Day 16 - Working Off Your Design Table

I was lucky enough to find this piece of background that I had made last summer in a basket on one of my tables.  I am not really sure how I made it - no - I am not sure what I used for the color - I know it was a piece that I put salt on to draw off the color.  Would you believe the stamp set was also in the basket.  It was my lucky day.

The card was based on the sketch from CASe This Sketch.

It also is for the challenge on the Penny Black blog - Sending Hugs Challenge.  How lucky that the stamp set in that box was a Penny Black floral design.  This card is going to a friend to give her a hug - she is starting her battle with cancer.  The flower has Stardust ink added to all it's petals so that the actual bloom sparkles.  I added the little touches of bling at the end of each stamen.  A sentiment sticker from SRM Stickers finishes off the card.  The image and sentiment were each pop dotted.

Now I want to make more background paper.  I wonder if I can duplicate it.

I am also entering in CAS-ual Friday's challenge - Color Block.

Celebrate Autumn

It is that time of the year when the leaves start changing colors, the temps drop, fall is coming and winter will soon come - where did that come from.  Let us not think about Winter.  Let us enjoy the beauty of Fall.

My card today is based on the challenge on CAS-ual Friday to make a card with fall colors and a leaf.

This paper is from Authentique.  The leaf was cut with my Silhouette and I then colored it with chalk, Big Marker and Distress Paints.  After it was dry I rubbed some cinnamon colored Stickles over the top.  The sentiment is from SRM Stickers.

Happy fall and Happy Sunday.

Leftovers on the Table

Yesterday I posted a wedding card made with this image and papers - of course - whenever you do something you have leftovers sitting on the design table.  I put the leftovers together to make a card to send to my Mom - to remind her I love her.

The current challenge at CAS-ual Friday is to use polka dots.  I used the paper from the My Mind's Eye pad Kate and Co. that had the polka dots on it.  A favorite embossing folder was used for the background to add more polka dots and white to the card.  I also stamped the heart balloon on the patterned paper and cut it out.  It is pop dotted on top of the stamped balloon to add some depth.  The sentiment is an SRM Sticker placed on a piece of yellow ribbon left over from the card yesterday.  A different place to put a sentiment but there was a blank space and it seems to work.  I am sure the card will make my mom Smile.

Have a good Sunday.

Hey There

The current challenge for CAS-ual Friday is arrows - playing off the Hunger Games

I decided to get experimental for this card.  I cut the shape out of paper with a Spellbinder die.  I laid the negative over my base of mixed media paper.  The shape was filled in with a mixture of gesso, modeling paste and acrylic paint and allowed to try.  Well that took some time to happen.  This looks like a quick card to make - NOT - when you have to allow a drying time.  The arrow and sentiment strip were hand colord papers.  I believe one day I was doing a mixed media project and had paint left on my sheet - so not wanting to waste it - I smeared a piece of paper over it.  After it dried I did some spraying with masks, etc.  I came up with a great piece of paper.  The arrow is a die cut from Achievers - it does have coordinating stamps but I just wanted the arrow.  The sentiment is from Hero Arts.  I decided I needed something extra - so got out the Studio Calico mists and did some flicking to get the spots.  After the card was finished - I decided everything needed to be grounded so outlined the blue with a black marker.  I had already run the black marker around the edge of the arrow and sentiment strip.

Oldie Moldie Monday post will be tonight.  I made a card about 3 this morning.  I had company this week end so was busy prepping for that and then enjoying my company.

Lucky Stars For You

I wanted to do a patriotic card for Memorial Day week end.  I have made two versions of this card and they will go in my next Operation Write Home Box.

The card design is based on the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches.

I changed the orientation of the card to have a vertical card.  Stars are my flowers.  The sentiment is a digital that I have but bad me - I did not put who it was from - I do apologize to the creator.  The paper is from We R Memory Keepers.

This card is also for the challenge on CAS-UL Friday to make a red/white/blue card.  

I found a 50% off coupon at Michael's for today - I am off to buy a collection of Gelato's and have some fun with them.  I love coupons.

Here is my other card based on the sketch - the sentiment is on the other side.

Hello Paper - I Missed You

I was on vacation last week - I was in Orlando, Florida - and it was so nice and warm - even got a little sun - but alas Wisconsin is not that warm.  I am able to have the back patio door open today - the sun is shining in so able to keep the door open for some fresh air in the house.

