Homemade Cards by Erin

Shaker Coffee Gift Card Holder

2012-01-28T19:10:00.000-08:00

I'd never made a shaker card, but this week's Make It Monday technique video showed me that really it's totally doable. (Okay I'll admit that since this was my first attempt, that I do have a bit of glitter leaking out of my frame, so I've got room for improvement on this design). So I decided to combine the shaker challenge with the Just Us Girls template challenge (Valentine's theme). Thanks to Kristina's Two Peas gift card template (which I used here and here) I added some Smooch spitz and presto-- a fabulous gift card holder. And while the video uses fun foam, I didn't have any, so I just die cut out extra layers of the mat stack out of the cereal box, worked perfectly.

Materials: PTI Warm Happiness Too, PTI Mat Stack 1 die, EK Success 1 3/4 th inch circle punch, PTI kraft and cream card stock, Tim Holtz Distress ink worn lipstock, PTI kraft ink, Versafine black ink, Smooch Cherry and Vanilla Ice Spritz, Glossy Accents, acetate, Art Glitter Sala Glitz silver

PTI Blog Hop, Happy Anniversary

2012-01-25T10:36:00.000-08:00

Welcome to another PTI blog hop, a feast for all PTI fans of amazing creations. This month Nichole has challenged us to spotlight our favorite project from last year and create a new project inspired by the favorite.

I made this thank you card last year for the Make It Monday brayer technique challenge and just love the way it looks. I have been making all sorts of fabulous wine labels and since life in the motel business is pretty slow in the winter, I thought that I'd have a celebrations promotion-- book a room and the Outside Inn will toast you with a handmade label and maybe a special card. Some friends came to stay last week who were celebrating their 10th wedding anniversary, so while I should've made this in advance, I promised if they came back after I'd gotten my act together I'd give them their belated gift, thankfully they're local and thought that sounded great. So, cheers for my Feburary "special occasions" promotion at work... hopefully I will be making a few more of these labels?

Materials: Label: PTI Mat Stack 2 Collection, PTI In Bloom Impression plate, PTI Mat Stack 2 die, PTI double sided banner die, PTI edgers, PTI cream card stock, vellum, Perfect Pearls, Versafine black ink, Stampendous clear embossing powder, Tim Holtz distress inks: fired brick, worn lip stick, ripe persimmions, mustard seed, Tattered Angels black mist, PTI limitless circles 1 3/4th inch die, EK Success corner rounder

Card: PTI Daily Designs sentiment, PTI Mat Stack 1 die, PTI In Bloom Impression plate, PTI cream and kraft card stock, vellum, Perfect Pearls, Versafine black ink, Tim Holtz distress inks: fired brick, worn lip stick, ripe persimmions, mustard seed, PTI limitless circles 1 3/4th inch die, EK 1 3/4th inch circle punch, May Arts natural string, Tim Holtz distress stain antique linen

love you and journal

2012-01-24T11:47:00.000-08:00

Today's card was inspired by two different challenges, Virigina's Lily Pad Cards and Jen's Runway Inspired Challenge. The CAS girl in me thinks perhaps I shouldn't of combined the two-- since the fun rainbow letters might've stood out more on all white... but oh well, live and learn. I used my Making Memories Eyelet tool took to create the the "strings" and I think that's good use of a smaller hole punch for the Moxie Fab World punches challenge.

And the next project doesn't currently have a challenge agenda, it's actually the prize for a contest. My friend Kim Culbertson is launching a book next week and she's having a contest on figment.com. I posted the first one here, the second one here and today I'm showing you the third homemade journal.

Materials: Heart stamps from stash, PTI Tiny Tags heart, PTI letters die, May Arts natural fiber string, Stamendous white embossing powder, Tim Holtz fired brick distress ink, Smooch Cherry Ice spritz, white card stock, Coredinations card stock, Making Memories Eyelet punch

Beautiful Things: Basic Grey chipboard butterfly, PTI Postmarked, Crate Paper border stickers, PTI Mat Stack 2 die, PTI In Bloom, vellum, Authentique Blissful patterened paper, black card stock, Versafine black ink, PTI alphabet die, Tattered Angels black mist, Moondance white ink, Smooch Vanilla Ice spritz, May Arts natural fiber string

Super Sunday Non-Card projects

2012-01-22T08:02:00.000-08:00

Welcome to another Super Sketchy Sunday at 365 Cards. Today I took the sketch and made two different projects, neither of them cards. The first one is a tea bag baggie, from the WMS template. I used black and white for the CAS-ual Fridays "Penguin Suit" challenge.

The second one is a notebook. My girlfriend is hosting a contest for the launch of her new e-book on the 1st of Feb and I made the "three homemade journals" for the giveaway. I'll share the third one soon, as true to me, they are all different and unique. To see the first journal click here. I'm also going to enter this one is the Moxie Fab World die cut challenge because I love how the scallop circle leaves a nice contrast behind the embossed flowers.

Now it's your turn, how does the sketch inspire you?

Materials: Paper Smooches Hot Concoctions tea pot, The Greeting Farm Tea-rrific sentiment, Waltzingmouse Stamps Very Vintage Labels No 1, Spellbinders Labels One, WMS tea baggie template, Coredinations Core Amour Onyx Collection: Intrigue, Smooch Spritz, Versafine black in, vellum, PTI white card stock, ribbon from stash, Recollections black rhinestone

Notebook: Hero Arts Newspaper Tulip, SRM sticker, PTI All Booked Up Impression plate, Spellbinders scallop circles die, vellum, Twinery cappuccino twine, Stampendous clear embossing powder, Recollections black rhinestone, Tim Holtz vintage photo distress ink, Smooch spritz, Tattered Angles black mist, journal from Ben Franklin, Versafine black ink

books

2012-01-21T16:50:00.000-08:00

I don't normally post more then one project a day, but I made this journal for a friend's upcoming giveaway, details to be shared a bit later and since I was inspired by Lucy's Cards Inspiration Day #4 I thought I'd better link up before time runs out. So much for the winter weather I was talking about this morning, the sun is out and there's not a cloud in the sky.

Materials: PTI All Booked Up, PTI Mat Stack 3 Collection, PTI Mat Stack 3 dies, My Favorite Things stickers, Versafine black ink, My Mind's Eye Lime Twist patterned paper, May Arts natural string, Tattered Angels black mist, Smooch clear spritz, EK Success 1 3/4th inch circle punch

You Make Me Happy Every Day

2012-01-21T10:53:00.000-08:00

Happy Saturday! Winter has finally arrived in California and while I love sunshine, I'm excited about the rain and snow (for now). Today's card was inspired by a few challenges (Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge, Lawnscaping winter theme and CR84FN colors). And since Mr. Ben didn't win last week's WMS sketch random draw he wanted to play again. So below is his take on the sketch with "his" WMS half pint heroes set.

Materials: Making Frost Friends, Waltzingmouse Very Vintage Frames #1, Waltzingmouse Half Pint Heroes sentiment, PTI snowflake impression plate, vellum, PTI white card stock, Stampendous silver and clear embossing powder, Versafine black ink, silver ink, Spellbinders Label 1 die, PTI double sided banner die, Authentique Blissful patterened paper, pink scraps, colored pencil

Ben's Card: Waltzingmouse Stamps Half Pint Heroes, Card stock from scraps, PTI Photo Finishers die, Hero Arts kids red ink

one theme, three ways

2012-01-19T21:32:00.000-08:00

My sister works in the free ski world and was greatly effected by today's loss of athlete Sarah Burke. So thinking of her I made these three cards, all different, but using the same elements and trying to convene the same feeling.

The first card uses the Make It Monday technique of Ghost Masking.

This one uses Jay Gee's Nook color board.

And this one uses the Play Date Cafe colors and instead of the PTI In Bloom flowers I used the leaves.

Materials: PTI In Bloom, PTI Mat Stack 1 Collection, Versafine black ink, water color pencils, PTI cream card stock, EK Success corner rounder punch

PTI In Bloom, Mat Stack 1 Collection, Waltzingmouse Stamps Frame It sentiment, PTI Mat Stack 1 die, PTI In Bloom die, Tim Holtz woodgrain embossing folder, PTI cream card stock, burlap, Versafine black ink, Tim Holtz distress stain antique linen

PTI In Bloom, Waltzingmouse Stamps Say it Loud, PTI Mat Stack 1 frame and die, burlap, PTI kraft and chocolate chip card stock, Coredinations card stock, Versafine black ink, Tim Holtz woodgrain embossing folder, Stampendous clear embossing powder, Tim Holtz Distress Stain antique linen

Birthday Cards

2012-01-17T16:45:00.000-08:00

I wanted to play along with CASE Study's fabulous muse this week (blush Ms. Jen), so I pulled out the QuicKutz "Happy Holidays" die and made a birthday card (which works well for the Moxie Fab World Die challenge). Then I had another idea, so I pulled out the birthday cake punch (which works great for the Moxie Fab World Punches Challenge). I wanted to play along with the WMS "Sweet Treats" blog hop today, but I started my day off with frozen pipes at home and then at work, so let's just say my day hasn't exactly gone to plan... so I missed the deadline.

And since tomorrow is my grandfather's birthday I asked the boys to make a card too. Josh chose to raid my scrap drawer and assemble the following card.

Ben originally pulled out WMS Half Pint Hereos ("his" stamp set thanks to Claire), so I told him to try to make a card based on the current WMS sketch and this is what he created (not sure what happened to the Half Pint Hereos, but Say It Loud works well too). As always, Ben LOVES comments, so if you leave a comment on today's post, please mentions his...

Materials: PTI Big Birthday Wishes, QuickKutz Lifestyle Crafts die, Authentique paper, ribbon, PTI cream card stock, Versafine black ink, Fiskars corner rounder

WMS Frame It Sentiment, Paper Source birthday cake punch, Coredinations card stock, My Mind's Eye Lime Twist patterned paper, Twinery twine, Versafine black ink

one sketch, 2 ways

2012-01-15T09:21:00.000-08:00

Welcome to another 365 Cards Super Sketchy Sunday. I took the sketch and made two very different cards, love when inspiration works that way.

In addition to the sketch, I also die cut scallops out of a topo map for the CAS-ual Friday challenge and Moxie Fab World "map to your heart" challenge.

This one uses the Play Date Cafe colors and one of Monika's fun tags from her I love It All etsy shop. Happy Sunday, I'd love to see how the sketch inspires you!

Materials: Unity trailer, Recollections Road Trip sentiment, Tim Holtz woodgrain embossing folder, Spellbinders scallop circle die, My Favorite Things scallop die, PTI kraft card stock, Versafine black ink, water color pencils, May Arts natural string, Tim Holtz distress stain antique linen

Thanks Card: I love it All tag, Coredinations card stock, Tim Holtz brick embossing folder, PTI Edgers die, PTI kraft card stock, Sharpie black market, May Arts natural string

TGIF Wine Labels

2012-01-13T17:26:00.000-08:00

As some of you've seen, my card blog has been taken over by wine labels. Well today I've got 3 more to share and I'm happy to report that I mailed off all 12 of them, woo hoo! Custom order complete. I'll share the rest of them soon. The top label was my attempt to CASE this one, but it morphed into its own label. I added some scallops for the CAS-ual Fridays "scallops" challenge.

This label uses the Unity Sketch Challenge and Lucy's Cards Inspiration Day #2. And since it's Friday, I'm going to play along with the Friends With Flair crew over at Unity.

