Thinking of You

Here is a nice and elegant card for a few challenges. The layout is based on the sketch from Mojo Monday. This week's challenge at the Cuttlebug Spot is the create a Sympathy/Thinking of You card. I also incorporated the challenge from Bitten By the Bug 2, which is to use the cup cut from the Joys of the Season cartridge. Finally I also made this for Pile it On. Their challenge is: "get in shape," use more than five cut-out shapes on your card. I made this card at 5"x7" and layered all my pieces on. The top border on both the front and the inside is a Spellbinders die. I used the Polka Dots embossing folder on the black background. The ovals are cut at 5" and 4 3/4" from George and Basic Shapes and the cup is cut at 2 1/2." All the paper I used in this card is from DCWV, their new Black Currant stack.

Northern Lights

This one is for the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge this week, which is "the great outdoors." This is a set of northern lights wall hangings I made for my house. The ironic thing...I have yet to see a really good display of the northern lights up here in Alaska. So far all I have seen is some mild greens, none of the fun colors. Maybe someday. These were created using 4"x12" canvases that I streched some northern lights fabric over. I used a home dec stapler to attach the fabric on. I then used the Camp Out cartridge to cut out the moose and wolf. I used the cut to length feature to make sure they fit the width of the canvas. I adhered them onto the fabric and then hung them in the arched pattern. I think I want to make some more and make it look even more like it is moving, but it will have to wait because I am making a set of these for a friend of mine who just moved from Alaska down to Georgia. I think she will appreciate them since she won't be able to see them anymore.

I'm NUTS about you!

Managed to make a second card today. This one is inspired by this week's Cupcake Inspirations. It is a wonderful cupcake tree with squirrels, owls, trees, mushrooms, flowers and some wonderful colors. The layout is using Card Patterns sketch #77. I used Give a Hoot for the tree and the cute little kissing squirrels. The acorns are from B is for Boy. The base paper for the card and the blue cloud paper is from the Flower Shower stack from DCWV. I can't believe I almost didn't buy this stack, I have been using it so much. I did wait until it went on clearance though. ;) The inside says, "I'm NUTS about you!" I thought it would a cute litte card for an anniversary or Valentine's Day or something like that.

Howdy Pardner!

It has been so hot up here for the past couple of days. The kind of heat where you just don't want to do anything, so I really haven't been, yesterday at least. I thought I would do something today though. I want my normal Alaska summer back, where it is warm, but not stifling hot. Here is the creation I made today. This is the sketch from 365 Cards and I used the theme from Just Us Girls, which is "wild wild west." I used Old West for all the cuts. I used my Gypsy to weld the "howdy pardner!" sentiment. I used some black Stickles for the dots on the sentiment. The patterned paper is all from the Guy Stack from DCWV. I stamped "happy birthday" on the inside.

Flower Script

This card is for a couple of challenges. One is the Alphabet Challenge Blog where this week is "P is for Punches." I used two punches on this one, the border and the flowers. Both of the punches are from EK Success. It is also for today's challenge at 365 Cards. Their challenge for today is an ad inspiration challenge. The ad is for Williams Sonoma and features a vase of tulips in front of two books. I love the simplicity of the ad and the colors, so I wanted to do that with my card. I used brown for the base of the card and cut a 2 1/2" strip of green paper that I punched on both sides. I layered my shimmery white punched flowers on the green paper. I ran a piece of white paper through my Cuttlebug, using the Script Texture embossing folder. I then rubbed some Tim Holtz Distress Ink over the top of it, first in Antique Linen and then with Walnut Stain. I thought about adding a sentiment to the front of the card, but decided against it because I really loved the simplicity of it and how it turned out the way it did.

An ATC and a Birthday Card

The challenge at 365 Cards today is to make an Artist Trading Card or ATC. These are small (2 1/2"x3 1/2") cards that are meant for trading between artists. I have never made one before, but thought I would give it a try. I used the colors from this weeks Color Throwdown challenge because I liked them so much. I made the card with the green paper and then used a corner rounder to round off two of the opposite corners. I cut the purple paper a 1/4" smaller and rounded off the same corners. The tan paper is cut at 1"x2 1/4" and then embossed with the Japanese Scales embossing folder. I left a small part of the paper un-embossed so that I could stamp the "cherish friends" sentiment on it. The image is the Stuffed Lamb die from Sizzix. I cut it out of a shimmery white paper and again with the purple and tan papers so that I could layer all the features. I added some ink and pen for added dimension. I used Glossy Accents on the lamb's eyes then pieced it all together. I really like how it turned out.

