Sending XO, Shaped Card Challenge

Okay, this is probably my last card for the shaped card challenge at Simply Less is Moore.  I started with a folded piece of white cardstock and cut out the letters XO. I cut a heart shape in the center of the of the O on both the front and back of the card.  At first I was going to leave the heart open, but it was pretty boring so I added the red cardstockand filled in the heart. Finally, I added the sentiment and the three stacked hearts.

Thanks so much for visiting!

Go Nuts... Acorn Card

 Here is another shaped card for the challenge at Simply Less is Moore.   You could say I am going NUTS with this challenge!  This card is a set of acorns and the sentiment in side says "Go NUTS... On Your Birthday!"  I cut the acorns out of brown cardstock and cut the acorn caps from a very light green and white checked patterned paper. I chose the checked paper because the green color was similar to the color in the leaves that I wanted to use.  Since I already had oak leaf patterned paper, I cut the leaves directly from the paper. The leaves had a reddish-brown outline and vein pattern, so I outlined the caps and the edge of the acorns with a brown colored pencil to help pull the card together.   For the inside of the card I cut acorns from the same green checked pattern paper and used my computer to print "Go Nuts...." on the left acorn and "On Your Birthday" on the right acorn.

Thank you for visiting! 

We Make a Great PEAR card

This is my second card for the shaped card challenge at Simply Less is Moore.  I am having a blast with this challenge!  So here's my card:

This will be an anniversary card. The inside sentiment says ....We make a great "PEAR"  Happy Anniversary!  I started with a piece of  folded greenish-yellow cardstock.  Then while looking at a pear from my fruit bowl, I simply cut the pear shapes out with a pair of scissors.  I cut a branch from dark brown cardstock, embossed it a wood grain texture and adhered it to the card base. I cut around the branch with scissors and used an Xacto to trim between the pears.  I cut the leaves from patterned paper and adhered them to the card along with a few stems that I cut from brown cardstock.  To make cardstock look more "pear-like" I chalked it with green and red chalk.  I added a white pear shaped piece of cardstock that is slightly smaller than the card inside and printed the sentiment on it.

Thank you so much for visiting!

You're Fintastic Shaped Card

I am so excited about this challenge.  What fun!  The challenge at  http://simplylessismoore.blogspot.com was to make a Shaped Card!  Yes, not your average rectangle or square but a shaped card. I knew immediately  what I wanted to do. I created a FISH SHAPED card.:

This card was pretty simple to make.  I simply folded a piece of cardstock, cut out a fish shape and embossed it with my Fiskar's template.  I used my computer to print the words "You're Fintastic" onto a piece of vellum, ran it through my Xyron and adhered it to the base.  I added a bit of colored pencil around the edges of the bubbles to add definition and attached a black brad for an eye.  I cut a smaller version of the fish from white cardstock to use inside the card as a writing space.

 Thank you so much for visiting!

Embossed Flower Card for Lawnscaping Embossing Challenge

I created this embossed flower card for the Lawnscaping Embossing Challenge .  I began by dry embossing the yellow flower, sanding the raised edges and then cutting the flower from the cardstock. I used white embossing powder as a way to add highlight in the flower center. I cut the leaves from embossed paper, inked the raised portion with green ink and used an embossed mat (Core'dinations).  To pull the colors together, I used red chalk lightly on the flower petals and used it more heavily in the center around the white.  The buttons were adhered with pop dots and I used red wire for the stitching in the center of each.

Thank you for visiting!