This last one was inspired by the fabulous Hero Arts hop this week, talk about talent! I used the new HA newspaper Tullips (embossed on vellum) over some fabulous Hero Arts patterned card stock. I used the January challenge colors for their challenge.

Materials: to be added later, must feed hungry children

black and white Happy Birthday wine label

2012-01-10T09:06:00.000-08:00

Look, another wine label! For those of you keeping count this is label 7 of 12. I combined the Waltzingmouse Sketch challenge with the Runway Inspired photo.

Materials: Waltzingmouse Say It Loud, SRM sticker, EK Success chevron punch, PTI Limitless Layers 1 3/4th inch die, Tattered Angels black mist, Versafine black ink, Stampendous clear and silver tinsel embossing powder, Recollections black rhinestones, Spellbinders circle die, PTI edgers die, EK Success corner rounder

Wine labels and CAS flashback

2012-01-08T21:01:00.000-08:00

More wine labels, I know, I know, but I'm half way through my order... the first wine label uses a fun chipboard flower from a Basic Grey kit for the CAS-ual Fridays and Lily Pad Cards challenges.

And this fun label is for the Paper Smooches SPARKS challenge and Lawnscaping birthday challenge. I made this wine label for the Paper Smooches challenges and when I embossed the sentiments the first time I melted the red one on the bottom, so I did it again and got it right. Since I have a very messy desk the "damaged" one was still floating around, so I chopped off the bottom and made another label.

This card is for the Flashback Friday, post your first CAS card. This was one of the first cards I blogged. I should pull out that punch again... Happy Monday everyone!

Materials: Gracias Hostess label: PTI Gracias Vases sentiment, Unity stitching stamp, Basic Grey Olivia chipboard, Little Yellow Bicycle tape, PTI kraft card stock, black card stock, Coredinations card stock, Tim Holtz woodgrain embossing folder, Tattered Angels black mist, PTI limitless layers 1 3/4th inch die, EK Success corner rounder

Celebrate label: Paper Smooches sentiment sampler, Unity birthday cake, PTI white card stock, vellum, Twinery twine, Tatttered Angels black mist, Tim Holtz distress inks: faded jeans, tumbled glass, shabby shutters, evergreen bough, mustard seed, ripe persimmons, Making Memories Eyelets, Stampendous clear embossing powder, Spellbinders circle die, Spellbinders Label Eight, PTI edgers die, Versafine black ink

Today is your day: Hero Arts sentiment, Paper Source punch, Stampin Up designer paper and red card stock, Fiskars rotary cutter with scallop cutter, Versacolor red ink

Super Sunday thanks and wine label

2012-01-08T09:29:00.000-08:00

Happy Sunday! It's time for another 365 Cards Super Sketchy Sunday. I used the clear blocking technique to add the background. I was inspired by Lucy's Cards Inspiration Day #1. And since I've added a little twine to the card I'm going to enter it in the Ribbon Carousel "Anything Goes" challenge.

Next up, another wine label! For those of you who follow my blog you'll know that I'm a bit behind on my order to make a dozen wine labels. Oops.

And being challenge happy girl, I've used this week's ColourQ colors and the Unity Sketch Challenge. I pulled out the 2011 KOTM Small Things matter most and I can't believe I hadn't inked any of the stamps I used on this label... And since last Sunday I posted about a giveaway on my work Facebook page, I'm happy to report that the giveaway is still going... if you win the gift certificate for the bottle of wine you can always give it to me, I'll send you a pretty wine label as a thank you :)

Materials: Thanks card: PTI Gracias Vases, PTI Mat Stack 4, Hero Arts inks: soft lilac, soft blossom, Versafine black ink, Tim Holtz distress inks fired brick, ripe persimmons, shabby shutters, mustard seed, PTI white card stock, Twinery charcoal twine

Wine Labels: Unity April KOTM Small Things matter most, PTI Soft stone card stock, Coredinations card stock, Smooch Cheery Ice spritz, PTI edgers die and Limitless Layers 1 3/4th inch die, Spellbinders Nestabilities Label One, Tim Holtz Distress Ink fired brick and worn lipstick, Versafine black ink, EK Success corner rounder

hello, friend and celebrate

2012-01-05T14:42:00.000-08:00

You know when you have a bunch of cards you need to make and you end up making random cards because that's what you were inspired to do? Hello, friend is one of those. I used Lucy's Cards sketch (Day #4). Young Crafters Unite is having a CAS challenge and I love all the white on this card, swoon.

And this wine label uses the Make it Monday technique of the ink brayer over the impression plate and I think it works for the Lawnscaping Birthday challenge. I also used the Lucy's Cards sketch (Day #3).

Materials: Card: PTI Mat Stack collection sentiment, PTI Mendhi Medallions, Spellbinders scallop circle die and circle die, Vintage Charm bling, PTI vintage cream card stock, black card stock, vellum, Versafine black ink.

Wine label: Lawn Fawn Bannerific, Cosmo Cricket rub on, patterened paper from my stash, Coredinations card stock, PTI vintage cream card stock, PTI edgers die, PTI Limitless Circles 1 3/4th inch die, EK Success corner rounder, PTI impression plate, pink paislee twine, Tim Holtz distress ink vintage photo, Tattered Angels black mist, Versafine black ink

some journeys cannot be put into words

2012-01-04T17:55:00.000-08:00

I won some Amy Tangerine stickers from my local craft shop and thought they'd be perfect for Lucy's Sketch (Day #2). I used a topo map of Denali for the Moxie Fab World "Map to your Heart" challenge. I opted out of the sentiment. I've been asked to make an anniversary card for a friend and the direction was "something non-sappy and no sentiment". Do you guys think this works? And yesterday I posted a card for my little guy's birthday and I thought some of you might enjoy this precious photo of him blowing out the candles on his cupcakes, Happy Birthday Josh!

Materials: Amy Tangerine remarks stickers, Topo map, My Favorite Things scallop die, PTI soft stone card stock, Sharpie black pen, Tim Holtz distress ink antique linen

make a wish, Mr. 4 year old

2012-01-03T09:59:00.000-08:00

My little man is 4 today, where does the time go? I have things to do for his birthday party, so I'l be brief. I've used Lucy's Cards Day #1 sketch, the Make It Monday selective impression technique and the Moxie Fab World Tuesday Trigger. And just a note, that it's rare that I make a card with no stamping...

And because many of you know that the other little one is crafty, here's Ben's birthday card for his brother.

Materials: PTI By the Numbers die and impression plate, PTI Mat Stack 4 die, PTI Double sided banner die, My Mind's Eye Lime Twist pattered paper, Coredinations green card stock, PTI soft stone card stock, vellum, SRM sticker

sing, laugh, hope

2012-01-01T07:48:00.000-08:00

Cheers! It's another fun sketch on 365 Cards Super Sketchy Sunday, I turned mine into a wine label (as I'm still 10 shy of my commission, so beware, more wine labels to be seen in the next week or so). But I thought this sentiment would work well for a wine label, it could be a birthday, it could be a house warming party, it could be a pick me up? I've used the ColourQ colors, love the classy look of B and W with a touch of red. Wee Memories is having a new challenge I got the Hero Arts background for Christmas, love new stamps. I hope everyone is starting their New Year's day off on the right foot. Yesterday I mentioned that I was working on some "best of" posts on my work blog, and if you want a sneak peek into the fabulous place where I live, check out my Best of Nevada City post. And I'm thinking there's going to be a giveaway later on our FB page... (nothing crafty, but we all like giveaways right?).

Materials: Hero Arts Leaf and Floral Background, Unknown sentiment, PTI edgers die, Spellbinders scallop circle die, My Favorite Things scallop die, Versafine black ink, Stampendous clear embossing powder, Tattered Angels black mist, PTI soft stone card stock, red card stock

celebrate, celebrate, celebrate

2011-12-31T09:56:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year's Eve! I'm going to a party tonight and thought that I'd make a fun wine tag to bring along to the party. My source of inspiration is the new Paper Smooches SPARKS challenge. I love all the top 10 card posts I've seen in blog land, I'd love to say that I'll post one, but I've been busy doing "Best of" posts on my work blog-- so much fun to go back and look at all the fun things in our area, hikes, restaurants, coffee, wine and today I'm hoping to do a best of why I love our town. Maybe I'll do a top 10 card post next month.

Materials: Paper Smooches Sentiment Sample, PTI By the Numbers Die, Edgers #3 and Limitless Circles 1 3/4th die, EK Success 1 3/4th circle punch, vellum, PTI Soft Stone card stock, Stampendous Clear ink, Making Memories eyelets, Tim Holtz distress inks: faded jeans, tumbled glass, shabby shutters, evergreen bough, mustard seed, ripe persimmon and fired brick, Tattered Angels black mist

Butterfly Bag, tag and snowflake card

2011-12-30T15:43:00.000-08:00

It's Friday, so why not play along with the Friends with Flair crew over at Unity. I've decorated a kraft bag, for a white elephant party I'm going to tonight for the Unity Challenge "Gift Wrapping" and the CAS-ual Friday "Brown Paper Packages tied with String" challenge.

Next up I made a cute little tag based on the Moxie Fab World Tuesday Trigger. I used the same HA stamp I used on yesterday's card set, just added a bit of color.

And the last card is based on The Craft's Meow sketch. The snowflake in the sketch got incorprated in a different location, be proud literal girl over here is breaking out!

Thanks for looking, wishing you all a fabulous New Year's.

Materials: Bag: kraft bag, Unity Bit of Burlap, Unity Key to Joy, May Arts natural string, Versafine black ink, Tim Holtz distress inks antique linen, vintage photo, gathered twigs, Brillance Moonshine ink, Tattered Angels black mist

Tag: Hero Arts Stripes and Frames, Hero Arts cling button, PTI Daily Designs sentiment, buttons, PTI Double sided banner, PTI Tag It Sale #1, Versafine black ink, Tim Holtz distress ink gathered twigs, Hero Arts Soft Blossom, Versacolor Canary, teal ink, Twinery Buttercream twine

Card: The Craft's Meow Vintage Snowflakes, PTI snowflake impression plate, Spellbinders circle die, Stampendous Silver Tinsel embossing folder, Momento black ink, ribbon

Thank You card set

2011-12-29T16:50:00.000-08:00

Is anyone else behind on their thank you notes? You'd think that I'd have a box full of them, but I'm out of ones that I like and I keep thinking I'll have time to make individual ones for all the fabulous Christmas goodies, but the anal punctual me is having issues that my thank your are going to be "late". I know, call me crazy. I used the Runway Inspired photo for my source of inspiration and made a set for the Hero Arts challenge. Love that I'm leaving both of these challenges to the last minute... didn't I say I was punctual? And since I've done a B&W card with one color on each card I'm going to enter these in the ColourQ challenge.

Materials: Hero Arts Stripes and Frame stamp and embossing folder, Hero Arts Written Thank You sentiment, Twinery twine, Coredinations card stock, PTI Soft Stone card stock, Versafine black ink, EK Success corner rounder

gift card holders

2011-12-28T11:26:00.000-08:00

I made these cute little gift card holders for stocking stuffers, I had made these ones earlier, so I just simplified the design for the CAS-ual Friday challenge. Simon Says Challenge is also having an anything goes week this week.

