just five little words (SCS, Lessology, ABNH)

Five little words that pack a really big punch, that is.  This card is for HYCCT#1203 - to make a card with five separate words on it.

Used recycled acetate and alcohol inks to create the die cut panel.  Stamped the sentiment with StazOn.  Added a couple die cut (the die cut hearts and the what-would-have-been-garbage-from-the-die-cut) border strips for interest.

Hooking up to:
Lessology - #20 Barely There
A Blog Named Hero #15 - Use punched or die cut elements

Thanks for looking.  And since Tim Holtz wasn't running, here's hoping the best man won...

Supplies for happy true love:

Paper: CS American Crafts,  PP Pink Petticoat, recycled acetate

Stamps: Kelly Panacci

Ink : alcohol inks, StazOn

Tools: border die PTI, Spellbinders

Other: 

let's lick this thing (SCS, PDCC)

That, friends, is a shot of my Master Tracking List for the Splitcoast Hope You Can Cling To month of challenges.  Whew.  I made it.  The last card of my HYCCT marathon was for #1225A - Let's lick this thing.  As in cancer.  And as in postage stamps.

Well two years ago in an oh-so-cool gallery of shops next to the Hard Rock Cafe in Paris, I found a shop selling old postcards and stamps.  Don't know if they were lost in the mail or cleaned out of someone's attic, but I love that there is so much personality/history to them, even if I don't know the story behind it.  I like that I can make the story live on, in a way, by using the piece.

I merely added some Glimmer Mist spritzing, a hodge podge of embellies, washi and a brad before adhering the postcard to my cardbase.

Playing with The Play Date Cafe's #156 spicy color challenge:

Thanks for stopping by.  Have a great day.

Supplies for Journee:

Paper: cardbase Papermania,  vintage postcard, PP Cosmo Cricket, vellum

Stamps: Viva

Ink : Versamark

Tools: flowerand label die PTI

Other: washi Freckled Fawn, brad Eyelet Outlet, chipboard Cosmo Cricket

ruff homage to kasia (SCS, Retro)

Have you seen Kasia C.'s card over at Retro Sketches #36?  One of my faves.  Ever.  Maybe  when you find a card that you go gaga over, it helps you define the kind of cardmaker you want to be.  (I know Wida has been giving this subject a lot of thought lately...)

So I analyzed why I love Kasia's card so much.  First, white space.  I am a total sucker for white space.  Next, the amazing bright and cheery colors.  Get me every time.  Then the element of unexpected - the piece of kraft up top and the washi and twine combo.  And finish it off with a killer sentiment - meaningful and a good font.

So why aren't all my cards like this?  Hmmm....  Maybe that's a subject for another sitting.   I have figured out that less is more - a small touch of PP can be better than covering an entire card in it.  IMO.  However, that doesn't put much of a dent in my stash.  Yikes.  It's a never-ending battle...

My card:

Not going to bore you with the details.  Except one... See the black strip at the top?  DD and friends had mutilated some pieces of PP while decorating school notebooks - punched circles and flowers pretty much all over the PP piece.  I was going to cut it apart to get my strip for the top when I thought, "Why cut it away?"  Use it.  Was it the "go for the unexpected" or my thriftiness at work?!?!?  Unfortunately I ended up covering up the cool spot where a flower had been punched with the vertical strip when I decided to put the "day" of the sentiment on the right edge.

Entering these challenges:
Papertrey MIM #90 - Sentiment Focal Point with dies and stamps
A Blog Named Hero #15 - Use a punched or die cut element
Retro Sketches - #36

This was my last creation for HYCCT.  (#1226 - Who let the dogs out).  Now to pack up 30-some cards and ship them off to TX.  Have a great day.

Supplies for ruff day:

Paper: cardbase Papermania,  PP KI memories

Stamps: Inkadinkado

Ink : Versacolor, Versafine

Tools: alpha die PTI, Spellbinders

Other: washi

vellum {heart} stitching (SCS+)

Two more cards for HYCCT - I can see the finish line now...