You Rule...Happy Dad's Day, Three Challenges

Studio Calico Sunday Sketch

This card was created with my husband in mind and for the current Studio Calico Sunday Sketch challenge , the Cas-ual Fridays Masculine with Designer Paper challenge and the Lawnscaping Embossing challenge .  All these challenges offer great inspiration. The sketch looked so fun and I couldn't wait to try using it. I loved how the paper was placed at slight angles.  Creating a masculine themed card is a real challenge for me. I tend to make cards that are more appealing to women.  As for the embossing, I don't use this technique nearly enough...so the challenge was on! I pulled out my Echo Park "This & That" paper pad and found paper with these wonderful ruler images.  My husband  enjoys wood crafting so this paper is perfect for him.  I cut the paper into strips, matted the individual strips on white cardstock and positioned them on the turquoise mat that I dry embossed with a wood grain pattern (with my Fiskar's texture plates and stylus).  I added  dimensional adhesive behind a few of the ruler strips as well.   I cut out three circles for the center, the smallest from the same embossed turquoise, the next largest from white cardstock and the largest from a  brown cardstock.  Around the white circle I added lines and numbers to continue the "measurement" theme.  I also added the lines around the outside edge of the white card.  I used brads that look like screw heads and cut the sentiment from brown cardstock that I used on the outer circle. Inside the card I wrote: " Today, you rule!"

                     Thank you for visiting!                              

Flowers Everywhere

I couldn't resist making another attempt at using the Freshly Made Sketch #36.  This time I pulled out some Graphic 45 paper, which I absolutely LOVE!  I like this paper so much that it is actually hard to use it.  I just can't "let it go".  Since there was yellow in the patterned paper, I used a yellow textured cardstock for the card base.  I used a flower punch for the small flowers and added a narrow black strip of cardstock for the stems.  I hand cut the larger flowers and also added strips of black cardstock for the stems.  It was actually a pretty simple card to make, it just took me forever to decide what I wanted to use for embellishments.  I decided upon flowers and no sentiment so that I can use the card for any occasion.

Thank you for visiting! Have a great day!

Thank You Star Card

I'm linking this next card to two challenges.  The first challenge is the Freshly Made Sketch Challenge and the second is for the  Lily Pads & Simon Stamps Star Challenge   The card ended up being a little more simplistic then what I had intended, but it will work as a thank you. I used dimensional adhesives on the square frames around the stars, under the four largest stars and the layers under the thank you.  I hand cut the letters for the sentiment so that they would match the color on the rest of the card.  It is really hard to see, but I inked around the inside edges of the frames, around the kraft cardstock behind the thank you and the outside edges of the card. The ink was an orange color, but looks more yellow on the kraft cardstock.  I really liked the sketch and attempted to use the same layout with the sentiment piece over the edge of the squares. It just didn't look right so I played around with them.  I tried setting them at an angle and placing  the sentiment portion over the edge of the frames.  In the end I decided I didn't like the overlapped look with these elements and ended up settling for a cleaner look.

Thanks for visiting!

It's Your Day, a Makeover Monday Challenge

I'm running a bit late this week as far as getting my card together for the Makeover Monday Challenge at Paper Crafter's Library. Andrea Walford created this card:

  I used it as inspiration and created this card:

Like Andrea's card, I used a square card.  I used a piece of dark blue paper and a star punch to create the "It's Your Day!" sentiment instead of using ribbon.  With my limited embossing experience, I attempted to emboss the cupcake. The cupcake image is a new product for me.  It is called Basically Bare. The frosting is canvas and the bottom is cardboard.  The shapes came bare and ready to alter.  So, I embossed the canvas frosting and added gems.  I embossed the cupcake bottom as well, using an embossing pen to create the stripes and chalked between each stripe.   I rolled paper to create the candle and added wire behind the frosting.  If I made this card again, I would make a few changes. I would use dimensional adhesive behind the diagonal paper and the star strip at the bottom. I would also use brighter colors.  It just doesn't have the feel I was going for and brighter colors might be the answer.

Circle Punch Card Cas-ual Friday #53

This is my second card for the Cas-ual Fridays Challenge 53  It is a very simple birthday card that I made with a circle punch.  My son loves black so I thought the combination of black and the bold, bright colors would make a "happy" card.

Thanks for visiting!

Best Wishes Cas-ual-Fridays Get Punchy

Best Wishes Card using floral punch

Here is my card for yet another challenge.  This challenge is for Cas-ual Fridays Challeng 53  The idea behind this challenge is to use a punch or die.  So, I pulled out a floral punch that I haven't used in ages. I hadn't used this punch in a long while because it is challenging for me to "line-up" the punch to achieve a border that I like.  I finally did it for this card!