Materials: Cosmo Cricket Mitten Weather paper, PTI kraft card stock, May Arts natural string

Happy Birthday wine label

2011-12-26T20:13:00.000-08:00

I'm late to the PTI holiday leftovers party, better bring some wine and a bit of bling to help the gals along on the last 20 minutes! To check out other holiday leftover creations pop over to Nichole's blog. I used a gift bag (that had these really fun earrings in them from my grandpa) as my leftovers. I got a commission (while sitting at the Christmas table) from my sister's MIL for 12 wine labels, so happy to say I've got one done, 11 more to go. I took a fun photo of this same wine bottle (minus the tag) on the Christmas dinner table, click here.

Materials: PTI Gracias Vases sentiment, PTI Edgers Die, Spellbinders Label Number 4, EK Success 1 3/4 th circle punch, EK Success corner rounder, PTI kraft and chocolate chip card stock, recycled gift bag, Versafine black ink, Stampendous clear embossing powder, Tim Holtz distress stain antique linen, Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist, Barbara Trombley's art glitter silver, Recollections black rhinestones

Merry Christmas, card and mug

2011-12-25T12:20:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas! In honor of Christmas I've made a Valentine's Day card for my 365 Cards Super Sketchy Sunday card. This way I'll be a bit more organized for the next holiday? Check out the rest of the fabulous DT's projects to find some inspiration, if you're like me you'll need a few thank you cards for all those crafty goodies you got under the tree. And since I was doing some last minute gift creating yesterday I have one more fun project to share. I was inspired by Christina's recent post and decorated a Starbucks mug with some fun photos from a wedding we went to earlier this year and the great Unity sentiment "Remember Happiness is a Way of Travel Not A Destination"- isn't that perfect for a travel mug? And me, being me, I used the Play Date Cafe colors (for something a bit different then my normal CAS card). I think this works for the Unity Challenge of gift wrapping, I wrapped the mug in fun crafty goodies... who needs anything else?

Materials: Card: PTI Happy Trails sentiment, The Greeting Farm Tearrific, Sassafras Stitchery, Versafine black ink, Tim Holtz fired brick distress ink, Tattered Angels black mist, Smooch Spritz Cherry Ice, ribbon from Yvonne, Stampendous white embossing powder, PTI white card stock

Mug: Starbucks mug, photos, Unity Bit of Burlap, Unity Happiness sentiment, Stampin Up Kiwi Bliss card stock, Pink Paislee twine, PTI kraft card stock, black card stock, Spellbinders Label 8, Versafine black ink, Versamark, Tattered Angels mist

warm winter wishes

2011-12-20T07:58:00.000-08:00

So I won a set of stamps from The Greeting Farm the other week through the Ribbon Carousel's challenge and so last night I decided to ink up my new set Tea-rrific. I wanted to play along with their challenge blog as a thanks, the TGF Farm Fresh Challenge this week is buttons, twine and kraft. My buttons are kinda hiding, but I used the PTI die to cut them out of the coordinating Cosmo Cricket paper I used. And since the Ribbon Carousel's current challenge is twine I added some Twinery cappuccino twine to the card. And lastly (challenge junkie over here), added some fun texture- both with a recycled coffee take out holder and the PTI impression plate for the Lawnscaping "Texture" challenge. Thanks for looking... hope everyone else is surfing the pre-Christmas rush.

I took this photo last week while enjoying a cup of tea at work, and thought I'd include it here b/c I'm taking card photos at work again... shows you that my time management skills are a bit off at the moment. I took the photo for this blog post and now I'm realizing that I forgot to include it.... oops. Well, you crafty folks can enjoy the photo :)

Materials: The Greeting Farm Tea-rrifc, Lawn Fawn Winter Fox sentiment, Spellbinders Labels One, PTI button die, PTI impression plate, Cosmo Cricket Odds and Ends patterned paper, Twinery cappuccino twine, Versafine black ink, Tim Holtz distress stain antique linen, PTI kraft card stock

Super Sunday cards

2011-12-18T10:04:00.000-08:00

Welcome to another 365 Cards Super Sketchy Sunday. This week's sketch reminded me of a cake, so I polled the little people in my house for ideas and they came up with "books, stairs, upside down ice cream cone". I opted for a watercolor feel and some butterflies, but I'd love to see how the sketch inspires you.

And this card uses the current Skipping Stones Design sketch, I missed the deadline last week, so I'm trying to be early this wek. I was asked to make a few more cards for my girlfriend's co-worker. Inside the card it has the PTI Big Birthday Wishes sentiment "years ago... on what otherwise might have been just an ordinary day, the world got you".

Materials: PTI Happy Trails, SRM stickers, PTI Double sided banner die and Happy Trails die, Tim Holtz distress inks festive berries, worn lipstick, seedless perserves, Smooch Cheery Ice spritz, PTI kraft and white card stock, Spellbinders Label One, vellum,

43 card: Skipping Stones Grunge, PTI By the Numbers die, PTI Limitless Layers 2 1/2 inch die, Spellbinders circle die, May Arts natural string, Coredinations card stock, Tim Holtz Gathered twigs distress inks, Tim Holtz woodgrain embossing folder

Happy Holidays

2011-12-16T17:19:00.000-08:00

It's a red and kraft party over on my blog today! I wanted to share the last few labels I made for my card order, which I sent off this afternoon. Because Wee Memories is having a holiday challenge I'm going to enter these goodies in their challenge.

And in a state of weakness I went into Ben Franklin... their holiday paper was on sale, so I got this fabulous sheet of October Afternoon "Feliz Navidad" and with one sheet made 2 wine labels and 3 cards.

And to show you the order... drum roll please. I recruited some help from the fabulous Karen, who helped contribute some of the cards.

Materials: Wine Labels: Hero Arts Poinsettas and Berries, Waltzingmouse Say It Loud, PTI Think Big Favorites, PTI kraft card stock, Coredinations card stock, vellum, PTI edgers die, EK Success corner rounder, Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist, Versafine black ink, Twinery charcoal twine, Stampendous white embossing powder, PTI Limitless Layers 1 3/4th inch die

2nd set of labels: Waltzingmouse Stamps Say It Loud, October Afternoon Feliz Navidad paper, Coredinations card stock, Twinery Charcoal twine, Versafine black ink, Stampendou clear embossing powder, EK Success corner rounder, PTI Edgers and Limitless Layers dies

Holiday cards: PTI Photo Finisher sentiment and die, vellum, October Afternoon Feliz Navidad, Cordinations card stock, PTI kraft card stock, Versafine black ink, Stampendous clear embossing powder

Friends with Flair wine label

2011-12-16T10:01:00.000-08:00

I haven't had the chance to play along with Unity's Friends with Flair in awhile, so I thought I'd add this CAS wine label I made, partially motivated by the fun Graphic 45 and May Arts blog hops (the butterfly is Graphic 45 and the fabulous May Arts natural string). I have a bunch of other things to share, as I'm about to send off my big order, but I'll post it later in the day. Now can any of you guess what kind of wine is behind the fabulous label? The only hint is that I can walk to their tasting room from my house. If you have every sneaked a peak on my work blog you could probably figure it out....

Materials: Unity Life is Fabulous kit butterfly, PTI Limitless Layers dies 1 3/4th and 2 1/2inch, PTI edgers die, PTI kraft card stock, Graphic 45 Once Upon a Springtime Collection, Sierra Pacific Crafts Signature Suite paper, May Arts natural string, Versafine black ink

7th birthday, thank you set and a gift tag

2011-12-15T10:20:00.000-08:00

This 7th birthday card was commissioned, I sent the client a link to this card and when I went to recreate it I ended up with the card above... so much for CASEing myself. I used the Embellish colors for their current challenge "use banners". Paper Issues is having a number challenge and this cute card is perfect for that challenge.

I have to mail 7 of these little boxes to my nieces and nephews and I thought it would be fun to make tags with a photo on them (b/c I seriously have no time to do these sort of things!). I used a Waltzingmouse Stamp on the back for their holiday tag challenge. And since I've used a bit of twine I'm going to enter it in the Ribbon Carousel challenge.

And last but not least, I'm still trying to mass produce for Christmas gifts, so I've made another card set using the new Hero Arts newspaper tulip stamp. Susan's One Layer Wednesday challenge this week is about something peaceful, and I love the idea of sitting in the grass looking at flowers....

Wishing you all a good day... back to my monster to do list over here....

Materials: 7th birthday card: Hero Arts Flower Box Cling, PTI Tag Its #10, PTI Big Birthday Wishes, Unity Bit of Burlap, PTI By the Numbers die, PTI Limitless Layers 1 3/4th inch die, Versafine black ink, Tim Holtz distress ink antique linen, water color pencils, PTI kraft and chocolate chip card stock, Coredinations Sugar and Spice purple card stock

Tag: PTI Tag Sale #5, photo, Coredinations card stock, PTI Tag It #9, Watlzingmouse Stamps Very Vintage Label One, Twinery Maraschino twine, Versafine black ink

Card Set: Hero Arts Newspaper Tulip, PTI Happy Trails sentiment, Versafine black ink, Tim Holtz distress inks fired brick and evergreen bough, Stampendous clear embossing powder, PTI kraft card stock

Runway Inspired thank you set

2011-12-14T14:06:00.000-08:00

Challenge junkie over here can't miss out on the new Runway Inspired Challenge, woo hoo Jen and her fabulous DT! I'm still frantically trying to finish up my massive card order, so I'm trying to make as many card sets as possible. So I pulled out an old Hero Arts sentiment for these cards to enter in their December challenge.

Materials: Hero Arts Written Thank You sentiment, PTI Menhdi Medallion, PTI Mat Stack 4 die, PTI Photo Finisher die, PTI white card stock, vellum, black card stock, Versafine black ink, Tim Holtz distress ink mustard seed, Tattered Angels black mist

Happy Birthday wine tag and gift card

2011-12-13T10:53:00.000-08:00

I used this week's Play Date Cafe colors with the CAS-ual Friday "In the Mist" challenge to create a little gift card holder.

And since I've been on a wine label tag mission lately, I decided to make one to coordinate with the gift card holder (seriously I can't think of a better birthday present, can you?) I used the Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge as my source of inspiration, although I realize it's a bit of a stretch... And since Lawnscaping is having a tag challenge I thought I'd enter this in there too.

Materials: Gift Card holder, Waltzingmouse Stamps Frame It sentiment, Lawn Fawn Bannerific, Smooch Cherry Ice and Navy Twinkle. Twinery Carribean twine, patterned paper from my stash

Wine Label: Waltzingmouse Stamps Say It Loud and Very Vintage Labels 4, Lawn Fawn Bannerific, Smooch Cherry Ice and Navy Twinkle, Twinery Carribean twine, PTI Limitiless layers 1 3/4th inch die, PTI edgers die

Cards, challenges and wine labels

2011-12-11T15:02:00.001-08:00

Please grab your wine/coffee, I've got a few items to share today. If you're looking for my Lawnscaping blog hop post, click here.

First card is for my DT on 365 Cards Super Sketchy Sunday. I wanted to try something other then a banner, so I used the Hero Arts Magic of Christmas branch. Wee Memories is celebrating the holidays this week, so this is a good card to enter in that.

And since I decided to indulge in a new Hero Arts stamp from their release, here's a card set using the December sketch.

Next up some wine labels. I just had a huge card order and I've been on a crafting binge, trying to come up with the right items to mail them in time. I love red and white together, click on the labels to have a closer look.

The second and third label use some Smooch Spritz, so I'm going to enter those in the CAS-ual Friday "in the mist" challenge. The label in the middle is perfect for the A Passion for Papertrey "Red/White Christmas challenge and label on the right has a Waltzingmouse sentiment, so I'm going to enter it in their tag challenge, wine labels count as tags right?