My second card of the day is a cute birthday card for a little boy, or maybe my husband ;) hehe. This is for the Jitterbuggin' challenge. The rules this week are to follow the sketch, put a Cricut vehicle on your card, and to use a button. I also used the color challenge from Cricut Cardz Challenge. Their colors were: orange, yellow, blue, black and white. The card is 5"x5" and I used the Polka Dots embossing folder on the base of the card. I layered the train paper on some white paper and put it on the card. The ribbon is Offray, I just got it a couple of days ago and this challenge was the perfect time to use it. The buttons are from my stash. I used George and Basic Shapes to cut the circles, one at 2 1/2" and the other at 2 1/4." The train is from My Community and cut at 1 1/2."

Back to School?!

I guess I don't really pay attention when it is about back to school time. I don't have kids, so it is not really something I worry about. However, there are a few challenges out there this week where the theme is "Back to School." I wanted to do something for it, but didn't think a card would work too well, so I made some bookmarks.
My Creative Time is featuring a back to school challenge using the Paisley cartridge. I do not own this cartridge so I used Locker Talk for all three of these bookmarks. The other two back to school challenges I made these for are: My Sheri Crafts and Paper Playtime. The crayons are all cut at 1 3/4" and are on a 6" bookmark. I just used some markers to doodle on the background. The locker is actually a bookmark on the Locker Talk cartridge, I cut it at 2" and it is about 5 1/4" tall. The pencil was cut at 2 1/2" and is just short of 6" tall.

Pink Dragonfly

Well, my mother is visiting me for the day up in North Pole, before she continues her bus tour through the rest of Alaska. I got a chance to make one card today before we headed out the door to see the sights. Or more, me showing her the sights. This one is for three challenges. The first is Crafty Creations, which is to make a project that features something with wings and the bonus challenge is to make a z-fold card. The second challenge is from Cuttlebug Challenges, which is to use acetate or acrylic in your project. The final challenge is 365 Cards, which is to have one image that is a stamp, pink and glittery. I used DCWV Flower Power paper for by background. I used some acetate that I embossed with the Floral Fantasy embossing folder and placed it over a piece of light blue paper so that the embossing would be more noticeable. The stamps are all Inkadinkado. I stamped them all with the same ink and then on the flowers I used some pink glitter. I then used Stickles on the center of the flowers. I finished off the whole thing with some sparkle shimmer spray.

An Elegant Congratulations

One more for the night, before I go to bed. This is for Tuesday Morning Sketches. I embossed the green paper with my plum blossoms folder. The border is a Martha Stewart punch. The rest of the embellishments are from my stash. I wanted a monochromatic card and I found this green paper that I really wanted to use. I really like how it turned out, I think it is quite elegant.

Lil' Froggie

I just love these dies/stamps from Cottage Cutz and Peachy Keen stamps. They have so many cute ones. I have been playing with them since I got them. Here is the "happy lil' frog" die with one of the face stamps. I embellished him with some inks and pens to give him some detail. I embossed the blue paper with the D'vine swirls embossing folder on my Cuttlebug. I used the Mojo Monday sketch for this layout. The striped ribbon is Debbie Mumm and the "thanks!" is also ribbon. I decided to use the crown on the frog because the inside says, "you are a prince." I really like this card, it just turned out really cute.

Scarecrow & Sunflower

I made this card for the Doodle Dragon Studio Challenge, the challenge was to use a Doodle Dragon image, buttons, stitching, and a decorative edge; and also for the Critter Sketch Challenge, which is the layout (of course). I don't tend to do much stitching on cards, paper in general, but I thought I would give this one a go. I did some hand stitching on the edge of the yellow paper. The decorative edge comes courtesy of a Martha Stewart punch and the buttons are from my stash. I really liked this image from Doodle Dragon Studio and felt it would work really well with the stitching and buttons. I like how it doesn't look to much like an autumn card, I made more as a "hello friend" or "just because" sort of card.

Summer Card

I have one right off the bat this morning. There are a couple of challenges out right now to create something inspired by the month of August. I can't help but think of August as the best month of summer, it is warm (mostly) and sunny (most of the time), and I love it. Both 365 Cards and the ABC Challenge Blog are showcasing the month of August. I used the sketch from 2 Sketches 4 You for this one. I made it nice and simple because I loved the little bird, which is a Cottage Cutz die that I embellished with ink and pen. I used Daisy Chain for the sentiment and then added some Stickles and blue gems.

Butterfly Thank You

I just love how this card turned out. I used the sketch from Card Patterns and the color inspiration came from Picture Perfect Creations. I really liked these colors together and I thought the butterfly from Picturesque would be a perfect addition to this card. I used a Nestabilities die for the scalloped circle and the regular circle is from George and Basic Shapes. The stamp is from Hero Arts, the border punch is Martha Stewart and the flower and pearls were from my stash.

Smile!