                   Thanks for visiting!

Hot Air Balloon Slider Card

This card was inspired by a tutorial I saw on the Paper Crafter's Library.  Andrea Walford made a similar slider card with a hot air balloon.  In her card, the top of the balloon was made with a clear candy holder.  I didn't have anything that would work as a candy holder, so I made the top with paper. I also added raffia on my basket and added clear gems.  This is a fun interactive card.  As the tag at the top is pulled up, the balloon rises to the top of the card.

Bright and Cheerful Thank You: Card Patterns Sketch 166

I have had a fun and busy weekend making a few cards.  The following card is for the Card Patterns Sketch 166  
The sketch was fun to work with and I decided to go with bright, bold colors. Instead of using ribbon at the top of the card,  I crocheted a chain from black string and added wire loops to hang the banner.

Freshly Made #35 Challenge: Red Floral Card

I decided to play along with Freshly Made Sketches this week and here's the card I came up with based on Sketch #35:

Candy Wrapper Flower

It's Monday, which means that Paper Crafter's Library has another Makeover Challenge.  Today's challenge can be found here: Paper Crafter's Library Project Newsletter Makeover Challenge – Wonderful Friend   When I stopped by the PCL blog today, I was thrilled with all the inspiration I found there and couldn't wait to get started on the makeover challenge.   This card is my take:

The brown petals on the flower are actually made from candy wrappers.  I was twisting one around in my hand yesterday and decided that I ought to keep it because I loved the color and texture of it.  So after watching Tracy @ PCL create her makeover card, I had the perfect use for the candy wrappers.  

Embossed Celebrate Card for Freshly Made Challenge

I just made this card for the Freshly Made Sketch Challenge.  Each week one member of the design team at Freshly Made, creates a sketch.  The challenge was to use the sketch in my own way and to keep the project "clean-lined and fresh!"  This was my first challenge at Freshly Made and I had a great time with the card.  Here's the sketch and my take: 

Gingham Hearts and Puddle Ducks

When I saw the Gingham-challenge @ Moxie Fab, I headed for my paper stash.  This looked like my kind of challenge. I was surprised at how much gingham paper I actually owned.  I ended up making these two cards:

Gingham hearts card

Puddle Ducks

Challenges for NSD @ SCT

These are my projects for Scrapbook & Cards Today's NSD challenges. This was the first time I've ever participated in an online crop.  The experience was phenomenal.  I hopped around the internet, mostly between SCT and Big Picture Classes and it was an amazing adventure.  I learned so much and was so inspired to create.  I hope to do it again next year. Here are my projects:

Pagemap from SCT

Pagemap Challenge

This was a really fun challenge.  I think I am now hooked on using a pagemap, something I've rarely used.   I changed it up a little because I had many photos that I wanted to include to help tell the story. I added two pockets to the right hand page with pull out pages.  I put my extra photos on these pages.  

Color Challenge

The next project was a card for the Color Challenge. This color combination was fun to work with...very cheerful colors.  I added a few gems to make it pop. I also used an EK Success punch to create the green border flowers and inserted colored flowers in the negative space left on the green paper.

Title Challenge

Coming up with a creative title was and is always a challenge for me.  I spend way too much time trying to come up with just the right title.  Deciding on the title and creating the tags made this a  time consuming page.  I used left over fabric from the shirts and origami folds to creative miniature shirts for the tags.  Each tag represents a shirt that my son and I made last summer.

The next challenge, Embellished Pins was soooooo much fun....I might have gotten carried away just a wee bit!  I loved coming up with the various bead and sequin combinations.

Embellished Pin Challenge: close up view

I started out with straight pins that I had in my sewing box, but then switched to colored wire. As you'll see, I made several of both versions.  I also included a few sequins that I was glad to FINALLY be able to use on a project. I've had this large jar of sequins for years and I can't even remember why I bought them!

