I Know, I Know....

Hello bloggers! I know, I know, I'm about the flakiest blogger out there! I promised a post earlier this past week, but time got away from me. I went back to the classroom to set up and prepare for my students, who start this coming Wednesday, and then my own children started school this past Wednesday. Just a busy time a year. Naturally, I went to the sketch from Clean and Simple to make a quick card to post for you. I happened to have a stamped up card base from when I was working with the new colors from Close To My Heart, but I hadn't used it, yet. I added the cocoa sentiment strip and the text style butterflies, and the card was done! As you can tell, I kept the same color scheme from this card, which is why I had a stamped up card base to begin with, but ended up taking a different route. Anyhow, enough rambling. I have been working on some back-to-school "trinkets" for my fellow teachers, which I hope to share soon. Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Supplies

Stamps: CTMH Damask Tiles; PTI Polka Dot Basics II, Background Basics: Text Style

Cardstock: PTI Rustic White; CTMH Cocoa

Inks: CTMH Smoothie, Cocoa; Versamark

Accessories: CTMH Clear Sparkles; Ivory Pearl embossing powder

Thinking of You

No, I have not fallen off the face of the earth, but it sure feels like it! I mentioned in my last post, which was over a week ago, that I was nursing sick kids. Well, my kids went from bad to worse last week, but it's looking like were on the mend. Finally! I had two VERY sick boys, and am so thankful they are starting to feel better! I took today off of work just to catch up, so I stole a few minutes in the studio during lunch. I made a card for the Embellish Magazine Color Challenge and used the sketch from Clean and Simple's Fall-to-Layout #80. Pastels have never been my love, so this was a true challenge! I stamped the plaid background with the stripe stamp from PTI's Background Basics: Retro, and I used CTMH's baby pink, sorbet, buttercup and sweet leaf. I actually ended up really liking the plaid, but still not sure about the card. It may take me a couple of days to get back into the swing of things. I felt like the whole world went on without me!

Supplies

Stamps: CTMH Springtime; PTI Background Basics: Retro, Through the Trees, Polka Dot Basics II

Cardstock: CTMH Buttercup, Sweet Leaf; PTI Rustic Cream

Inks: CTMH Sorbet, Sweet Leaf, Baby Pink, Buttercup

Accessories: Ribbon from stash

Fill this day with joy!

Hey there! Hope your weekend is going well. Most of our weekend was spent nursing sick kids, but I did get a chance to go out for dinner last night with some dear friends! Yummy food and great company - bliss! Anyhow, I snuck away to the studio this morning to make yet another card for the color/birthday challenge at Embellish Magazine. I wasn't completely happy with the last card I made, so wanted to try again. This color combo has been difficult for me. Still not over the moon for this card, but not ashamed of it either. I used this week's fall-to-layout #79 from Clean & Simple as my starting point. The focal image is the balloons from PTI's Everyday Button Bits. I used some more of my handstamped striped paper (I told you I wouldn't be stopping anytime soon!) Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Supplies:

Stamps: PTI Everyday Button Bits, Polka Dot Basics II; CTMH Boutique Borders, Circle Around

Cardstock: CTMH Hollyhock, Chocolate; PTI Rustic Cream

Inks: CTMH Chocolate, Hollyhock, Topiary, Outdoor Denim

Accessories: CTMH Craft Buttons

You're So Sweet

Hey There! I'm back today with a card I made for the Moxie Fab World Tuesday Trigger. This trigger picture inspired me mostly with color. I LOVE red and yellow together - it is such a happy combination! So, I went with that in my card. And, when I think "happy", one of the things that come to mind is cherries! I was given some October Afternoon rub-ons that I, of course, have been hording, so I pulled those out for this challenge.

I used the sketch from Clean & Simple Fall-to-Layout #78, which I fell in love with! I love these sketches so much because they go so well with my style. Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Supplies:

Stamps: CTMH Noted Backgrounds; PTI Polka Dot Basics II and Everyday Button Bits

Cardstock: PTI Rustic White, Pure Poppy; CTMH Creme Brulee

Inks: CTMH Creme Brulee, Vanilla Cream and Desert Sand; PTI Pure Poppy

Accessories: CTMH Creme Brulee stitched ribbon; October Afternoon Rub-ons

Tools: Cuttlebug die

Sweet Wishes

Taking a break from Christmas because I need to get a jump on my January birthday cards. With 2 nieces, a nephew, a sister and a couple of friends with birthdays in January, I need to get an early start. Here is one I made using Clean and Simple's Fall-to-Layout #70. I love this easy to create sketch, and will definately be using it again! For this card I clear embossed the polka dots onto a cocoa card base (fun technique with a cool look - you should try it!) I also stamped the diamond image with cocoa ink onto a hot pink piece of scrap. I thought it needed just a bit of another color, so I added the aqua ribbon and flower brad just to amp it up a bit.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Supplies:

Stamps: CTMH Cupcake Sprinkles, PTI Background Basics: Diamonds, Polka Dot Basics II, Everday Button Bits

Cardstock: CTMH White Daisy, Cocoa

Patterned Paper: Scraps from stash

Inks: CTMH Cocoa, Versamark

Accessories: Making Memories ribbon and flower brad, CTMH sparkle brad and clear embossing powder

Clean and Simple #64

Didn't get a chance to participate in last week's Clean and Simple Challenge, so made a point to do it this week. The layout has always been an old stand-by for me. Only, I didn't notice until I uploaded the pictures that the sentiment was supposed to be on the top. Oh well! I actually think it works better on the striped pattern anyways.

I didn't really have a plan of the direction I was going with the card, I just started with DCWV's Nana's Nursery. Once I had the base, I remembered about a color challenge I had run across in my blog hopping on Saturday from Just Us Girls. So, that's how the red flower came to be.

I still have another card I made specifically for this challenge. I hope to post in the next couple of days. (I told you I was productive on Sunday!) Thanks for looking!

Supplies:

Stamps: PTI (Mega Mixed Messages)

Cardstock: CTMH (Colonial White), PTI (Pure Poppy)

Patterned Paper: DCWV (Nana's Nursery Baby Boy Mat Pad)

Inks: Versamark

Accessories: CTMH (Basic Craft Button), Ivory Grosgrain Ribbon, PTI Button Twine

Fall to Layout #61

The Clean & Simple Blog posted their new Fall-to-Layout #61. I love these super simple, yet classy sketches. They make pulling a card together so easy!

For this card I used some leftover paper from Colorbok and some PTI stamps. I thought it turned out so cheery. Thanks for looking!

Supplies:

Stamps: PTI (Everyday Buttons and Polka Dot Basics)

Cardstock: CTMH (White Daisy and Textured Crystal Blue)

Patterned Paper: Colorbok (The Sweet Life)

Inks: CTMH (Crystal Blue, Sweet Leaf and White Daisy Pigment)

Accessories: CTMH (Holiday Red Craft Buttons)

Other: Scrapper's Floss, Embossing Powder, Marvy Circle Punch and Fiskars Scallop Edge Punch

Another Clean and Simple Challenge

Another attempt at the new Fall to Layout #60 from the Clean and Simple Blog. For some reason this card didn't turn out like I had envisioned, so I'm not 100 percent pleased with it. I don't hate it, I just don't love it. I think it would be a perfect card for one of my kids' friends, though.

Anyhow, I stamped the background plaid using Martha Stewart's Clear Patterned Stamps, and I couldn't resist the balloon image from PTI's Everday Buttons. Very cheerful! Thanks for looking!

Supplies:

Stamps: Martha Stewart Clear Patterned Stamps, PTI Everyday Buttons, Polka Dot Basics II

Cardstock: CTMH Heavenly Blue, White Daisy and Sweet Leaf

Inks: CTMH Crystal Blue, Black and Sweet Leaf

Accessories: CTMH Cranbery Ribbon, CTMH Craft buttons (Sweet Leaf, Crystal Blue and Cranberry), CTMH Clear Sparkles

Clean and Simple Joy

Here's some more with the new Stocking Style stamp set from Close To My Heart. I used the Clean and Simple Fall-to-Layout #59 for this card. I'm loving their sketches! I stamped the stocking in Baby Pink and then added the Snowflake image in Baby Pink right over top. I added the stitching with a Cranberry marker. The bow is made with some fun new ruffled ribbon I found at my LSS. Then I was able to add one of the new Holiday buttons, too! Once again I added some bling to the holly (stamped in Topiary). The card base is PTI Kraft and edged with some White Daisy Ink. The polka dots and "Sending Joy" are also from PTI. Thanks for looking!

Sweet Baby Boy

During my blog hopping a couple weeks back, I found another fun challenge at the Clean & Simple blog. I love this look! I love all of the clean sketches. The hard part for me is keeping it simple (clean I can do, but simple is tough). As you can see, I added a bit of stitching and finished it off with a satin ribbon knot. I know it probably didn't need it, but I love satin ribbon, especially for babies! The paper I used here are scraps leftover from a layout I worked on yesterday. I used my CTMH stamps to make the stars, and the sentiment used a couple of different stamp sets. The specs are below. Thanks for looking!

Supplies:
Stamps: CTMH Thoughtful Seasons, Shining Star, Solo B, PTI Mega Mixed Messages
Paper: Basic Grey and My Mind's Eye, CTMH Colonial White CS
Inks: CTMH Chocolate
Tools: EK Success Edge Punch, Sewing Machine