This CAS card is for the Moxie Fab World Pay It Forward Challenge and the Hello Friend is for the Moxie Fab World Celebrating Hobbies challenge.

If you made it this far, congrats! I've added the rest of my crafty binge to my Facebook page.

Materials: Hero Arts Magical Christmas, Tim holtz distress inks, PTI Photo Finishers sentiment, Fiskars corner rounder

Hero Arts Newspaper Tulip, PTI Mat Stack Collection sentiments, PTI double sided banner die, PTI white card stock, vellum, Tim Holtz distress inks shabby shutters and festive berries, Versafine black ink, Recollections black rhinestones

Wine labels: WPplus9 Woodgrain Silhouette and Spring Post, PTI Mat Stack 4 die, Coredinations cardstock, PTI kraft, white and chocolate chip card stock, Versafine black ink, Tim Holtz Distress inks festive berries and evergreen bough, Tim Holtz woodgrain embossing folder, PTI Limitless Layers 1 3/4th inch die, Fishars corner rounder, PTI edgers die

Hero Arts Poinsetta and Berries, PTI Photo Finishers sentiment and die, Coredinations card stock, PTI white card stock, Smooch Cherry Ice spritz, Versafine black ink, Stampendous white embossing powder, Versamark, Twinery Charcoal twine, PTI Limitless Layers 1 3/4th inch die, Fishars corner rounder, PTI edgers die

Hero Arts Poinsetta and Berries, Waltzingmouse Say It Loud, vellum, Coredinations card stock, PTI white card stock, PTI Limitless Layers 1 3/4th inch die, Fishars corner rounder, PTI edgers die, Stampendous white embossing powder, Versamark, Versafine black ink, Twinery Chorcoal twine, Smooch Cheery ice spritz

Hello: American Crafts Amy Tangerine sticker, Yellow Bicycle tape, Tattered Angels black mister

Hello Friend: American Crafts Amy Tangerine sticker, Pink Paislee hand, Unity bit of burlap, Authentique Blissful and Free Bird patterend paper, PTI edgers die, My Favorite Things large scallop die, PTI kraft card stock, Tim Holtz distress ink

Happy Birthday Jen

2011-12-10T03:00:00.000-08:00

Hip, hip, horray, it's my blogging pal Jen's birthday!!! I've teamed up with the talented Karen to have a Carbon Copied birthday cheer for Jen. We've decided to use PTI In Bloom and the current Authentique paper sketch challenge. It's hard to tell in this photo, but I've embossed the vellum with the In Bloom impression plate, so it give it a fun hidden element over the Authentique paper. Go check out what Karen's created and then leave the birthday girl some love.

Materials: PTI In Bloom, PTI In Bloom impression plate, Spellbinders Nestabilities Label 4, Authentique Blissful patterned paper, vellum, PTI white card stock, Making Memories silver eyelets, Versafine black ink, water color pencils, Tattered Angels black mister, water color pencils, Recollections rhinestone, May Arts ribbon

Lawnscaping Blog Hop

2011-12-08T21:01:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the Lawnscaping "All About RED" blog hop. The hop runs from Friday, December 9th - Sunday, December 11th! Make sure to comment on all of the blogs because there are LOTS of prizes to be won! All the details can be found on the Lawnscaping home page. The hop is being sponsored by some amazing companies, Lawn Fawn, Mold Muse and Whiskers Graphics.

If you've come from Jenny's blog you're on the right track. I decided to play along with the current Lawnscaping challenge, "Tags or Treat Bags" and make some fun little tags. A little May Arts ribbon, Smooch Spritz and clear embossing and this tag has a bit of sparkle to it. I thought it would be perfect on a gift for my writer sister.

And I tried to leave the fox white and I couldn't, so my "all about RED" agenda here is the scarf/mug/ribbon.. Next up on the hop is Gretchen's blog.

Materials: Lawn Fawn Just My Type, Smooch Cherry Ice spritzer, Embossing pen, Stampendous Clear embossing powder, PTI Tag Sale #1, May Arts ribbon, staple, Versafine black ink, PTI white card stock

Lawn Fawn Winter Fox, PTI Tag Sale #5 die, My Mind's Eye ribbon, water color pencils, Versafine black ink

Happy Birthday Virginia

2011-12-07T09:10:00.001-08:00

I'm almost LATE to Virginia's big 50 birthday bash (so unlike me), I snuck in my craft room this morning and made this card for the birthday girl. I CASEd yesterday's card with the Hero Arts sketch and decided to go for the classy CAS card. Had to use HA and SRM stickers for Ms. Virginia! And inside I used more SRM stickers and the PTI Big Birthday Wishes sentiment. Happy Birthday Virginia! And since I'm all about virtual fun, and I own a motel and promote our local area on my work blog, here's our day out adventure I've put together. Of course you'll stay in one of our nicer rooms, eat breakfast here go wine tasting here and later go for a walk here by the river and finish off the day with dinner here. Let me know when to pick you up at the airport!

Materials: Hero Arts Classic Fabric cling, SRM Stickers, Recollections rhinestones, PTI double sided banner die, Versafine black ink, PTI white card stock, black card stock, PTI Big Birthday Wishes,

More Christmas Cards

2011-12-06T10:16:00.001-08:00

I've been selling Christmas cards left and right and I needed to make a few more and since I can't mass produce one card, I went looking for inspiration in blogland challenges.

This card uses the Hero Arts sketch challenge. Don't you just love the Tim Holtz seasonal colors? Simon Says Stamp Challenge is having an "Anything Goes" week, think they'll get to 1000? And Wee Memories is having a "Free For All"

This girly Christmas card uses the Play Date Cafe colors and I based it on the Skippings Stones sketch, but oops, missed the deadline.

Materials: Hero Arts Berries and Poinsettas, PTI Photo Finishers sentiment, PTI double sided banner die, PTI white card stock, Stampin Up red card stock, Tim Holtz distress inks festive berries, evergreen bough, iced spruce, Versafine black ink

Ornament card: Hero Arts ornament, Waltzingmouse Stamps Frame It sentiment, PTI Limitless Layers 2 1/2 inch dies, pink paper from my stash, PTI kraft and white card stock, Coredinations purple card stock, Versafine black ink, May Arts ribbon

A note of thanks and some gift cards

2011-12-04T06:51:00.001-08:00

Happy Sunday! Anyone else feeling the hustle and bustle of the holidays? A note of thanks, always a good card to have on hand during this time of the year. I've used this week's 365 Cards Super Sketchy Sunday sketch. Please come check out the other DT cards, perhaps you'll be inspired to join us. I used some of the elements from this week's CASE Study card for my inspiration.

And below are some really fun little gift card holders I created for a custom order, click here for the Two Peas in a Bucket template. I just added some Cosmo Cricket Mitten Weather paper and the PTI Think Big Favorites sentiment and I was done. I think I might have to make some more! Wee Memories is having an "Free For All" challenge this week and I'm going to enter these there.

Materials: Card: Stamps: PTI Happy trails sentiment, Dies: PTI Mat Stack 3 dies, PTI Happy Trails die, PTI Edgers die, Patterned paper from my stash, Coredinations cardstock, PTI white card stock, Versafine black ink, Tim Holtz Distress ink antique linen

Gift cards: Cosmo Cricket Mitten Weather patterned paper, PTI kraft card stock, PTI Think Big Favorites #9, white gel pen, Sharpie black market, Versafine black ink, Stampendous clear embossing powder

Snowmen and women

2011-12-02T15:49:00.001-08:00

Pull out your hat and mittens, it's a bit cold over here in blogland. The snowmen (and woman) are out in force for today's post. I sold this card and got another order for the "same" card (which I seriously can't ever do) so I decided to go a challenge hopping to find inspiration and ended up with the Craft's Meow sketch and the Ribbon Carousel's color challenge (red/kraft/brown and some sort of ribbon).

And then I decided since I had the fun Lawn Fawn Making Frosty Friends out that I'd use them for my tag order (which was 2 boys and 2 girls), so with some help from some fun paper and a few more challenges, I made some tags.

This one works for the Waltzingmouse tag challenge.

This one was inspired by the Moxie Fab World Get Inspired by the Kitchen challenge.

And last, but not least, I had so much fun with the Lawn Fawn/May Arts week that I decided to use this fabulous May Arts ribbon with this tag. I've also played along with the CAS-ual Friday tic-tac-toe challenge and done scallops-polka dots and pink (I know, be proud!).

Materials: Warm Winter Wishes card: The Craft's Meow Vintage Snowflakes, Lawn Fawn Making Frosty Friends, PTI kraft and chocolate chip card stock, Coredinations red card stock, patterned snowflake paper from stash, Cosmo Cricket paper, Twinery cappuccino twine, Spellbinders Nestablilities Label 1 and circle die, Versafine black ink, silver ink, Stampendous white embossing powder

Tags:Grey/Blue hat: PTI Tag Sale #1 die, Lawn Fawn Making Frosty Friends, Waltzingmouse Very Vintage Labels One, Waltzingmouse Pint Sized Heroes, Authentique Journey paper, Twinery Stone twine, Versafine black ink, PTI white and kraft card stock

Pink Hat: PTI Tag Sale #5, Lawn Fawn making Frosty Friends, Authentique Free Bird paper, vellum, PTI white and kraft card stock, Twinery twine, Versafine black ink

Yellow hat: PTI Tag Sale #1, Lawn Fawn Making Frosty Friends, The Craft's Meow Vintage Snowflakes, My Favorite Things scallop die, Authentique Blissful paper, My Mind's Eye Lime Twist paper, Tim Holtz distress ink shabby shutters, Versafine black ink, ribbon from stash, staple

Pink ear muffs: PTI Tag Sale #1, Lawn Fawn Making Frosty Friends, Waltzingmouse Big Bloom, My Mind's Eye scallop die, Stampin Up Designer paper, Versafine black ink, silver ink, vellum, May Arts ribbon

X-mas cards and Dear Santa Winner

2011-11-30T17:02:00.001-08:00

Winner, winner, chicken dinner... according to Random.org the winner from this post of the nativity embossing folder is Lynn, congrats! Thanks for sharing your Christmas wish lists, I'd take any and all of your various wishes. If you read yesterday's post I made two Christmas cards and then promptly sold them when I took them to work to photograph them. Well my employee wanted more red ones, so today I whipped up a few more of the same style. Simon Says Stamp is having an anything goes challenge this week, since I can't have a post without a challenge can I? And A Passion For Papertrey is having a red/white Christmas challenge, and these are just too perfect for that challenge.

Materials: Materials: Hero Arts Poinsetta & Berries, PTI Photo Finishers, Saavy Stamper dots, PTI Think Big Favorites, PTI white card stock, Coredinations red card stock, vellum, Twinery charcoal and Marschino twine, PTI photo finishers dies, EK Success corner rounder punch, Tim Holtz Festive Berries distress inks, Versafine black ink

CASE Study Christmas cards

2011-11-29T08:02:00.001-08:00

This week's CASE Study is seriously CAS perfection. I had to ink up my new Hero Arts stamps I won from Joy. And since I keep running out of time to photograph my cards before heading to work, (click here to see what's in the background of my photo location) I had to bring today's card with me, and then I promptly sold them to my head housekeeper! There's still time to enter my giveaway on this post and a special shout out to Yvonne's fabulous layout on her blog (that's my little guy covered in ice cream). And last, but not least, thanks to the ColourQ gals for spotlighting my fun wine tag from last week, always nice to get a little pat on the back once in awhile.