The first is a shaped card for HYCCT#1210.  What shape would I pick?  A heart of course.  Which reminded me of the Valentine candies.  Which reminded me of the word "hugs".  Which led to this.

Die cut the card shape, letting the very top of the heart die hang over the edge of the folded CS to preserve the fold.  Die cut the vellum heart and letters in one pass.  Masked and inked the colored stripes.  What better way to attach the vellum than with stitching.  And I opted to do two passes - one with purple twine, one with green for a bit of variety.  A touch of bling and voila.  A "clearly" handmade card.

Also linking this up to:
Simon Says Stamp - Get in Shape
Moxie Fab World - Stitching and Sewing
The Creative Paper Trade - Week 4

Second card is for HYCCT#1208, cleverly called "HYCCT".  Use something that starts with an "H", "Y", etc.  Stumped me for awhile.

Took the Skipping Stones Design sketch and went from there.

H = heat embossing, Hero Arts flower stamp
Y = yellow (original, eh?)
C = cardboard
C = cyan blue for the flower
T = tag, TCM sentiment

Whew.  Three more HYCCT cards to go if my tally is right.  "Five Words" , "Ruff" and "Lick this Thing."  Thanks for stopping by.

Supplies for #1:

Paper: cardbase Papermania,  vellum

Stamps: none - wow

Ink : Adirondack

Tools: heart die Sizzix, alpha die PTI, needle

Other: baker's twine, bling

Supplies for #2:

Paper: cardbase Papermania,  PP K&Co

Stamps: flower Hero Arts, sentiment TCM

Ink : Versamark, Versacolor, Adirondack for swipe

Tools: die MFT, circle punch, sewing machine

Other: lace scrap

look who's here (WMS, SCS)

Cute baby card coming at you.  I love making them, especially with this cool stamp from Rubbernecker.  Add some watercoloring with Distress Inks and I'm good to go.

I combined  Kittie C.'s HYCCT#1227 (a window + pink) with Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge #122.

Took some liberties with the sketch, but I thought of the window and curtains when I saw it.  I actually stamped the French lace border from WMS in the middle of the cardbase before adding the PP to mimic the vertical lines in the sketch.  Then I stretched the bow into curtains!

Nice of you to stop by.  Have a good week.

Supplies for Look who's here:

Paper: cardbase Papermania,  PP My Mind's Eye

Stamps: Rubbernecker, WMS, sentiment Stampendous

Ink : Memento + Distress Inks as watercolors, Amuse Studio, Versafine

Tools: die Cottage Cutz, decorative edge scissors, sewing machine, heart punch The Paper Studio

Other: crepe paper, twine

about a boy (CFC, SCS, Moxie Fab)

Saw a popper card that Julie E. made over at Ellen Hutson's Classroom and wanted to give it a try.  I concocted my own and what fun it was!

HYCCT#1201B challenges you to make a card for a kid - often we forget about the kids of cancer patients.    
And CASual Fridays #77 is all about making a card for a boy.  So I created a card which I can imagine a  mom giving to her son.  "U R my rock star".

I knew I wanted to do the "U" "R" thing on the front.  I have these cool brown glitter letters - cool, but like when can you use them?!?!?  I pulled out some Making Memories "Just Chillin" PP with a teenage boy theme and brown in the patterns and went from there.  Crafted the popper mechanism and the star and sentiment to go on it.  TIP:  Don't make them too big or you may have difficulties getting the card to open/close properly.  Ask me how I know...  Used a Kim Hughes set from CHF to stamp stars on the front panel and inside as well as the sentiment and guitar on the star.  Added some eyelets and triangles to the front cuz it seemed appropriate.  Distress inked the edges.

Also hooking up to the Moxie Fab World where there is a challenge to use alphabet stickers.  Got lots.  Two less now!

