With Gratitude

It's that time again for the next Get Sketchy Challenge! I love these challenges to jumpstart your creativity!

I used CTMH Twitterpated papers and dimensionals on this card. Thought I'd make a card to give to my Aunt - who always hosts our Thanksgiving Dinner each year. I'm usually never this organized to have my cards ready before the actual event - another great reason to participate in challenges! Thanks for looking!

Here are the specs:

Stamps: CTMH (Thank You and November Word Puzzle), PTI (Borders and Corners: Oval)

Cardstock: CTMH (Textured Chocolate, Colonial White)

Patterned Paper: CTMH (Twitterpated)

Inks: CTMH (Chocolate, Desert Sand)

Accessories: CTMH Craft Buttons, CTMH Dimensional Elements in Color, PTI Button Twine, Brown Satin Ribbon

Top 5

Just read that I made the Top 5 over at the Get Sketchy blog for this card. What fun it is to be recognized! Thank you!!

Desk Top Organizer

I decided to put together a little note card set with all of the cheery cards I've made this past week. I used the My Timeless Template - Desk Top Organizer to create this card holder. You can purchase these templates at Papertrey Ink. They are a cinch to put together!

I added a liner with some more of the papers from Colorbok's The Sweet Life. I also made a cover for it - the trick is to make it just a hair smaller than the desk organizer so it can fit inside. Just fill it with your handmade cards, add the cover and tie a cute bow, and you're good to go!

I also added another card to the set to make it an even 4. You can see the other cards here, here, and here. You can view the supplies used on any of these other posts. Thanks for looking!

2 Sketches 4 You

There's nothing like a sketch challenge to get you inspired! My blogger friend, Laurel S. (Thanks, Laurel!), turned me onto the 2 Sketches 4 You Challenge Blog. This is sketch #36.

Once again, I used some leftover Colorbok paper and chipboard. Love the bright and cheery colors! I've made so many cards with these leftovers, that I decided to put together a little card set to give to a friend. I'll try to post that in the next couple days. Anyhow, thanks for looking today!

Supplies:

Stamps: CTMH (Intrinsic Backgrounds), PTI (Mega Mixed Messages)

Cardstock: CTMH (Crystal Blue and White Daisy)

Patterned Paper: Colorbok (The Sweet Life)

Inks: CTMH (Crystal Blue)

Accessories: Pink stitched ribbon, red sparkles, Colorbok Chipboard (cupcake from The Sweet Life)

Moxie Fab Gradient Challenge

The Moxie Fab World blog has thrown out a challenge to use monochromatic gradient coloring. You can view the specifics here. To create the gradient effect, I clear embossed the damask design onto Colonial White CS, and then sponged varying shades of browns (Bamboo, Desert Sand, Chocolate). Such a cool technique!
I needed a card for my niece who just got married this weekend and I was able to incorporate the CPS #135 sketch. Bonus!! Thanks for looking!

Supplies:
Stamps: CTMH (Damask Tiles). PTI (Background Basics:Text Style, Heartfelt Basics)
Cardstock: CTMH (Colonial White, Chocolate, Bamboo)
Inks: CTMH (Chocolate, Desert Sand, Bamboo), Versamark Watermark
Accessories: Reminisce Pear Stickers, Ivory Satin Ribbon
Other: EK Success Diamond Scallop Edge Punch and Corner Rounder, Clear Embossing Powder

Get Sketchy #7

Here's a great card sketch from the Get Sketchy Blog. Not only was this a fun and easy card to pull together, but the bonus is you get a chance to win some great product! Check it out and play along!!

Just like my previous post, I used some leftover Colobok products to make this card, along with some PTI Stamps. Another cheery one today. Thanks for looking!

Supplies:

Stamps: PTI (Polka Dot Basics and Everyday Buttons)

Cardstock: CTMH (White Daisy and Textured Crystal Blue)

Patterned Paper: Colorbok (The Sweet Life)

Inks: CTMH (Crystal Blue and White Daisy Pigment)

Accessories: Colorbok Chipboard (The Sweet Life), Back to Basics Red Stitched Ribbon

Other: Marvy Scalloped Cirle Punch. EK Success Corner Rounder

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

Some news and a card

Just a quick card today and then some news. This card uses a similar color scheme as the card I posted a couple days ago for the Clean and Simple Sketch. I stamped the polka dots onto Crystal Blue CS using White Daisy Ink, sewed a frame and then re-sewed a second time around randomly. I added 1/8' hole punch pieces to the cupcake for the sprinkles - those were a bugger to glue on! I listed the supplies below.