Materials: Hero Arts Poinsetta & Berries, PTI Photo Finishers, Stampendous dots, PTI white card stock, Coredinations red card stock, vellum, Twinery charcoal and Marschino twine, Making Memories eyelets, PTI photo finishers dies, EK Success corner rounder punch

celebrate and holiday cheer

2011-11-28T19:28:00.000-08:00

I've been having fun with wine labels, so when trying to come up with something for the Paper Smooches SPARKS challenge I decided to use the colors (see below) and make an all occasion celebrate wine label. And there's still time left in the Simon Says Stamp Challenge for tags, so here's another try for their fabulous prize.

And since I was gifted a DeNami stamp from Lindsay in some blog candy I figured it was high time I played along with the fabulous crew over there, so here's a holiday card with the current DeNami sketch challenge.

Materials: Wine Label: Paper Smooches Spiffy Scooters, Paper Smooches Sentiment Sampler (thanks Lynn), Patterned paper from my stash, PTI kraft and white card stock, PTI 1 3/4th inch limitless layers die, EK Success corner rounder, PTI edgers die, water color pencils, Tim Holtz Distress Inks Vintage Photo and Tumbled Glass, Skipping Stones Design Grunge stamp

Materials: Holiday Cheer: DeNami Design tree, PTI Tag It #9 ornaments, Pink Paislee star, PTI Mat Stack 2 Collection, PTI white and kraft and chocolate chip card stock, vellum, Tim Holtz Ornamental Die, May Arts natural string, Tim Holtz Distress Inks Gathered twigs, worn lip stick, faded jeans, VersaColor Canary, Versafine black

Dear Santa

2011-11-27T14:15:00.001-08:00

Welcome to another 365 Cards Super Sketchy Sunday. Check out the DT's different takes on the sketch, perhaps you'll be inspired? I was also inspired today to finally tackle the mess that was taking over my craft room. Below is a before and after photo. As a result of my major tidy up I found a Life Style Crafts QuicKutz nativity embossing folder that I'd love to give away. Please post a comment on this post saying what you'd write in the "dear santa" note on this card. I will draw a winner on Wednesday.

Before

After

Materials: LifeStyle Crafts QuicKutz embossing folder, PTI tag it die, Life Style Crafts QuicKutz ornament die, Cosmo Cricket Odds and Ends patterned paper, PTI kraft and chocolate chip paper, Coredinations card stock, EK Success corner rounder, May Arts natural string

tag and Christmas ornament card

2011-11-26T13:37:00.001-08:00

The Lawnscaping Challenge is to use the above photo as a source of inspriation, so I used some burlap and red and made a cute little tag. Simon Says Stamp is also having a tag challenge this week.

The CAS-ual Fridays challenge was to use Karen's sketch, I die cut out a window and ornament, which works great for the new Young Crafters Unite challenge. A girlfriend stopped by today to go check out a local artisan fair with me and bought both of these projects and a few other Christmas goodies I had floating around, guess it's time to make some more Christmas crafty goodies.

Materials: Tag: QuicKutz die, Hero Arts Classic Messages (CL414) sentiment, Lawn Fawn bannerific, PTI Tiny Tags 2, Coredinations card stock, PTI kraft card stock, PTI Tag It die, May Arts burlap string

Card: SRM sticker sentiment, PTI double sided banner die, QuicKutz ornament die, Cosmo Crickets Odds and Ends patterned paper, PTI impression plate, Spellbinders Nestabilities Label one die, PTI white card stock, May Arts burlap string, EK Success corner rounder, Making Memories eyelet punch

Rush to Sender PTI blog hop cards

2011-11-25T07:00:00.000-08:00

Welcome to another PTI blog hop. This month the challenge is to make a card based on the above photo. I decided to CASE one of my own cards and use the Make It Monday challenge, I've added both sentiments from Postmarks plus some PTI holiday sentiments to the patterned paper. I used the red and green, the snowflakes and the red patterned paper as my sources of inspiration. Hop along and see what everyone else has made, I'm sure it'll get you into the holiday spirit.

Materials: PTI Postmarks and die, PTI Tag It #9, PTI Thing Big Favorites #9, Patterned paper: The Vintage Workshop Postal Words and Stampin Up designer paper, Twinery twine, Coredinations card stock, PTI kraft card stock, Versafine black ink, Tim Holtz Distress ink antique linen, festive berries, evergreen boroughs, PTI snowflake die

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T18:57:00.001-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you all had a fabulous day celebrating family, health and food. I was lucky to have a very relaxed day, no travel, no visitors, no cooking and thankfully no phone calls from work. A walk in the rain, some quality time with family and a big ol plate of delicious food, what more can a gal ask for? Yesterday I made the wine label on the left, so I thought I'd bring that bottle of red with a complimenting bottle of white from the same New Zealand winery, so I whipped up another fun wine label.

I actually made this card before the wine label, and since the DH liked the sentiment so much I used it again for his wine tag. This card uses the Coredinations November color challenge. And since I've die cut all the leaves I'll also enter it in the Young Crafters Unite die cut challenge. And since I've used all Unity stamps, I'm finally going to play along with another Friends With Flair.

Materials: wine labels: Unity sentiment, Tim Holtz leaf die, Core'dinations card stock, PTI kraft and chocolate chip card stock, PTI edgers die, Versafine black ink, Stampendous clear embossing powder, Tattered Angels black mist, EK success corner rounder, PTI Limitiess Circles 1 3/4th inch die

SRM Sticker, PTI double sided banner die, EK Success corner rounder, Tim Holtz leaf die, Coredinations card
stock, PTI kraft card stock, May Arts burlap string, PTI edgers die, PTI Limitiess Circles 1 3/4th inch die

Card: Unity sentiment and bit of burlap background stamp, Tim Holtz leaf die, Coredinations card stock, Versafine black ink, Versamark, Stampendous clear embossing powder, Tim Holtz distress stain antique linen, May Arts burlap string, Martha Stewart score pad

count my blessing wine tag

2011-11-23T08:16:00.001-08:00

I owed my husband a bottle of wine because we made a bet and I lost. I've used this week's ColourQ colors (although sorry gals I used kraft instead of white, please forgive me). Off to work I go, sorry to post and run. Simon Says Stamps is having a tag challenge this week and I think I might have to play along more then once....

Materials: Unity sentiment, Tim Holtz leaf die, Core'dinations card stock, PTI kraft and chocolate chip card stock, PTI edgers die, Versafine black ink, Stampendous clear embossing powder, Tattered Angels black mist, EK success corner rounder

3 sketch cards

2011-11-22T10:05:00.001-08:00

So I took the weekend off and had some r&r, but as a result of several days of no crafting I sorted went off the deep end when I got home (and a few new PTI goodies were sitting at my door, so...). I went for the sketch challenges and found inspiration in three different ones.

This sketch is from Lily Pad Cards and now that I look at the sketch I realized that I don't have a sentiment. Oops. I was playing with the new PTI letter dies and made a whole bunch of personalized cards, but can't post all of them because the other friends might spy them on here. I'm guessing my friend Lydia is too busy to find her card here...

This simple little card is a multi-challenge number. The sketch for Skipping Stones, color for CR84FN and owls for Wee Memories "Woodland Animals".

And since I was trying to get organized to post the Skipping Stones Design card before the deadline, I sorta got distracted by this week's sketch. I used some of the fabulous Paper Source paper I've used on this and this card. And on a note of thanks, I wrote up a nice little post on my work blog to say thanks to my community who has made our free vegetable cart so successful this year, click here to read about the feel good little project.

Materials: Lyd Card: PTI Happy Trails, PTI alphabet die, Cosmo Cricket patterned paper, PTI kraft card stock, black card stock, score pal, Versafine black ink

4U Owl Card: Studio G owl, Life Style Crafts dragonfly alphabet die, Tim Holtz woodgrain embossing folder, PTI kraft and chocolate chip card stock, Tim Holtz Kraft core card stock, white gel pen, Bic brown markers, yellow colored pencils, Versafine black ink

Happy Birthday: Skipping Stones Design Grunge birthday sentiment, Paper Source paper, PTI kraft card stock, water color paper, black card stock, vellum, colored pencils, Versafine black ink

Warm Winter Wishes

2011-11-20T08:00:00.000-08:00

Welcome to another Super Sketchy Sunday with 365 Cards. This week I've used the sketch as a source of inspiration for a fun wintery card, and let me just say I ended up with white embossing powder everywhere, it was snowing in my craft room! I've also used this week's Play Date Cafe colors, because their sponsor this week is Lawn Fawn and I thought that was a good reason to ink up my new Making Frosty Friends set.

Materials: Lawn Fawn Making Frosty Friends, The Craft's Meow Vintage Snowflakes sentiment, Core'dinations card stock, My Mind's Eye Six by Six patterned paper, K I Holiday Collection Alpine Snow Lace patterned paper, Spellbinders Nestabilities Label 1 and circle dies, Stampendous white embossing powder, white gel pen, cream card stock

celebrate the season

2011-11-16T20:30:00.000-08:00

Welcome to another Waltzingmouse Stamps waltz! This month the theme is Christmas/winter. My source of inspiration comes from the fabulous video over at Lily Pad Cards. Because I made a tag I'm going to enter it in CAS-ual Fridays tag challenge. ABC Toys and Crafts are also having a Christmas challenge. Off to hop along and see what other fabulous WMS creations are out there....

Materials: The Crafts Meow's Vintage Snowflakes, Waltzingmouse Stamps Say It Loud sentiment, PTI Think Big Favorites #9, Tim Holtz Distress inks iced spruce, evergreen bough, festive berries, Versafine black ink, Stampendous embossing powders clear and white, PTI Tag It #1 die, May Arts ribbon, PTI Kraft card stock

coffee cards

2011-11-15T11:53:00.001-08:00

My first card is for the Paper Smooches SPARKS challenge and considering how much I love making coffee cards it's not really a surprise that I turned the apples into take out lattes.

And next up I used the Play Date Cafe colors (B and W and a splash of orange) and the Waltzingmouse Sketch.

Materials: Paper Smooches Hot Concoctions, Tim Holtz ornamental die, Life Style Crafts dragonfly letters dies, Core'dinations card stock, Anna Griffin patterned paper, Lasting Impressions Cashew Dots patterned paper, Cuttlebug swiss dots embossing folder, May Arts natural burlap string

My Friend: Waltzingmouse Stamps Very Vintage Labels 4, Waltzingmouse Stamps Say It Loud sentiment, PTI Warm Happiness Too and die, Hero Arts classic fabric cling, EK Success 1 3/4th inch circle punch, Spellbinders Nestabilities Label 4, EK Success border punch, orange patterned paper from stash, black card stock, vellum, Versafine black ink, water color pencil

thanks, warm winter wishes and piggy bank

2011-11-13T10:02:00.001-08:00

Grab a cup of coffee and sit down, this is a jam packed post.... since a few of these challenges expire today/tomorrow, I wanted to get this post up before I head to work.

First up we've got the 365 Cards Super Sketchy Sunday card. Check out the other fabulous DT cards for some fun inspiration. I used this week's CR84FN colors and because I've added a little "thanks" tag so I'm going to enter it in the Lawnscaping Challenge.

Next up we've got The Craft's Meow sketch challenge. Since I was lucky enough to win a set of stamps from the latest release I wanted to play along as my way of saying thanks. And since I opted for a larger tag (and put the sentiment in the, gasp, wrong spot) I want to enter this in this week's CAS-ual Friday "Tag It" challenge.