Appreciate your visit.

Supplies for U R my rock star:

Paper: cardbase Papermania,  PP making memories

Stamps: CHF

Ink : Distress Ink,

Tools: star die Sizzix, circle die MFT

Other: embossing powder Zing, eyelets, letter stickers making memories

it's your CAS day (SCS)

Had a not-yet-used beauty from Heartfelt Creations rubber stamps.  Inked it up with markers, spritzed with water and stamped.  Spritzed and stamped again and this was the result.

Added the lovely PTI sentiment cuz HYCCT#1228 is a CAS challenge with focus on the sentiment.  I think this works.

Happy day.

Supplies It's your day:

Paper: CS Papertrey 

Stamps: Heartfelt Creations, sentiment PTI

Ink : markers, Versafine

Tools: corner rounder EKS

Other: bling

them there hills (WMS, SCS)

You know... "the best laid plans of mice and men...".
This is the sketch at Waltzingmouse Sketch Challege:

I knew I wanted to combine this sketch with HYCCT#1212 "Start Spreading the News."  Can you guess what the challenge is?  Make a card based on a show tune.  Can you guess what movie tune I had in mind?

Do I hear Julie Andrews singing somewhere?  Somewhere in the "hills"?

Yep, them there hills are alive with the sound of music.  One minor detail... no sheet music worked in here as originally planned.  This one just flowed.  Tried a new-for-me-approach.  Pulled out my WMS stamp sets (although you can now enter their challenges even if you don't use WMS stamps!) and had my die cut hills and just went from there.  Fun!

Die cut and stamped the hills.  Masked off the spot for the sun.  Stamped the sky.  Stamped the sun with pigment ink and embossed with clear.  Stamped the label, embossed with white and fussy cut.  Die cut and stamped the little house.  Stamped the sentiment on the cardbase and part of the "Y" on the hill piece for interest.  And then it was dark and I had to take a photo inside :(

Can you find ""Nordic Winter", "Large Doily", "Pic-Nic patterns", "Around Christmastime", "Heirloom Patterns" and "French Country"?  They're all there.  I used all six sets!  This was super fun to make - if I hadn't been interrupted five times in the process!

Thanks for visiting.

Supplies for You:

Paper: cardbase Papermania, CS Coredinations, PP recycled

Stamps: WMS

Ink : Distress Ink, Cat's Eye to emboss, Versafine

Tools:die Memory Box, PTI

Other: vellum, embossing powder (clear and white)

piglet or pooh - which are you? (Retro, SCS)

Another post with a very literal interpretation of the for-a-couple-more-hours current Retro Sketch for Challenge #35.  Literal,  because I also made the card for the HYCCT#1231 "A Walk in the Woods".

Granted, no woods around here look like this cute and fun card.  Actually, we hardly have woods around here - just the lone walnut trees in the midst of the vineyards...  But I wasn't in the mood for an artsy fartsy card at the moment.

When I found this quote from A.A. Milne's "Winnie the Pooh", I knew I had to use it - for the HYCCT campaign.  Cuz it is basically about how you see the world.  Dealing with cancer is definitely not a fun thing.  But I can only imagine it may be easier to do if you are capable of seeing the glass half-full instead of half-empty.  Although in my heart I think I am an optimist, I do tend to be like Piglet in my daily life, always seeing the negative.  I need to take some lessons from  gentle Pooh Bear.

Definitely hard to get this sentiment onto a card like this.  This one won't win any prizes, but I felt compelled to make it.  Found this digi freebie stamp from Dawn and printed it on four pieces of CS.  Added a die cut wonky border, some clouds faintly in the BG and the eyelet/floss like the sketch.

Thanks for visiting - possibly for the second time today!