I missed my paper so it was good to play again.  Today I made some cards for my Oldie Moldie Monday cards but also came up with this card to do a couple challenges.

The first challenge is from The Paper Players to use something "recycled in your project".  Actually all the paper is recycled on this card.  The paper is a nice cardstock used in our commencement programs - I went through after the ceremony and picked up a bunch of them - I would have liked to pick up more - but you can only do so much in a limited amount of time.  The chevron paper is done using a Studio Calico mask and Mr. Huey mists.  The flower was cut with the Silhouette.  The top layer of the flower was pop dotted to add some dimension.

The second challenge was from CAS-UAL Friday to use chevrons and flowers.

I don't know if you saw it last week but I was Moxie Fabber of the Week.  How special to be chosen for that.

Everyone enjoy the remainder of your Sunday.

Bee Happy

Sharing another card I have made to send to my Mom - she goes by Bea - her real name is Molly Beatrice - we have four generation of Bea's in our family,  Molly Bea, Bonnie Bea, Carrie Bea, and Elaina Bea.

The challenge on CAS-UAL Friday is no stamps.

The cute little bee is an applique which I adhered to some pattern paper with Glossy Accents.  The "Bee Happy" is a great sticker from SRM Stickers.  I had just recently bought this Tim Holtz embossing folder - honeycomb - I think it will be the perfect backdrop for all my bee cards.

Everyone enjoy your Sunday.

Get Well Soon

A card I made for my Mom - she is rehabbing in the hospital so try to send her a card every couple days.  This one will go out next week - it looks springy and we are in desperate need of spring.

I did this card for two different challenges - both are clean and simple challenges so hopefully this is not too busy for that type of card.

The first challenge is for CAS-ual Friday which is to use chipboard.  This is a Basic Grey chipboard piece - did not know where the coordinating paper was but luckily these colors are very popular right now so I just went into some of my 6 x 6 pads and found the paper to use.  The yellow/orange pin dot is actually the top that attached the paper into the pad.  Too cute to waste.

The second challenge is from Addicted to CAS which is things with wings.  My birdie has wings.

I added a little bakers twine and a sticker from SRM Stickers to finish off the card.  I did add a little Stickles to the wing to make it sparkle. The card was missing something - it was an eye on my bird - a little gem added the perfect eye and also was a touch of black to balance the sentiment.

Enjoy the remainder of your Saturday.

Saturday - Yeah

I don't know what it is about the work week - I am not creative - so last night I started putting this little card together.  The challenge on CAS-ual Friday is wallpaper - or make your own background paper.

This was very hard to photograph but I went into my cardstock and found a piece of blue - it was big enough for a card base and a card front.  I first stamped a Hero Arts background stamp of circles on the blue - I did it in a blue color also - you can kinda see it at the top - it is very very subtle.  My friend Ivanka had sent me some patterned paper and one of the stripes in the paper were these flowers - on the back was the green.  I cut a strip of flowers and matted them with the green and adhered to the stamped background.  I stamped the sentiment on a coordinating yellow print and matted it with green also.  The card front is pop dotted on the card base (5.5 x 3.25 size).  The sentiment is also pop dotted.  I used my Stardust pen to add just a bit of sparkle to the center of each flower.

Simon Says Stamp's challenge is Anything Goes - so here goes my card into that challenge.

This sweet little card is going in the mail to my 94 year old Mom - she loves her flowers and is patiently waiting for spring to come.

Everyone enjoy your Saturday.

CAS-ual Friday Challenge - Long and Short

Here is the long and short of this post.  My card is based on the challenge at CAS-ual Friday to make a card that is not your typical A2 card - but to make it long and short.  My card is 3 x 5.  I actually have been making some of my personal cards different sizes lately - shake your creativity up a little.

The stamp is a Hero Arts set that has stamps and coordinating dies.  The bee is from the same set.  I like the sentiment - because yes - I made this card - just me, thinking of you.  I will send the card the card to my mom - I have a couple more on the drawing board that I will send to some very dear older ladies - add a little bright note to their long winters.

Enjoy your Tuesday.

Is It Spring Yet?

I know - it is too early - to start thinking Spring should be around the corner.  The next best thing - well kinda - but not really - is to make cards with spring like colors.  I needed a Thank You card - so I went to check out the challenges around "blog world".  CAS-ual Friday has one for Thank You cards and this card is based on the weekly sketch at Freshly Made Sketches.