I made this simple, cute card for a few challenges. I used the sketch from Just Us Girls, the color inspiration is from 365 Cards, the lizard is the challenge from this week's Bitten By the Bug 2, and the challenge at Fantabulous Cricut is to make a project incorporating the word smile. I thought the smile challenge would go very well with the little lizard from Life is a Beach. I added the little google eyes because that made me smile even more. The smile is from A Child's Year and the red bookplate is from Fabulous Finds. I added Stickles and gems for added pizazz.

Get Well Card

I used the Mojo Monday sketch for the layout and Cupcake Inspirations for the color inspiration of this card. I embossed the shimmery orange paper with the script texture embossing folder and the scalloped circle with a 2"x2" flower embossing folder, using my Cuttlebug. The scalloped circle is a Nestabilities die. I had it all put together, except for the sentiment, and I didn't know what kind of card I wanted to make it. I brought it out to my husband and asked what this card should be for, he suggested I make it a get well card, so I did. I used my Gypsy to weld letters from Opposites Attract to make the sentiment.

Monkey Around

The challenge this week over at Paper Cutz is to create something using an image of a monkey, skunk, squirrel or hedgehog. I decided to go with a monkey and create this cute little birthday card. I used New Arrival for the monkey and added some google eyes on him. I also pop-dotted him onto the card. The vines are from Storybook. The "it's your day" sentiment is from Celebrations. I used my Gypsy to weld the letters of the inside sentiment, "so monkey around" which is the George and Basic Shapes font. The bananas are from Animal Kingdom. They took some work figuring out what size I wanted, but when I got it I cut them out twice, once in the dark yellow and once in the lighter yellow. I then cut the peel to fit the banana. I really like this card, I almost don't want to give it away, but I can't wait to see the face of whoever recieves it. Enjoy!

With Sympathy

Sympathy cards are always nice to have on hand. I never want to have to use them, but at the same time I don't want to have to make one when the time arises. I would rather have one ready. This week's challenge at Cuttlebug Challenge is to make a sympathy card. I used the sketch from Peachy Keen for this one and also incorporated this week's Alphabet Challenge, which is "O for Ovals." I used Martha Stewart paper for this one and the border punch is also Martha Stewart. I used my Cuttlebug for the scalloped oval, it is a Nestabilities die. I used the swiss dots embossing folder on the inner oval. The inner oval was cut from George and Basic Shapes. I used Wild Card for the "with sympathy" sentiment. I used a ribbon from my stash that was the perfect color. I used a stamp from my collection for the inside of the card.

Brand New Miracle

This is my entry for this week's Jitterbuggin' challenge. The rules this week are to follow the sketch, add some ribbon, and to make a baby card. All the patterned paper on this card is the K&Company Small Wonders pack. The solid papers are from my stash. The ribbon is Debbie Mumm. I used a cute little puppy stamp for my image (not sure where I got it) and the sentiment stamps are Fiskars. I used New Arrival for the safety pins and then added some Stickles on the red safety pin. I thought I'd make this baby card for a little boy. The last few baby cards I've made have been for girls. Now I just hope someone I know who is pregnant is going to have a boy. :) Enjoy!

Friendship and Birthday Cards

I have been having some problems with my laptop lately. So, yesterday my husband wiped my whole computer and reloaded everything on it. That seems to be working so far. It just meant that I couldn't post anything I made yesterday. I made this cute little friendship card for My Sheri Crafts Challenge, but since I didn't have my computer I missed the deadline. I still want to share it though, because I really like it. I used A Child's Year for the image and some Fiskars stamps for the friendship sentiment and the sentiment on the inside.
Here is a birthday card I made today for a three challenges. I used the recipe from 365 Cards, which was: 5"x5" card, 2 3"x3" patterned papers, sentiment, 2 images, 2 buttons, and 4 blossoms. I made it into a birthday card for a teen for the Cricut Cardz challenge and used the colors from the Picture Perfect Creations challenge, which is to use the colors: melon pink, celery green, olive green and pacific blue. I cut the vase from Walk in my Garden and tied it off with a piece of white ribbon. The flowers are from my stash and I drew in their stems. The dragonfly and butterfly were in my stash of buttons. I then added the stamp, which I got in the dollar bin at Joann's. I think it would work as a card for a teenage girl.

Dinosaur Stair Step Card

Bitten by the Bug 2 this week challenged everyone to create a project using the dinosaur cut from Paper Doll Dress Up. I decided to finally try making a stair step card. I thought it would be the perfect way to play with a couple of the dinosaurs from this cartridge. This is my first attempt at this type of card, but I like how it turned out. I used Paper Doll Dress Up for the dinosaurs (naturally) and also for all the plants, grass, and mountains. I used Celebrations for the sentiment and the birthday hat. I embellished the cuts with pens, inks, markers, Stickles and some pearls.