  This Embellished pin was made with flower shaped sequins and sequin leaves.

Wait there's more:

This one  made with red leaf shaped sequins, a silver flower sequin and an orange bead.  The white is the top of pin.  The photo on the left shows the colors more clearly.

Here is one made with green wire, green beads, a white pearl bead and a green butterfly sequin.  I haven't attached it to a project yet.

These two were made from wire and flower shaped sequins.

Embellished pins with various types of beads and sequins.

As you can see, it was quite easy to get carried away making all these pins.  Now that I have several made, I can use them to embellish my scrapbook pages, cards and tags.  Yippee!

Finally, here's my last project for SCT' s NSD challenges.  It is a very simple card. I used my corner punch to round the corners and used the buttons to stay with the "round" theme.

Challenge:  Use a Corner Rounder punch

THANK YOU SO MUCH 
FOR VISITING!

Makeover Monday Challenge for PCL May 7

Inspiration for this card came from Paper Crafter's Library. Tracy did a make over card and this is what I came up with after watching her video.  I changed the color palette to soft colors (with the exception of the purple).  The layout is pretty much the same as Tracy's card except I did not use dimensional under the flower mat.

Challenges for NSD: Big Picture Classes

Yesterday I participated in my first National Scrapbook Day. It was an incredible experience.  I visited a number of blogs that were doing challenges and spent most of my day at Big Picture Classes and Scrapbook Cards Today.  I learned so much and had so much fun.  It is an experience I hope to repeat.  I decided to submit some of the projects I made to the various challenges.  The first projects are for Big Picture Classes.

Challenge 1:  Create a Fanciful Frame

My layout has a metal embossed frame.  I used copper, silver and gold embossing metal.  I included a place for hidden journaling and added embossed metal to the top of the tag. I pulled up the journaling tag so that it could be seen slightly. The mat behind the title and sub titles is actually foil paper. There are threes sets metal embellishments (maple leaf sequins) that don't show up very clearly.  

Challenge 3: Use Reflection, literally or figuratively 

In this layout, I reflect upon life with polio.  The journaling is hidden in the pocket on the bottom right.  There is a flower shaped mirror (to add another type of reflection) in the center of the Me and My Shadow arc.  I took the photo of my legs as I was coming down the stairs.  The sun was behind me and the shadow of my legs was on the floor below. 

Challenge 4: Use a Twine Technique

I was eager to do this challenge although I didn't have any actual twine. Instead I used Twistel and embroidery thread.  I used orange and red Twistel and twisted them together to create the center of the flower.  The petals were made from orange Twistel.  I used two shades of green embroidery thread to create the leaves and stems.

         Challenge 6: Use this Sketch

The Permanent Bubbles layout is my last project for the Big Picture Class challenges. This challenge involved using a sketch, which I followed pretty closely.  I added the tags on the left so that I could include the bubble recipe and add additional journaling.

There are still a number of challenges left.   I hope to do a few more but I won't be submitting them to Big Picture Classes.  I've already started working on a few challenges for Scrapbook Cards Today.  

Birthday Cards- Casual Friday

I created these cards for Casual Friday Clean & Simple Birthday Challenge. 

I liked the brightness of these colors. I created the dimensional flower from blue, red and green cardstock.  I inked around the edges of each of the leaves, petals and red center.  I added a yellow brad in the center of the flower.  I added yellow chalk to the center on each petal (it looks green in the photo, but on the actual card it is yellow).

To create the petals, I punched 1" circles from blue cardstock with an EK Success circle punch.  Using a sticky note, I placed a circle on the sticky strip and stuck it back into the circle punch part way and punched the shape of the petal.

For this card, I punched green circles, matted them with white cardstock and used a gel pen to add dots around them.

I stamped the background of this card. First I inked a plastic ring (re-using one from my ATG adhesive).  Then I used a pencil eraser to stamp the small light green dots. Finally, cut a larger circle from sticky backed foam, adhered it to the top of a pencil and stamped with darker green ink.