Since I had the butterfly punches out and those spring colors - and it is now time to work on spring cards for Operation Write Home - I made another card.  The monthly challenge on Stars and Stamps - for Our Daily Bread Designs - is to use dry embossing on your card.  Our Daily Bread Designs will pay for shipping for up to two boxes of cards to our Heroes.  This means we need to post a minimum of 50 cards for the month of January.  We are well on our way to reaching that goal.  I had to add some bling to my card - I wonder if I overdid it - maybe I should take the bling out in the loops.  I may still still do that.

Enjoy your day - still thinking about going to work - the roads did look a little icy earlier so that is why I did not race out of the house this morning to do it - I wonder if I will go.

Thanks for Your Kindness

It is only the beginning of January and I am ready to dig out my spring colors and think warmth - of course - that may be because I have friends who are heading to Florida for the winter.  I would love to just lay in the sun and soak in some sunshine - oh well - maybe the sun will shine and I could lay on the floor in front of the patio door like a cat or dog.  Don't worry folks - I won't do that.

The weekly challenge on CAS-ual Friday is to make thank you cards.

I did some white embossing on a Bo Bunny paper- I found the yellow in my scrap bin and thought it would add a "sunny" touch to the card.  Dug out my scallop border die from Paper Trey Ink.  The scalloped rectangle was cut on my Silhouette.  The butterflies are one of the Martha Stewart butterfly punch.

Thanks for stopping by.

CAS-ual Friday Masculine Card Challenge

This week at CAS-ual Friday the challenge is to make a masculine card.  I needed a couple masculine thinking of you cards for a friend who had heart surgery and a family member who is battling cancer.

CFC77-Create a new Clean And Simple masculine project.

I chose to use Kraft as the basic color for my card with black as the accent.  The truck stamp is by Cornish Heritage Farms - since they now have a different owner - I do not know if you can still get this stamp.  The sentiment is from Hero Arts.  I placed the top part of the card front in an embossing folder to add some texture.  I like the partial embossing - a little something different.  If you notice the kraft color on the sentiment is different than the card base - I used a scrap I had for the sentiment.  This adds more design interest - she says with a smile.  

Enjoy your evening.  

Get Your Kraft On

This week at CAS-ual Friday - the challenge is to get your Kraft on.

This is a new stamp - isn't that snowman the most fun - he is by Northwoods Rubber Stamp.  The sentiment is by Hero Arts with a coordinating die cut.  I stamped the sentiment and then stamped the tag around it since I wanted the two colors.  I colored the snowman with colored pencils.  A somewhat rustic holiday card.  Hopefully you can pick up the sparkle on the snowflakes and the snow drifts.

Have a good Tuesday.

CAS-ual Friday and SRM Stickers

CAS Friday's challenge this week is to use a heart on your card.  This is the second card I attempted.  I remembered I had these great red doily hearts that I bought one year on clearance after Valentine's Day - Black/White/Red - wonderful color combination.

The background is embossed with a houndstooth embossing folder.  The plaid is matted with black to set it off from the white background.  The love sticker is from SRM Stickers.  Placed it on white cardstock, cut it out and then matted it with black cardstock.  The sentiment is pop dotted.  I needed just a little more red for balance so I added this brad from Michael's store brand.  The paper is from Echo Park.

This card will go in my Operation Write Home box - our heroes always need love cards to keep in contact with their friends and family at home.  The weekly challenge is to make Love cards on Stars and Stamps - Operation Write Home's card blog.

Card Positoning Systems, Operation Write Home meet Oldie Moldie Monday

My first card for Oldie Moldie Monday (I really am getting sick of this paper - but it has made some great cards - so I will keep using it up) - was for a challenge on the Penny Black blog to do mini cards - this card is 3 3/4 x 2 3/4 - I think.  The white is embossed with a cuddlebug embossing folder and the sentiment is embossed with white Hero Arts embossing powder (fine detail).  The stamp is from Penny Black - you will see the entire stamp on a card below.

Here is the full version of the Penny Black stamp.  Isn't he just the cutest little snowman.  I found another version of him - that one is holding some presents.  The sentiment is also from Penny Black.