Supplies Pooh:

Paper: cardbase Buttinette, CS Coredinations, PP Basic Grey and Penny Black

Stamps: digi Dawn Moore, clouds Sassafras

Ink : Distress Ink

Tools:die Memory Box, decorative edge scissors, eyelet setter

Other: eyelets, PC, embroidery floss 

(g)rays of hope (Paper Smooches, SCS)

An oldie but a goodie, this little Mocha Chica stamp set which Kim Hughes designed for Cornish Heritage Farms.  Perfect for what I hoped to create for this Paper Smooches Sparks Picture Perfect challenge:

Don't ya just love that gray/yellow combo.  And the graphic nature of it.  I love just about every picture they come up with over there.  And the DT is switching out, so I needed to play along this last time.  (They didn't want me for their DT.  Blow to the ego, but I survived ;)  Maybe Mr. Random likes me better!

 Perched fussy cut Chica with a tuft of feathers on her head on a die cut twiggy tree grounded with some gingham PP.  Stamped the cheery sentiment and added some stitching.  CAS.

This is also for Beate J.'s HYCCT#1201C "Rays of Hope" challenge to use grays with a splash of color.

Have a great weekend.  Is it weekend again already? Time sure flies when you're having fun, eh?

Supplies hello:

Paper: cardbase Buttinette, CS American Crafts, PP Pink Petticoat

Stamps: CHF

Ink :Versafine

Tools:die Memory Box, decorative edge scissors, sewing machine, corner rounder EKS

Other: embroidery floss

kraft, cork and polka dots (CFC, SCS, Moxie)

Here I am under the wire for CASual Fridays again, but had to give the kraft challenge a go.  Tore up a cardboard box to source my kraft.

Cork.  I already knew it was good for wine bottles ;)  I've even seen the trees they harvest cork from growing in Portugal.  So I die cut some cork I finally broke down and bought.  Like butter.  Wow.  What a great "Naturprodukt"!

Went with a kinda trendy layout.  Panel with washi strips.  Focal image the red/white polka dot flower combined with cork, reminiscent of my fave 'shrooms the "Fliegenpilz".  Used Penny Black PP that I got in a prize package from Simon Says Stamp.  Great patterns and primary colors.

Playing here:

And at the Moxie Fab "Canvas, Cork and Burlap" challenge.  As well as HYCCT#1230.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Supplies hello:

Paper: cardbase Papermania, recycled cardboard, PP Penny Black

Stamps: Hero Arts

Ink : Memento

Tools:die PTI, punch ?

Other: cork, twine, washi

two takes on songbirds (SCS)

I've made two more cards for HYCCT over at Splitcoast Stampers.  The first is for #1213 "Hope is the Thing".  As in "with feathers."

Hope is the thing with feathers

That perches in the soul

And sings the tune without the words

And never stops at all.

Flashback to my days as an English major...Thank you Emily Dickinson.  

Feathers + perches = bird on a branch from Sizzix.  Die cut it from two different PPs and adhered over a splash of sky created with misted Distress Ink on an acrylic block.  Just added one of PTI's wonderful sentiments.  I think this card really reflects hope.

The second challenge, #1221 is called "Clearly Hopeful."  Clear = acetate.

I've done this before.  This time it's a sunrise sky.  Love this birdie from Tim Holtz.  Paired with alcohol inky goodness, a bit of texture and distresssing, and a die cut frame.  Just a notecard this time.

Thanks for looking.  Have you checked out HYCCT yet?

Supplies :
Paper: CS American Crafts, PP K&Co., recycled packaging
Stamps: Tim Holtz
Ink: alcohol inks, Memento
Tools: die Spellbinders
Other: button twine

hugs (Moxie, SCS)

Hugs to all my blogland friends who happen to be suffering from the effects of Sandy.  It is so strange to be sitting here on the other side of the pond, wondering if you are all OK.  And what kind of damage has been done.  My parents are still dealing with high winds and high waters on the shores of Lake Huron.  And here I sit making cards.  Lucky me.  So big hugs...