And for my last crafty project of the day I redecorated the tomato sauce jar into a piggy bank for the LESSology challenge "Jars of Cuteness". Some of you may remember that our family lived in New Zealand for 5 1/2 years and while we've been back in the US for a little less then a year now I thought that it's probably not a bad time to start a "NZ fund" jar. So I decorated the jar with some patterned paper with New Zealand images on it and made a fun little decoration on the top out of New Zealand postage stamps (that I have had in my stash since 2004 when I worked a temp job at the Ministry of Health in Dunedin). The postage stamps are for Yvonne's Do More With Less Challenge.

If you've made this far, well done!

Materials: Thanks card: Hero Arts classic fabric cling, PTI In Bloom, PTI Tiny Tags stamps and die, PTI Mega Mat Stack 1 die EK Success 1 3/4th inch circle punch, PTI Photo Finishers die, ribbon from stash, water color pencils, Versafine black ink, vellum, cream card stock

Warm Happiness card: The Craft's Meow Vintage snowflakes, Cosmo Cricket Mitten Weather paper, Coredinations card stock, vellum, PTI Tag It #1 die, May Arts burlap string, Stampendous clear and white embossing powder, Versafine black ink, My Favorite Things scallop die, Recollections black rhinestones

Jar: Greener Pastures patterned paper, My Little Bicycle tape, Spellbinders scallop circle die, PTI kraft card stock, New Zealand postage stamps

CAS Christmas Cards

2011-11-11T20:18:00.001-08:00

Christmas cards are really not my thing, I had grand ideas of making photo cards this year with the PTI Holiday Photo Finishers set and then I realized the idea of mass producing was stressing me out, so I just ordered photo cards on Shutterfly, click, click, click, done! But somehow between the post on about the WMS Christmas challenge (November's challenge is CAS cards) and the current Skipping Stones Design sketch, I decided to try my hand at a few cards. I'm going to mail these to the Cards That Care, because I was lucky enough to win some Lawn Fawn stamps in their recent blog hop. And ABC Toys and Crafts DT Challenge is all about Christmas cards this month.

And on a totally different note, since as I said Christmas cards aren't really my thing (that's my polite way of saying I don't love these cards)... here's a precious photo of my little guy eating an ice cream cone. The photo makes me chuckle... it's exhausting eating ice cream right?

Materials: PTI Holiday Photo Finishers, Waltzingmouse Very Vintage Labels 4 and Frame It sentiment, Sassafras stitchery stamp, Embroidery floss, Anna Griffin patterned paper, Versafine black ink, Brillance Rocket Red ink

mini tag album

2011-11-10T18:34:00.001-08:00

So I've had tags on my brain lately, been having way too much fun with the PTI tag (click here, here, here), so it's not surprising when I saw the Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge I thought of tags. After a solid hour of trying to get something to work I decided to break out of my box and made a mini album. I used some long forgotten eyelets and some Twinery charcoal twine to tie it all together. The photos are from a visit to my grandpa's house in August, so I think I'll send it to them as a thinking of you gift.

The inside.

The front.

The back

And on a slightly different note I've also been on a wine label tangent (click here and here) so when I needed another last minute gift for an employee, I whipped up this label. I used the Hero Arts cling twice, which made it look like the flower vine was growing down the label and entered it in the Hero Arts November challenge Holiday Tags, do you think anyone minds that it's a birthday tag not a holiday tag?

Materials: PTI Tag It #1 die, Anna Griffin and Jenni Bolin patterned paper, PTI kraft card stock, PTI Limitless Layers 1 3/4th inch die, Waltzingmouse Stamps Half Pint Heroes sentiments, Twinery charcoal twine, Versafine black ink, Making Memories eyelets

Wine Label: Hero Arts Flower Box Cling, PTI Big Birthday Wishes, PTI kraft card stock, water color pencils, Versafine black ink, PTI 1 3/4th inch die, EK Success corner rounder

Christmas and coffee tags

2011-11-08T12:50:00.000-08:00

Waltzingmouse Stamps just did their November SOAP and they've got a challenge to CASE one of the DT's projects. I was inspired by Jennifer's tags, loved the look of the embossed white on green. I opted for a white embossed label and then clear embossed the WMS Frame It tree. And since Wee Memories is having a "Handmade Gifts, Tags and boxes" challenge this week this works perfectly. Just Add Ink is having a "bookmarks or tags" challenge this week too.

And since my craft desk is a total mess, I had these fun pieces on the desk, which I had other projects in mind, but this morning they decided they wanted to be gift tags. And because I've got both the cup handles and the banner off the edge, I'm going to enter them in the CAS-ual Friday "Off the Edge" challenge.

And last, but not least... my little helper is at it again. I love that he also took his pick of the items on my desk and made a mini bookmark with another tassel. (Click here to see last week's bookmark).

Materials: Christmas tags: Waltzingmouse Stamps Frame It, PTI Tag It, PTI Tag It #1 die, PTI kraft card stock, Core'dinations card stock, Stampendous white and clear embossing powder, Versafine black ink, Tim Holtz Shabby Shutters distress ink, PTI double sided banner die, Twinery cappuccino twine, white string

Coffee tags: Paper Smooches Hot Concoctions, PTI Warm Happiness Too, PTI Tag It #1 and #9 die, PTI double sided banner, PTI Warm Happiness too die, Cosmo Cricket patterned paper, Authentique patterned paper, vellum, PTI All Booked Up impression plate, Twinery denimn and lilac twine, Versafine black ink

Super Sunday

2011-11-06T09:18:00.000-08:00

Welcome to another 365 Cards Super Sketchy Sunday, this week's sketch inspired me to make a Christmas card (something I do not feel inspired to do often). Part of the inspiration was all those amazing cards over at the Cards that Care blog hop. Does anyone else have a blog hop hangover? I tried, I really tried, but between the Young Crafters Unite, the Cards that Care and the Handmade Holidays Hop I ran out of steam. But back to today's projects... The first take on the sketch uses more traditional Christmas cards, so I'll send it to Jennifer for her Cards that Care drive and ABC Toys and Craft Christmas card challenge. The second take on the sketch was my attempt at this week's Play Date Cafe colors, it's the Tim Holtz Distress ink worn lipstick, which should've looked a bit more pink, but looks pretty red in this photo. I tried ladies.

I went to a 40th birthday party last night for a friend and about half an hour before we were set to go I realized that I didn't have the right card, so based on the success on this wine label for Karen's birthday, I quickly made up another one. Being a birthday boy, it works well for the Young Crafters Unite "create a masculine project" and the Wee Memories "Handmade Gifts, tags and Wrap", I think wine tags are going to be my go to birthday project from here on out. And to think these have been inspired by the PTI wine label die, which is still on back order! Perhaps I don't need the die after all?

Next up is an oldie but a goodie... The talented Amy is celebrated her 4th blog birthday and wants everyone to link up to her Flashback Friday challenge of post your first banner. I don't think I've ever made an actual banner, but this background banner was on this birthday card from May 2010. And the card was so lonely without a single comment, that Ms. Amy left some love this morning, ah... what a fabulous friend.

Materials: Peace/Love/Joy One Layer: PTI Mehndi Medallion, PTI Thing Big Favorites #9, Tim Holtz distress ink shabby shutters, Brillance Rocket Red ink, Versafine black ink Fiskars corner rounder punch

Peace/Love/Joy: PTI Mehndi Medallion, PTI Thing Big Favorites #9, Tim Holtz distress ink shabby shutters and worn lipstick, Versafine black ink Fiskars corner rounder punch, grey embroidery floss

Wine tag: Skipping Stones Grunge background, PTI Big Birthday Wishes, PTI By the Numbers die, PTI Mat Stack 1 dies, spellbinders circle scallop die, Fiskars corner rounder punch, PTI kraft card stock, Core'dinations card stock, Smooch Navy Twinkle, Stampendous clear embossing power, Versafine black ink, Tim Holtz Distress Ink Gathered twigs

Owl card: Hero Arts digital owl, ribbon, colored pencils, ribbon and paper from my stash

pink chip board heart card

2011-11-05T17:12:00.000-07:00

The My Mind's Eye sketch challenge gave me an opportunity to use up some goodies I bought earlier this year at Ben Franklin clearance. I don't have the Garden Party paper, just the accessory page, but I think this turned out well. I left it free of a sentiment, it could be a Valentine's day card or a birthday card.... I have a few other projects in pieces on my desk, but the day is getting away from me, so that's all I have to share for now. Been busy working on some fun projects for my work blog, if you want a sneak peak at my little town click here.

Materials: My Mind's Eye Garden Party Lush Blooms Accessory Sheet, Basic Grey pink chipboard heart, Spellbinders circle scallop die, Fiskars rotary cutter with scallop blade, Tim Holtz distress stain antique linen

YCU Blog Hop

2011-11-03T22:14:00.000-07:00

Welcome to another Young Crafters Unite blog hop! This time around the theme is masculine cards and I decided to take the CASE Study card and turn it into a little guy's card. My young helper told me I needed a road in my card, or else it looked like my car was flying, I'm starting to think the boy's got a point. But back to the blog hop... You should've come via Isha's blog. For a complete list of blogs go back to Young Crafters Unite, the posts will be up between 12:01 am and noon, so check back at noon to see the entire hop. Prizes to be had.... so make sure you comment along the hop.

And since this is the "Young Crafters" blog hop my little man decided to play along. It's suppose to be a bookmark, not exactly sure what the circle is for, but who am I to squash creativity? Mr. Ben is a comment junkie, so please make sure you include his project in your comments, he asks all day, "Did anyone else comment? Did I win?" His masculine touch was the rocket ship, so he says.

Next up on the hop is the talented Marie.

Materials: Waltzingmouse Stamps Pint Sized Wonders, PTI cloud die, Spellbinders label die, water color paper, PTI kraft card stock, Tim Holtz tumbled glass distress ink, water color pencils, white gel pen, black marker, Versafine black ink

more Christmas tags

2011-11-03T15:53:00.000-07:00

So yesterday I posted 2 cute little tags and obviously I had them on my mind because I sat down last night and made 5 more. And being the challenge happy girl that I am a few of them work for a few challenges.

This tag uses some more of the burlap I got from the local coffee shop, so I'll add it to the Lily Pad Cards texture challenge.

This one uses the Hero Arts "Write Your Own Cling" so it'll work for the HA month long holiday wrap/tag challenge.

This one will work for Just Add Ink's "Tag or Bookmark Challenge".

This one uses the Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge.

This one uses the WPlus9 set I won last month and since it's only one layer I'm going to enter it in the "One Layer Wednesday" tag challenge. And since the Ribbon Carousel is having an anything goes challenge any of these tags would work with their May Arts burlap string.

Materials: PTI Tag It Sale #1, Coredinations Card stock, PTI kraft card stock, burlap, PTI Tag It #9, PTI Limitless Layers 1 3/4th inch die, Cuttlebug embossing folder, Versafine Black ink, Tim Holtz Distress Ink fired brick, May Arts burlap string, PTI Holiday Photo Finishers and die, Hero Arts Write Your Own, Tim Holtz Gathered twigs distress inks, Stampendous clear embossing powder, Hero Arts Classic Fabric cling, Stampendous white embossing powder, Waltzingmouse Stamps Frame It sentiment, white gel pen, WPlus9 Christmas Wishes, PTI impression plate

Polka Dot Door Design Inspirational Blog Hop

2011-11-01T00:01:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited to be a part of the November Polka Dot Door Design Inspirational Blog Hop. You should've come from Diana's blog. This month's photo is a feast for the eyes. I can't wait to see what inspires you, the colors, the pie, the woodgrain, the theme... so many options.