This card is based on the sketch from Card Positioning Systems.  I am also going to enter it in CAS-UAL Friday where the challenge is to use embossing - all three cards would qualify for that challenge.  On this card - I used an SRM Sticker for the sentiment.  Here is the sketch from CPS - I just moved the circle element up so I could add a sentiment below.  The penguin is from Whipper Snapper Designs.

The last two cards will go into my next Operation Write Home box.  These two cards will bring smiles to many people.  I sure hope they like purple and bright pink.  Pop over - we are having a month long birthday celebration - lots of fun.

Gee maybe next Monday - I could make another card out of this paper.  I made three of the mini cards for holiday cards - so I do need to line them but that won't take too much paper.

Enjoy your Monday.

Penny Black, Authentique and CAS-UAL Friday

Penny Black has a week end challenge to make a mini card.  The majority of my cards are A2 size and for Operation Write Home.  I thought I would give this challenge a try.  I kept thinking which Penny Black stamps would work for this challenge and then I remembered this set - it is a background stamp (you can see the background stamped on the navy paper) and then it has this cute mitten set and sentiment.  I cut the mittens and sentiment apart.

I stamped a navy colored ink over the background paper.  The sentiment is embossed with white embossing powder from Hero Arts - it is a detail embossing powder and it is fantastic.  The mittens were clear embossed on a patterned paper and cut out.  I hand drew the string attaching the mittens - glueing twine on did not work - thus the second background had to be made - I added a snowflake brad to the sentiment strip and put some stickles on.  The sentiment and mittens are pop dotted.  You can see on the mittens I added a cuff - I used some glossy accents and once it was dried - I dabbed on some white gesso to add more dimension.  I also added just a little bling to the snowflake center and the middle of the string.  The card fits into the challenge on CAS-UAL Friday to do embossing.

I also used some of the great papers from Authentique - and the card fits in with their monthly color challenge to use navy, teal and yellow (they use prettier color names) - if you haven't used their papers - pick some up - double sided - most of this card was made with the backside of the papers - the mitten plaid is the only pattern I used from the 6 x 6 pad Curiosity.

Every one enjoy your Saturday - there may be another mini or two in my week end creations.  Wouldn't they be cute to put on a co workers desk during the holidays.

CAS-UAL Friday and Hero Arts

The challenge on CAS-UAL Friday is to use Banners.  This should be another Oldie Moldie Monday post (did a card yesterday using this same paper) - I have had this 6 x 6 pad from Kaiser Scrapbooking for awhile.  I recently got these large holiday sentiments from Hero Arts - I really like their look on a card.

This card is going in my Operation Write Home box for the holidays.

Everyone enjoy your Wednesday.

Penny Black and SRM Stickers and Paint

Got my fingers all painty for this card.  I do love to play with paint and stuff - but usually do not take the time to do it.  The background paper is watercolor paper which is colored with acrylic paint.  I swiped a taupe color paint over the paper and then I dabbed on orange and a lightish tealish green.  I really like the color - it is so warm.  I then stamped the Penny Black tree in dark brown Colorbox Chalk Ink.  I used a SRM Sticker to add a sentiment to the card.  I was lucky I had to trim off a little strip so my sentiment strip matched the card background.

I am entering this card in three challenges.
Paint - Simon Says Stamp and Show
Fall Card - Oozak
Square Card - Cas-ual Friday

Yeah the week end is here - it is cool here in Wisconsin - so I plan on opening up the house and getting fresh air in and doing lots of clearing/cleaning and hopefully some creating.

CAS-UAL Friday and Authentique

Perfect way to end the day by making a card and I think I like it.  I combined a couple challenges.  The first challenge is from CAS-UAL Friday.  The challenge is to use text on your card.  I dug out my "friend definition" stamp and stamped on some great paper from Authentique.  I used grey Memento Ink to stamp it.  I grabbed this flower stamp off the shelf - first time I have used it - I like it also - I think it will get some more use.  It is from Hampton Art.  I stamped directly on the background paper and then stamped the blossom on 3 different pattern paper and fussy cut them out.  The sentiment is from Hero Arts.

The second challenge is the monthly color challenge from Authentique.  I used papers from their 6 x 6 pads from two collections - Carefree and Fresh.

Well it is time to get myself ready for bed.  Woke up very early today so hoping I might make it to 6 in the morning tomorrow instead of 4 AM.