Now on to the news: Last week I received an acceptance email for one of my cards to be published in Papercrafts, Stamp It! 2010 Magazine. This is my very first card to be published, and I was thrilled beyond words. So, I want to say a big THANK YOU to all the bloggers out there who continually inspire and encourage me.

Supplies:

Stamps: CTMH (Cupcake Sprinkles), PTI (Polka Dot Basics and Everyday Buttons)

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

Inks: CTMH (Creme Brulee, Chocolate and White Daisy)

Accessories: CTMH (Tulip Grosgrain Ribbon)

Golf Lessons

I haven't been working much lately. As a substitute teacher, the jobs are a little slim in September. The good thing is I'm getting some scrapbooking in. This is a layout for my oldest's album from last summer. Golf is such a lovely sport - the greens in the pictures are amazing!

I found these great American Crafts papers that went wonderfully with the color scheme. Also by American Crafts are the black sparkly Thickers alphabet. This layout came together quick! Love that! Thanks for looking!

Supplies:

Stamps: Retired "Golfers" by CTMH (old woodies!) and CTMH Save the Date

Cardstock: Bazzill Whipped Mousse, CTMH White Daisy and Black

Patterned Paper: American Crafts Metropolitan (stripe and green)

Inks: CTMH Black

Accessories: American Crafts Thickers, Kaiser Crafts Black Rhinestones

CPS Challenge #134

Participated in CPS sketch #134. This one threw me a bit with the 3 circles, but then I found a butterfly that I already had stamped and cut just sitting there waiting to be used for something. This is what I came up with:

I stamped the card base with 2nd generation Desert Sand Ink using PTI's Background Basics: Text Style. The Spellbinder's butterflies were made with CTMH Taffy cardstock and then stamped with Damask Tiles with Sorbet Ink. Added some pearls and these darling emellishments are finished. The sentiment is a new set I purchased from Verve Stamps. Love these sentiments! Thanks for looking!

Supplies:

Stamps: CTMH (Damask Tiles), PTI (Background Basics: Text Style), Verve Stamps (So Happy)
Cardstock: CTMH (Colonial White and Taffy)
Patterned Paper: CTMH (Twitterpated)

Inks: CTMH (Desert Sand, Sorbet)

Accessories: Reminisce (Pearl Stickers), Ivory Satin Ribbon

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

Trick or Treat

In keeping with the seasonal appropriate posts, I worked on my daughter's scrapbook layout yesterday. This was her Halloween costume from 2008. (She was a tennis player and my other daughter was a waitress.) Both of my girls wore pink for their costume. Typically pink is not exactly a "Halloween" color, so when I found this paper from American Crafts, I knew it would be perfect for these pictures. I stamped the green paper with CTMH's Intrinsic Backgrounds in Chocolate ink and the pumpkins from Frightenin' Fun in Goldrush. The leaves are cut from a Cuttlebug die. The "Trick-or-Treat" Rub-on is made with a product called Grafix Rub-Onz. This cool product lets you create your own rub-ons using your own computer and printer. When I can't find what I'm looking for, I'll turn to this new find!

Thanks for looking!

Supplies:

Stamps: CTMH Intrinsic Backgrounds and Frightenin' Fun

Cardstock: Bazzil Kraft, CTMH White Daisy and Goldrush
Patterned Paper: Amercian Crafts Everyday Gidday

Inks: CTMH Goldrush and Chocolate

Tools: Cuttlebug Leaf Die and Machine, Grafix Rub-Onz

Give Thanks

Hi Y'all! I thought I'd post a season appropriate card today. I've been posting so much Christmas stuff lately I was starting to feel a little panicked that I wasn't ready for Christmas. Then I remembered we hadn't even hit fall, yet. Anyhow, this is another card I made for the Rasberry Suite Color Challenge awhile back, only I missed the deadline. Hope this will help to get you in the mood for my most favorite time of year! Thanks for looking!

Here are the specs:

Stamps: CTMH Thoughful Seasons, PTI Polka Dot Basics, Martha Stewart Clear Patterns Stamp set

Cardstock: PTI Kraft, CTMH Chocolate and Colonial White

Ink: CTMH Sunflower, Chocolate, and Olive

Accessories: Moxxie Buttons (brown), CTMH Craft Buttons (yellow and ivory), PTI Summer Sunrise Ribbon, Hemp

CPS #133

This is CPS #133 Sketch. Since I received my new CTMH goodies, I just had to make another Christmas card so I could use my new stamp sets. I promise I'll lay off the Christmas cards now, for awhile.

