought was "what a fun and creative challenge", and then, "I think I might need some new stamps". After this find I found another challenge at Verve Stamps this week for homemade gift items. This is how these darling milk cartons from My Timeless Templates by Lauren Meader began. I plan on making up a number of these filled with a packet of hot chocolate, cookies and a candy cane. Won't they make a cute little token gift for those people in your life that just bless you in small ways, like the secretaries at my kids' school or my favorite cashier at the grocery store who I will wait twice as long to check out just to get a chance to say "Hi". Well, you get the jist. The best part about these little packages is that it goes to show you that there is room in this industry for lots of companies. I used stamps from Close To My Heart, Papertrey Ink, Verve Stamps, Martha Stewart, and when I get one from Flourishes, I'll use that, too! If you are still reading this, to you I say, "Thank You" for hanging in there with me! You are one of those people who blesses me in small ways! This is the one that started it all. I was inspired by the phrase "Warm Woolen Mittens" from the song, My Favorite Things. I used CTMH's Just for the Holidays.

Here I used an ornament stamp from Verve, but doesn't it make a cute tag?

Last, I used the Martha Stewart stamp to create this fun plaid, then added an additional stripe in Colonial White. The stocking is a shape from CK Lettering that I cut out and pieced myself.

So, there you have it. Thanks for stopping by today!

Tuesday Trigger With Gratitude

Over on the Moxie Fab World Blog is Cath's next Tuesday Trigger. This photo above is our inspiration. Isn't that place setting gorgeous?!

For my card I wanted to try to duplicate the napkin pattern, and didn't it turn out pretty? I think I'm going to be making some more of this design! I used PTI's Borders & Corners Oval, as well as the images from Vintage Labels. I added a gold pumpkin image from PTI's Vintage Picnic to the gold ribbon, and finished it off with some paper from CTMH's Grace Kit and the sentiment was the perfect fit!

Thanks for stopping by today! Have a good one!

Supplies:

Stamps: PTI Vintage Labels, Vintage Picnic, Borders & Corners Oval, CTMH Thank You

Cardstock: CTMH Textured Twilight and Colonial White

Patterned Paper: CTMH Grace

Inks: CTMH Desert Sand, Twilight, Versamark Watermark Ink

Accessories: Gold Ribbon from stash

Get Sketchy Thank You

I thought about taking a week off from challenges this week to get caught up on some things at home, but when I saw Get Sketchy's sketch this week, my thoughts changed. Now I have to be honest with you, when I first saw it I thought, "that's not my style - good week to take off". Then I began thinking about the purposes of challenges. Aren't they meant to sometimes stretch you? Am I growing in my hobby only doing sketches that work for me? Well, I became determined to meet this challenge, and I couldn't be happier with the results!

I decided to shrink the sketch to make it a focal point on a card base, added another one of those layered flowers, and voila! - done!!

Thanks for stopping by today!

All supplies from CTMH, unless noted:

Stamps: Thank You

Cardstock: Cocoa, Bazzill Kraft

Patterned Paper: Grace Paper Pack

Ink: Cocoa

Accessories: Basic Craft Buttons, PTI Button Twine

Tools: Marvy flower punches

Gift in a Gift Tag

Just a quick post today. I've been busy catching up on life this weekend. A good house cleaning and some Christmas shopping does a girl good! I thought I'd share a couple of gift tags I put together for some of my gifts this year. Both tags are actually little pockets that hold a Ghiradelli Chocolate - a little extra gift in a tag.

This stocking was a template I found on the computer that I paper pieced together.

The gingerbread boy is a fun find from a company called Great Papers. Isn't he so cute?! Thought these would be fun for the nieces and nephews, and if my kids are nice, maybe they can have one, too. (:
Thanks for stopping by today!

Christmas Photo Cards

Just us Girls is calling for Holiday Photo Cards this week. I was so excited about that because I'm hoping to get some good ideas for my cards this year. I have made photo cards every year since my first son was born (this will be the 10th year!) and it's something I look forward to each year. I generally make about 150 of them, so for me they need to be somewhat easy to put together. I thought I'd share a couple of cards from past Christmases. This first one I sent out 2 years ago, but changed up the paper because the paper I used is discontinued, but this one has the same feel.

This next card was actually a reject from last year, but I changed up the embellishments and sentiment. I ended up going with aqua and brown last year, so this didn't make the cut.

A vintage picture, but it went with the color scheme (:

Thanks for stopping by today!

Joy

Well, here's a card I made with a whole bunch of random products I've purchased this year without having a real purpose for them. Why do I do that? Anyhow, I gathered some of them up to make a card for this week's sketch over at Get Sketchy. I'm in the Christmas mode right now, but wanted to change it up a bit by using a more whimsical color scheme.

This picture shows a more accurate color of fuschia and apple green, along with dark chocolate. I was able to use up some more of these White Chocolate Chip alphabet chipboard stickers from Basic Grey, too.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Supplies

Stamps: CTMH (Christmas Greetings)

Cardstock: PTI (Dark Chocolate)

Patterned Paper: Bo Bunny and Lasting Impressions

Inks: CTMH (Clover Meadow)

Accessories: Basic Grey (chipboard stickers), Michael's (felt stitched ribbon)

Hello There

Embellish Magazine had another color challenge that I tried my hand at. This particular challenge also called for an owl image. I haven't jumped on board with the whole "woodsy animals" trend, but Embellish Magazine graciously provided a digital image to use, so it left me no excuse not to play. I paper pieced the owl to give it a little more dimension, and added some brown pearl stickers to the eyes. The tree branch is from CTMH's HeartFelt Die Cuts.

Close To My Heart's Twitterpated collection was the perfect papers for this color combo! I also used the sketch from Mojo Monday as my inspiration. I love the versatility of this sketch!

There was a lot of "fuss" cutting for this card. It turned out okay, but I'm not sold that all that precision cutting was worth the effort, yet (:. Anyhow, thanks for stopping by today and taking a look!

Supplies

Stamps: CTMH (Hello There - Twitterpated Workshop on the Go Kit)

Cardstock: CTMH (Chocolate, Colonial White, Sweet Leaf)

Patterned Paper: CTMH (Twitterpated)

Inks: CTMH (Chocolate, Sweet Leaf)

Digital Image: Owl (Embellish Magazine)

Accessories: CTMH (HeartFelt Die Cuts, Twill Stickstock), Embroidery Floss (Making Memories)

Warmest Wishes

I am in the full swing of Christmas this week! I started thinking about gifts and making lists. One thing I always like to keep on hand during the holidays is gift card holders. Here is a card I made that also holds a gift card (it would be perfect for Starbucks or my all-time favorite "The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf") I used the sketch from Unscripted Sketches . I loved the layered look of this sketch.

I've had these mini paper bags for going on 4 years, and decided to stop hoarding and start using! I wanted to add a candy cane to my coffee cup, but didn't have any stamp the right size, so found a digital image in Printshop that worked. I was able to whip up 4 of these cards - I'm feeling really prepared! Thanks for stopping by and taking a look!

Supplies:

Stamps: Verve (Delightful & Delicious), PTI (Holiday Labels)

Cardstock: PTI (Dark Chocolate and Aqua Mist), CTMH (Colonial White)

Patterned Paper: CTMH (Jingle)

Inks: CTMH (Cocoa, Tulip, Colonial White)

Accessories: CTMH (Sparkle Brad), Mini Paper Bags (stash)

Tools: Fiskars Scalloped Edge Punch