So for my card I decided to focus on the pies. The PTI Every Day Treats set has so many great goodies, now if only I had time to bake?

Next up on your hop is Ujjwal.

Here's a full list of all the inspiration this month:

Lindsay

DeeDee

Amanda

Debby

Lisa

Aki

Nicole

Smitha

Joanne

Diana

Erin--- you are here

Ujjwal

Nita

Polka Dot Door Designs

There are some great prizes this month. Scrap Eco Chic, Abbey and Ellie and Hydrangehippo are all giving away prizes. Make sure to leave a comment on all the hops and follow Polka Dot Door Design for a chance to win. Don't forget to leave a comment on the challenge post for your favorite GDT project, as one lucky designer is going to win some fabulous crafty goodies. Thanks for stopping by, I can't wait to see how the photo inspires you.

Materials: PTI Every Day Treats, PTI Mat Stack 1 dies, Tim Holtz woodgrain embossing folder, PTI kraft & chocolate chip card stock, Tim Holtz distress inks gathered twigs and fired brick, Tim Holtz distress stain antique linen, May Arts burlap string

bookworm and boy reading

2011-10-30T08:04:00.000-07:00

Welcome to this week's 365 Cards Super Sketchy Sunday, there's a whole week of Robyn's Fetish Digital Stamps fun. Come play along this week, can't wait to see what you create. And since we're talking about reading... here's another little card.

I made this little card the other day and kept meaning to post it for the A Passion for Papertrey "Silhouette" challenge and the Young Crafters Unite "masculine" challenge, and now I'm realizing the only time to post it is now! The photo is a little blurry, but since I sold the card to a friend, I didn't realize it till after she'd taken the card home. If anyone is looking for a fabulous PTI set, I'd say All Booked Up is a goodie, how's that for a little enabling?

Materials: Bookworm Robyn's Fetish image, Basic Grey patterned paper, Twinery twine, paper clip, water color pencils

Boy Reading: PTI All Booked Up, PTI Mat Stack 4, PTI Book Print Impression plate, PTI Mat Stack 3 die, EK Success 1 3/4th inch circle punch, Versafine black ink, Tim Holtz Distress Ink Gathered twigs, Tim Holtz Distress Stain Antique Linen, Coredinations card stock,

coffee and cookies

2011-10-29T14:12:00.000-07:00

So this week's Play Date Cafe colors are kraft, flesh and cadet blue and since Ms. Literal girl over here saw coffee cups on the photo I thought "duh, gotta make another coffee card". I shared these coffee projects with the local coffee shop (who's coffee was being decorated) and they kindly offered me some burlap sacks for my next project. So I thought it'd be fun to use a piece of the sack for some added texture (Moxie Fab World "Textured to Perfection" and Lily Pad Cards "A Texture Challenge"). I had to recruit some help from my friend to sew the sack and ribbon onto the card as I don't have a sewing machine, but it worked out well. Obviously I had the CAS-ual Friday sketch in the back of my mind from yesterday's card, while my take isn't exact (be proud girls), it kinda works if you flip and rotate it?)

Materials: PTI Warm Happiness Too, Paper Smooches Warm Concoctions, burlap sack, ribbon from Karen, PTI kraft card stock, Coredinations card stock, Versafine black ink, water color pencils, PTI Warm Happiness die

true friend

2011-10-28T16:56:00.000-07:00

A simple card that says a lot. Now that I live in my hometown (after years of living abroad) I have such an appreciation for true friends, those friends I have known for 20 years who's friendship go so deep. This morning one of those friends was looking flustered in the street so I picked up her 3 month old and helped her nearly 3 year old out of the street. After she got off the telephone she shared that her mother has cancer and how did I know that she needed a hand at that very moment? But, a true friend doesn't need to have a history, sometimes people present themselves in our lives at the right time and you just connect. So this card is a nod to those friends, both old and new, who I have helped and who, in return, have helped me. Thank you. Since I'm getting side tracked and emotional, back on track, the card is based on the CAS-ual Friday sketch. Because Wee Memories and Simon Says Stamp are having free for all challenges this week I'll also enter this card in those challenges.

Materials: PTI In Bloom, ribbon from Yvonne, Reflections Rhinestones, Versafine black ink, Stampendous clear embossing powder, Tim Holtz distress ink worn lipstick, Smooch Spritz Cherry Ice, PTI Kraft card stock, Fiskars corner rounder

friend to friend SPARKS challenge

2011-10-27T16:26:00.000-07:00

So I couldn't resist and bought the Paper Smooches Hot Concoctions set and wanted to play along with the SPARKS challenge (use photo below as inspiration). So I went for woodgrain and orange. I used the current PTI Make It Monday technique of the brayer, first on the Tim Holtz woodgrain embossing folder and then on a piece of water color paper with the PTI In Bloom impression plate, obviously I had an extra one from today's other card. I die cut out a take out coffee cup holder with PTI Fillable Frames #11, which was one more fun layer of texture for the Moxie Fab World "Textured to Perfection" challenge.

Materials: Paper Smooches Hot Concoctions, PTI Fillable Frames #4 sentiment, PTI Fillable Frames #11 die, vellum, May Arts natural burlap string, Versafine black ink, Tim Holtz Distress inks fired brick, ripe persimmons, gathered twigs, PTI kraft card stock, recycled coffee holder

Thank you

2011-10-27T11:35:00.000-07:00

I was totally inspired by this week's Make It Monday video, love this look. It's a little different then my other favorite faux letterpress technique, but it gives it a slightly different feel. This week's Skipping Stones Sketch served as my inspiration, I flipped the sketched to put the sentiment at the bottom. Because Simon Says Stamps and Wee Memories are both having an anything goes challenge, I'll enter this card in those challenges too.

Materials: PTI Mat Stack 1 & 2, In Bloom Impression Plate, PTI Mat Stack 2 die, May Arts black string, Tim Holtz distress inks fired brick, ripe persimmons and worn lipstick, Versafine black ink, PTI kraft card stock, water color paper

PTI October Blog Hop

2011-10-25T07:49:00.000-07:00

Welcome to another PTI Blog Hop, this month's inspiration is the photo below. I chose a literal take on the photo (surprise!) and used three pumpkins and inspiration from the woodgrain fabric on the larger pumpkin. I also used the current Lily Pad Cards sketch.

Materials: PTI Daily Designs pumpkin, SRM sticker, Tim Holtz woodgrain embossing folder, PTI Mat Stack 1 dies, May Arts natural fiber string, Tim Holtz distress ink wild honey and ripe persimmons, cream card stock and water color paper

Book Plate Cards

2011-10-23T15:33:00.000-07:00

I had to get a number of cards done for one of my favorite card buyers, and since she was in town to join me on a fabulous fall walk event my deadline was this morning. I've made a number of these cute book plate cards before (click here, here) and she liked them so much she wanted a set. So I used a few different color challenges to help inspire me to make up a number of them. I let her choose the sentiments, which was a fun little was to personalize the cards.

These ones use the Play Date Cafe colors, happy 2nd anniversary guys! Since I missed last week's PDC (eek, how can that be!) I decided to make up for it this week, this being my 2nd entry.

These two use this week's ColourQ (oops, missed the deadline) and Color Throwdown colors. Love the idea of taking Halloween colors and making non Halloween cards.

And this one is for the Embellish challenge, I hid a button under the sentiment. And since I colored in all the vases I'm going to add this to the CAS-ual Fridays "Just add color" challenge. And since Wee Memories is having a "Free for all" challenge this week I'll add this to their challenge too.

Materials: PTI All Booked Up, PTI Mat Stack 3 & 4, PTI Book Print Impression plate, Core'dinations cardstock, PTI chocolate chip card stock, black card stock, water color paper, water color pencils, EK Success 1 3/4th inch circle punch, PTI Mat Stack 3 die, Tim Holtz Distress stain antique linen, Versafine black ink

thank you teacher

2011-10-23T07:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to another 365 Cards Super Sketchy Sunday, I decided my take on the sketch this week was going to take flight and let me tell you my boys were so excited to discover that I have a paper airplane stamp! I decided to use the Play Date Cafe colors and colored in the paper airplanes (which works perfectly for the CAS-ual Fridays challenge "just add color").

Materials: PTI Happy Trails, Tim Holtz Distress inks seedless preserves, shabby shutters and mustard seed, Versafine black ink, water color pencils, cream card stock, water color paper

celebrate fall

2011-10-20T20:53:00.000-07:00

So I looked at the Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge so many times in the last week and thought, "what can I do that isn't a witch's hat", because while I've made a few Halloween themed cards/goodie bags, it isn't the holiday that calls my name. So when I picked up the leaf above when I picked my son up from preschool this afternoon I carried it around with me for an hour marveling at it... so I though its shape loosely works for a cone, right? I used the WMS Very Vintage Labels below, thinking you might see the brim of that hat... I know, it's a stretch, but please humor me. I added a layer of PTI chocolate chip and kraft behind the main image to make this work for the current CR8FN color challenge. And since I thought this would be a bit too big for a card, I turned it into a lovely framed piece of work because I wanted to play along with the LESSology wall art challenge (using a real leaf counts as upcycling right?). Anyone know how long real leaves last when framed? Will this be brown in 2 weeks time?

And since I couldn't think past the hat this morning I asked Mr. Ben what he thought of the WMS sketch and this is what he created. He snuck in a smiling face from his WMS Half Pint Heroes set (oh yes, he reminds me often that those are his stamps, thanks Claire). I also love that on his own he paired Core'dinations and May Arts ribbon, I swear he hasn't been blog surfing this week with me... he just knew they were a pair made in heaven?

Materials: leaf, Waltzingmouse Stamps Very Vintage Labels 4, WMS Say It Loud Sentiment, PTI kraft and chocolate chip card stock, water color paper, black card stock, Tattered Angels black mist, Versafine black ink

Ben's project: PTI Big Bloom flower, Waltzingmouse Half Pint Heroes, Core'dinations card stock, May Arts ribbon, Versafine black ink, colored pencils

Happy Halloween goodie bags

2011-10-19T14:19:00.000-07:00

I had so much fun at yesterday's virtual birthday party, for those of you who missed it, go back and check out the amazing goodies that people "brought" to the party. I was inspired by Lisa's goodie bags and Lynn's misted butterflies (I misted the bat on the bag). I had the day off today and decided, with some help of Mr. Ben, that we'd make some bat cookies for my mom, who's been hard at work on her haunted house.

Since I've made a Halloween themed card it works for Wee Memories "Holiday Madness" challenge and the CAS-ual Friday "Orange You Ready to Trick Or Treat" (Halloween card without orange). I paper piereced out the bat and spiders for Lawnscaping's Paper Piercing challenge. And this week's PTI Make It Monday challenge is layered mats and frames and I love that by using that technique I have a window into the goodie bag.

And many of you know that I have crafty children, who love to take part in my crafty obsession. So Ben decorated his bag with an assortment of Lawn Fawn and Craft Lounge stamps (which didn't work so well onto the bag, but then he used a piece of Core'dinations card stock and added a few more images). He wanted to make sure his bag had 5 cookies in it so Nana could share them with the people working on rebuilding her house. (So the painter, the electrician and the floor installer were all very happy to see us). Ben is going to enter this in the new Craft Your Passion Kids challenge. And below are some photos of the Ben inspired bat room in the haunted house.