Started with a  heart TP embellie I created.  Swiped paint across the raised letters and hand-stitched around the distressed edges.  Made the lacy pouf from tulle ribbon and added the heart bead to the center.  Stamped the notebook BG (have you seen this card from Virginia L.?) and a flourish before adhering the heart.

This is for HYCCT #1225B which was a tic tac toe challenge.  I used pink, lace and distress as my three elements.  And also for the Stitching & Sewing challenge over at Moxie Fab World.  Another great bunch of technique challenges going on over there.

Be safe, friends.

Supplies Hugs:

Paper: cardbase Papermania, 

Stamps: BG CHF, flourish Viva

Ink : Jenny Bowlin, Aladine

Tools: foam stamp to make TP embellie

Other: TP, paper napkin,  twine, paint, bead, tulle

shine on (PDC, Retro, SCS)

Just under the wire.  Again.  But I made it so enough said.  Saw this inspiration board last week over at The Play Date Cafe.

Thought, "mint - ugh".  But I love how it's combined with leather and gold. Hmmm.  Then I get this catalog in the mail with some little gold scrolls - "open all to see which prize you have won" blah, blah, blah .  Then I see the sketch over at Retro Sketches

and also know that I have a "shiny" card still to make for HYCCT #1215B.  Ta da.

So, except for the fact that I nearly missed the cutoff, and that my photo had to be taken in my basement, I'm happy.  Love the touch of glamour the gold candles and bling (like the doorknob) add.  And that brown/beige PP is actually flocked and damask.  It's a stretch to Retro, but I did get the idea there.  Don't know whether this should be a congrats or bday card so no sentiment yet.  What do you think?

Thanks for visiting.

Supplies :

Paper: cardbase Papermania, PP Basic Grey and Laura Ashley

Stamps: 

Ink :

Tools: die Sizzix

Other: bling, ribbon

vital hope is in the air (SCS, SSS)

What can you see in the air?  Well, butterflies of course.  That was my take on the HYCCT #1220 titled "Hope is in the Air."  I find the butterfly a joyful creature.  Definitely hope-inspiring when you think they start out as ugly worms!

This was such fun to make.  Dylusions spray inks on and a butterfly cut from recycled tissue paper.  A stitched strip of crepe paper.  A vertical sentiment repeated.  Voila.

And not meaning to bore you, but another challenge is called "Vital Signs" (HYCCT#1218) which is kinda tricky.  Blood pressure?  Weight?  OK, how about heart rate.  Enter my fave stamp of late and my fave CAS design.

Used some autumn colors this time for the "Autumn Leaves" challenge at Simon Says Stamp.  And added a stamen punched from foil CS for a little extra something.  And cuz my spacing of the hearts was a little off this time ;) Also a sentiment in gray this time around.

Thanks for stopping by.

Supplies Happy Birthday:

Paper: cardbase Papermania

Stamps: sentiment The Craft's Meow

Ink :Dylusions spray inks, Versacolor

Tools: die Memory Box, sewing machine

Other: tissue paper, crepe paper

Supplies you are special to me:

Paper: cardbase Papermania

Stamps: heart Fancy Pants, sentimentPTI

Ink : Adirondack, Versacolor

Tools: punch ?

Other:

it's a birthday party (SCS)

Here's another card for HYCCT at Splitcoast Stampers.  This challenge #1219 is "A Birthday in Pink".  As in frilly, frou frou, cupcakes and doilies.  This is the closest I can get to that...

The detail photo above shows the damask BG I stamped for a bit more interest and frou!  Otherwise, pretty simple.  Stamped CS and cut a present from it.  Added washi and the washi flower.  Stamped a "shelf" for it to rest on.  A touch of lace and a lacey sentiment.

Thanks for looking.