I used the new set, "Just for the Holidays" for this card. I love these nostaligic labels! I also used the "Damask Tiles" to stamp the cranberry cs (if you're a blog reader, you know how much I love this set). The polka dot ribbon image is from PTI's Holiday Labels. The olive cs is punched with the EK Success Edge punch. I added some stitching and ribbon to finish it off. Very traditional, isn't it? Thanks for looking!

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!

Christmas Joy

I got a new box of goodies from Close To My Heart yesterday and I couldn't wait to play. I quickly got through my Saturday chores and errands, and then took some time in the studio. The set I was most excited to play with is the new Stocking Style. There are lots of fun options with this set.
For this card I stamped a pattern of Decorative Dainties with Olive ink on Colonial White CS. Then I stamped the stocking image with Sweet Leaf right over top. I stamped the heel, toe and holly pieces with New England Ivy and cut out. I adhered the heel and toe pieces and added some stitching. I stamped the cuff with Olive and the "Joy" with New England Ivy. The card base is PTI Kraft stamped with PTI Background Basics:Text Style in Colonial White Ink. I smudged the edges of the card with some more colonial white.

The stocking is attached using foam tape. The holly needed a little bling so I added some red sparkles. I'm loving this set! 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

Making up with my oldest

My oldest son, Seth, was checking out my blog the other day. A few days later he very quietly asked me why there wasn't a scrapbook page posted of him, yet. I realized then that I had pages of everybody but him. I explained that I was new to this blog thing and that I didn't start until after his birthday. I've also been having so much fun with card challenges lately that I've neglected my scrapbooking. This layout is not new of him, and I can't even remember what products I used, but I want to make it right with him.

Yet again, another "bad mom" moment. You could get me out of hot water if you could comment about him. (Seems he's read the comments of his siblings, as well.) He really is a very handsome boy with a kind heart. He is ten years old now and an avid reader. He excels in school, is extremely friendly, very responsible, and he loves basketball. I adore my oldest - I hope he knows it. Anyhow, thanks for looking!

Moxie Fab Challenge #2

Well, I had some time today so I spent it in my studio making another card for the Moxie Fab World Stretch Your Holiday Style Challenge. If you're not familiar with the challenges, you should check them out! Today's card is for the stamping challenge. I stamped the polka dots on the chocolate card base and stamped some plaid on the cranberry scalloped strip. The focal image was also stamped with a little text and then, of course, the "Merry Christmas". It's simple, but I love the color combo - a little vintage, yet trendy. Thanks for looking!

Here are the specs:

Stamps: PTI Polka Dot Basics II and Background Basics: Text Style, Martha Stewart clear pattern stamps, CTMH December Word Puzzle and No Peeking

Cardstock: CTMH Chocolate, Cranberry, Juniper and Colonial White

Inks: CTMH Chocolate, Cranberry

Accessories: Moxxie Buttons, Ribbon (unknown) and CTMH Pearls, hemp

Tools: Fiskars Scalloped Edge Punch, Martha Stewart Snowflake punch

Color Challenge - Thank you

Well, my kids started school this morning. I'm not sure why this year (it's not like it's a new thing anymore), but I felt very emotional and lonely! Being productive and creative are two things that always get me out of a funk, so I spent some time in the studio today. It was extremely hot and humid here today and not feeling fall at all, but this card I made for Dawn's Rasberry Suite Color Challenge definately got me in the fall mood. I missed her last color challenge - too busy - so really wanted to try this one. This card also happens to use a sketch from Get Sketchy. Two challenges in one card - I love that!

I had this really fun damask ribbon from Offray I had been waiting to use, so thought this would be the perfect card to use it on. I stamped the plaid background with Martha Stewart's pattern stamps. Thanks for looking!

Here are the specs:

Stamps: Martha Stewart clear pattern stamps, PTI Polka Dot Basics and Heartfelt Basics, CTMH Autumn Splendor
Cardstock: CTMH Chocolate, Colonial White, PTI Kraft

Inks: CTMH Chocolate, Sunflower

Accessories: Offray ribbon, CTMH Hemp