Materials: Lawn Fawn Heebie Jeebies, PTI Limitless Layers die, Mat Stack 1 dies, Twinery Charcoal twine, Brillance Moonshine white ink, Stampendous white embossing powder, Tattered Angles black mister, wax bag, black cardstock

Happy Birthday Karen

2011-10-18T02:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Karen Baker's surprise virtual birthday party!!! Together with the help some fabulous crafty blogging pals, we've put together a little celebration. If I lived in the same place as some of you ladies we could all get together, for real, but a cyber space celebration is the next best thing. I asked the ladies below to "bring" something to the party. Look below to see the rest of the party hoppers, it's going to be a fabulous party. I decided that I'd bring the drinks. A party can't be a party without some wine :) But since the birthday girl isn't really a wine drinker I also made up a pitcher of lemonade. There's beer in the frig too, in case anyone wants one of those. I also made some fun wine glass labels to help the girls remember which wine glass belonged to whom. After I made 5 of them I ran out of time, so I decided to set up a DIY make your own label station for the party, since I figured a party full of crafty people would probably prefer to personalize their tags.

Less Is More is celebrating "cocktail" this week and the wine label is just perfect for that challenge. No white, but... kraft is really the next best thing right?

Here's the DIY make your own wine label station, a bowl full of PTI tiny tags in PTI kraft, Stampin Up Designer paper, Core'dinations card stock and vellum, with some Tattered Angles Glimmer Mist and Smooch Spritz, rhinestones and May Arts natural fiber. I also have some fun American Crafts rub on letters to give each tag a personalized feel.

Here's the pitcher of lemonade complete with the Lawn Fawn swimsuit season drink. And since Lawnscaping is having a paper pierced challenge this week, why not add this to the challenge.

And last, but not least, a card! I used the same PTI Mat Stack die from the wine label and made a super CAS card for the birthday girl. I used the current Make It Monday technique for this card. Now, let's get this party started!!!!!

Cristina, http://mypapersecret.blogspot.com (who's also celebrating her birthday!!!)

Kelly Marie, http://lawnfawn.blogspot.com

Christina, http://christinamaclaren.blogspot.com

Kelley Eubanks, http://myfrontporch-kelley.blogspot.com

Yvonne, http://yyam.blogspot.com/

Virginia, http://virginialusblog.blogspot.com/

Laurel, http://laurelbeard.wordpress.com/

Jen, http://jenshearsdesigns.blogspot.com/

Dana, http://kismetartlife.blogspot.com

Michele, http://studiomsg.blogspot.com/

Lynn, http://themangoboysandme.blogspot.com/

Lindsay, http://lindsayamrhein.blogspot.com/

Amy, http://tsurutadesigns.blogspot.com/

Aimes, http://craftingconfessions.blogspot.com/

Jen R, http://ourchangeofart.blogspot.com/

Lisa, http://bellalistona.blogspot.com/

Lynn, http://www.millers-ink.net/

And don't forget to wish the birthday girl Happy Birthday, I hear she's got a giveaway on her blog.

Materials: Wine bottle label: PTI Everyday Treats label, Mat Stack 4 die, PTI Tag Its #1 circle, Studio G glasses, Tim Holtz Distress Ink Fired Brick, Versafine black ink, Tattered Angles Glimmer Mist, Smooch Spritz Cherry Ice, PTI kraft card stock, black card stock, Spellbinders scallop circle die, EK Success border punch, EK Success 1 3/4 inch circle punch, PTI Mat Stack 4 die, white colored pencil

Wine glass labels: PTI tiny tags in PTI kraft, Stampin Up Designer paper, Core'dinations card stock and vellum, Tattered Angles Glimmer Mist, Smooch Spritz Cherry Ice, May Arts natural fiber, American Crafts Chaplin rub ons.

Lemonade Label: Lawn Fawn swimsuit season drink, PTI Every Day Treats label, PTI Tag Its #1 circle stamp, PTI Mat Stack 1 dies, EK Success 1 3/4th inch circle punch, PTI kraft card stock, black card stock, Tattered Angles Glimmer mist, colored pencils

Birthday Card: PTI Everyday Treats label and circle, Mat Stack 4 die, Tim Holtz Distress Ink Fired Brick, Versafine black ink, Tattered Angles Glimmer Mist, PTI kraft card stock, EK Success 1 3/4 inch circle punch, PTI Mat Stack 4 die, American Crafts Chaplin rub on, Twinery charcoal twine

October WMS Waltz

2011-10-17T00:00:00.000-07:00

It's time for another Waltzingmouse Stamps waltz, this month the theme is "Thanksgiving/Gratitude". I've inked up a few different WMS stamps here for this CAS thank you card. To see who else is hoping along click here to view the forum. I have been having fun taking photos of fall leaves, to see some of my favorite fall colors pictures click here.

Materials: Waltzingmouse Stamps Big Blooms, Very Vintage Labels No. 4 and Say It Loud, Tim Holtz distress inks: ripe persimmons, mustard seed, antique linen, wild honey, vintage photo, Tim Holtz Distress Stain Antique linen, Versamark black ink, Stampendous clear embossing powder, Spellbinders Nestabilities Label 4, Twinery cappuccino and mandarin twine, PTI kraft card stock

Here comes the sun

2011-10-16T07:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to another 365 Cards Super Sketchy Sunday! I tried to look beyond circles and ended up with clouds :) It's not often that I make an entire card without any stamping. While searching for the right sentiment I found a sheet of Cosmo Cricket rub ons that worked perfectly. I've inked up two different Cuttlebug embossing folders with tumbled glass distress ink as another fun example of ways to play along with my guest blogger challenge over at Do More with Less. I'd love to see what these challenges inspire you to make...

Materials: Cosmo Cricket Honey Pie rub ons, American Crafts sun sticker, PTI cloud dies, Cuttlebug embossing folders, Tim Holtz distress ink tumbed glass, twinery lemondrop twine, Nikki Sivils Willow Bee patterned paper

great big Hugs

2011-10-13T10:17:00.000-07:00

Today's card is a combination of inspirations. First I loved what Karen and Christina did yesterday with Karen's "Carbon Copy" challenge (CR84FN colors and WPlus9 Woodgrain Silhouettes and Additions), so I was inspired to fussy cut out the flowers. But when I saw Ashley's card, I thought, why not make it postal, as I was trying to find a way to incorporate the circle into the Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge. And since I went postal, in my little mind, it made sense to make an envelope for the Young Crafts Unite challenge. To add a little extra to the woodgrain in my card I inked up the Tim Holtz woodgrain embossing folder with gathered twig distress ink, which is another great example of the challenge I'm the guest blogger on over at Yvonne's Do More With Less. If you haven't played along, there's still another week to ink up, I'd love to see what you create.

Materials: WPlus9 Woodgrain Silhouette, WPlus9 Postmarks, PTI Postmarked, Waltzingmouse Stamps Frame It frame and sentiment, PTI stamp die, Versamark black ink, Tim Holtz Distress stain antique linen, Tim Holtz Distress Inks gathered twig, fired brick and antique linen, Tim Holtz woodgrain embossing folder, PTI kraft and dark chocolate card stock, water color paper, Fiskars corner rounder

wish you were here

2011-10-12T22:11:00.000-07:00

I'm sneaking in a card for the Authentique sketch challenge, deadline very soon. I was inspired by Savannah's card and now I want that Paper Smooches set, but I went with what I have... and PTI Warm Happiness Too is a good alternative.

Materials: PTI Warm Happiness Too stamp, Waltzingmouse Stamps Frame It sentiment, Sassafras stitchery stamp, Authentique Journey patterned paper, Tim Holtz Ornamental die, PTI double sided banner die, PTI Warm Happiness Too die, Versafine black ink, Stampendous clear embossing powder, Smooch Spritz Navy Twinkle

Two dinosaurs walked in the door

2011-10-09T06:00:00.000-07:00

If I were Karen I'd have some funny little joke about two dinosaurs walked in the door... but since I'm not, I'll just say that I'm channeling Karen's fabulous misting abilities on this card. It's another Super Sketchy Sunday at 365 Cards and we've got another fun sketch for you to play along with. I made the fall card first, using Cristina's masking technique, but decided the card was too literal a take on the sketch (something I struggle with), so I pulled out the dinosaurs... Enjoy. I'm super excited that I'm going to be spending my Sunday at a wedding, with that fabulous husband of mine who's being traveling for the last 3 weeks, so my payback for 3 weeks of solo parenting is 36 hours without children, woo hoo!

Materials: Dinosaur card: Paper Source dinosaur stamps, colored pencils, PTI button die, Hero Arts swirl stamp, Tim Holtz Ornamental die for masking, Tattered Angels black mister, Smooch red and blue misters, natural fiber, Versafine black ink

Happy Autumn Card: PTI Mailbox greetings leaves and sentiment, Spellbinders Nestabilities Label one, PTI double sided banner die, Tim Holtz distress inks mustard seed, ripe persimmons, wild honey and antique linen, button from stash, May Arts natural fiber, PTI kraft card stock

Smile Friend and FWF cards

2011-10-07T12:04:00.000-07:00

Smile friend... obviously I've been a hopping along for Operation Julie Smile! What an amazing hop/community support :) Since I'm not a part of the hop I wanted to play along with some of the challenges. CAS-ual Fridays has a challenge to make a card based on the statement "Everyday you spend without a smile, is a lost day", so I've used the fun PTI Tiny tags to remind you to "smile friend". And since Julie is also on the DT for the Play Date Cafe I decided to make the card in their current colors. I also used the technique of inking up the impression plate, this PTI In Bloom plate is the prize for a random participant over on Yvonne's Do More With Less challenge, as the guest blogger over there I'd love to see what you do with the challenge.

Now back to the scheduled Friends With Flair Unity fun. I wanted to play along with the All Things Unity to be inspired by a magazine challenge, so while flipping through an old issue of Real Simple I saw this fashion page that said pair green with pale blue.

And last, but not least, when looking through my Unity stash I found this background stamp in the Key To Joy set and knew it was perfect for the current CASE Study Challenge.

Materials: Smile Friend, PTI Tiny Tags stamps and die, PTI In Bloom Impression Plate, Twinery twine, Tim Holtz distress inks dusty concord and seedless preserves, Versafine black ink, black card stock

Coffee Cup: Unity stamp, Spellbinders Circle and large scallop die, Little Yellow Bicycle ribbon, Tim Holtz tumbled glass and shabby shutters distress ink with a water color pen, Versafine black ink

Butterfly card: Unity Key to Joy background and butterfly, Tim Holtz distress ink antique linen and tumbled glass, Versafine black ink, May Arts ribbon, EK Success and Fiskars circle punches

Happy Halloween

2011-10-06T10:34:00.000-07:00

So I have confessed that Halloween isn't really my card making holiday, but a girlfriend just gave me some Halloween stamps, so I figured I'd better get creative. Plus I wanted to enter Lea's Wplus9 WCMD Halloween card challenge. And since I'm a challenge junkie, why not pull a Skipping Stones Design set for their WCMD challenge and use it in the latest sketch challenge. And since you guys have done such a great job of commenting on Ben's projects, I thought I'd share the other little guy's crafty project. Meet Mr. Josh, age 3 3/4, he loves crafting too.

Materials: Studio G bat stamp, Craft Lounge sentiment, Skipping Stones Grunge background stamp, PTI Mat Stack 4 die, Spellbinders Nestabilities Labe 4 die, Studio G bling, Fiskars corner rounder punch, black card stock, vellum, Versafine black ink