Supplies special day:

Paper: cardbase Buttinette, CSNeenah

Stamps:  BG CHF, dots Kars, flourish CHF, sentiment Hero Arts

Ink: Amuse Studio, Memento

Tools: 

Other: washi, lace

hello MIM and farewell CPS (PTI, CPS, SCS)

Another twofer.  For my first card I used the technique from PTI's Make it Monday - using positive and negative die cuts.  As amazed as I always am by die cuts themselves, it seems to be the cards made with  negatives that really catch my attention.  Hmmm.

Anyway.  Where did I get my color combo?  No idea.  Just felt right.  Let's just call it vivid violet meets lethal lime green ;)

Made a rough layout first -very helpful.  I started by picking the PP (this is also going to the HYCCT #1214 which calls for "text".  There's text on this PP).  Picked colors for CS.  Die cut roses and leaves.  Die cut tags.  Die cut leaves extending over the tag from the tag.  Since I don't have a stamp for the leaf die, I inlaid the leaf  (embossed with numbers - is that text too?) into the negative area.  Attached the other leaves onto the tag, then popped up the roses.  Stamped sentiment on smaller tag and adhered along with seam binding bow.  Stamped cardbase with text stamp.  Attached tag.  Added some bling for balance.

Second card kind of evolved from the first.  Had an interesting creative process with this.  HYCCT #1224 calls for the "kissing technique."  Happen to have a still-unused Hero Arts cling stamp which I figured would work well for this technique.  Used a still-unused BG clear stamp to kiss with.  Whether it was the combo of the two materials or because I used dye ink... the result was kinda crazy.  So I decided to use just a strip of the purple madness.  But how?  Went to the PC with my purple strip and looked at old CPS sketches.  Ta da.  Hello #111.  TIP:  Even though Tami M. is stopping CPS, there is an archive of all the old sketches!

Now, you might know that I rarely follow a sketch 100%.  So this is what happened.

Creative process you ask?  More like "a series of fortunate? unfortunate? events."  Yellow?  It's across from purple on the color wheel.  Polka dot stamp?  It was already out.  I actually kissed it with the text stamp (from my first card since it was still laying around) once it was inked up but you really can't tell.  Washi?  Happened to be laying on my ironing board.  Sentiment on a "tab" of crazy PP?  Was the first 6x6 pad I grabbed with colors that I thought could work with this - was thinking light turquoise.  Picked this.  Result?  It's either funky or ugly.  Haven't decided.

Happy day, friends.

Supplies card #1:

Paper: cardbase Papermania, CS DCWV, PP K&Co.

Stamps:  Papertrey, BG CHF

Ink: Adirondack, Versafine

Tools: tag die MFT, leaves die Spellbinders, rose die PTI, embossing folder Sizzix

Other: seam binding, bling

Supplies card #2:

Paper: cardbase Papermania, CS Neenah, PP American Crafts

Stamps:  flowers BG and sentiment Hero Arts, dots Kars

Ink: Adirondack, Versafine

Tools: die Spellbinders

Other: washi tape

courage and cupcakes (SCS)

Two more for the HYCCT challenges over at Splitcoast Stampers.  One of these cards is from my stash (in other words "the old me")  Can you pick it?

Did the background in the photo give it away?  Or the card itself?  hee hee  Back at this time I owned one pad of PP.  Times have achanged...

The first is for the Courage challenge (HYCCT1205).  Kathy says "...inspire strength and courage to a patient. ... Something with a dose of humor is great, too." I think the sentiment from Inkadinkado (kid's quotes) is both inspiring and humorous.

The second is for Show off your Cupcakes (HYCCT1202).  Self-explanatory.  Are you playing along yet?

Supplies different color:

Paper: cardbase Papermania

Stamps: sentiment Inkadinkado

Ink :Dylusions spray inks, Versafine

Tools:

Other:

Supplies cupcake:

Paper: CS DCWV, PP K&Co

Stamps: Stampendous, polka dot BG CHF

Ink :Versafine

Tools: circle punch EKS

Other: colored pencils, glitter glue