365 Cards - 3 Day Catch-up Extravaganza!

I love Saturdays. It's 3 in the afternoon and I'm still in my PJs. Slept in, watched TV, made cards, blog surfed... ahhh. I was 3 days behind in challenges for 365 Cards, but my paper-play-time this morning catches me up!

365 Cards Day 201 - One, Two, Buckle my Shoe: any shoe will do as long as it's on your card.

I only have one shoe stamp! Luckily, I'd just purchased this digi-stamp beauty about a week ago from Sketching Stamper Christine Dark. I LOVE it!

Cardstock - CTMH; Design Papers - Basic Grey & K&Co; Coloured with Prismacolour Blue Slate & CTMH Watercolours; Crystals - Swarovski; Stickles in Dark Blue; Ribbon, flower & brad - from stash;











365 Cards Day 202 - Once Upon a Time. The challenge is to take inspiration from your favorite fairy tale - well, actually, any one will do even if it's not your favorite.

This one was inspired by one of my favourite tales of all time... a rather modern fairy tale called "The Paper Bag Princess" by Robert Munsch, in which the princess defeats the dragon with her cunning, and in so doing saves the prince from being eaten.

When the prince tells her she looks a mess after her adventure, she replies "Ronald, your clothes are really pretty and your hair is very neat. You look like a real prince, but you are a bum." And they didn't get married after all.

I scanned one of the illustrations (by Michael Martchenko) in and printed it out, so I could 'pop' the dragon.

I also used liquid glass on the princess to give her dimension, and tiny bits of cotton off of a Qtip to fluff up the dragon's smoke. I gave the dragon some sheen ('cuz dragons are really pretty) with green Stickles, and popped the whole scene on - yes - a paper bag!

365 Cards Day 203 - Feeling Lucky. (Well do ya, punk?!) Today's challenge was to put a symbol of luck on your card.

I chose a lady bug. I had this cute "T is for Transparent" Penny Black stamp in a set called "Bubbly". So cute... I just adore that little hedgehog!

Cardstock - CTMH; Design Paper - Basic Grey; Dry Embossing - Cuttlebug (Swirls & Swiss Dots); Scalloped Circles - Nestabilities; Image - Penny Black; Watercolours - CTMH; Ribbon - from stash; Sentiment - computer generated (font: Heartbreaker - free download);

It feels good to be caught up on my card challenges - now I'm going to go get caught up on my housework. Cards first, house second... I have my priorities straight !! LOL!!

365 Cards - Challenge 200

365 Cards Day 2oo - It's what's inside that counts.
The inside of your card, that is.... the theme is "I miss you"

On the inside of the card, there should be a message with those words or something similar. On the front of the card, there should be an image that adequately conveys that message without a sentiment on the outside.

I chose one of my fave stamps - he's a sad and funny little giraffe stamp. He does look kinda lonely. I cheated a bit on the sentiment thingy by putting 2/3 of the word "fun" on the front. Live dangerously, right Gloria?!! The punchline's inside the card, so I contend that it fits the challenge!

Cardstock - Bazzill; Design Paper - Basic Grey; DieCuts - Basic Grey; Image - Dog Gone Stamps; Watercolour pencils - CTMH; Diamond Stickles & mini buttons from stash.

Thanks for stopping by my little space in Blogworld.
See you later, I'm off to catch some Zees.
zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

365 Cards - Challenges 198 & 199

I've been stewing on 365 Cards' challenge # 198 for a few days now. The challenge for the day was to create a mosaic. Now you can do this a couple of ways. Nice clean cuts of paper to create even shapes OR lots of different shapes, sizes and patterns. Either way you choose to do it, piece together a mosaic on your card.
I simply went to my scrap bin and cut approximate 2 cm squares and pasted them on as a random background for my popped Silhouette-cut sentiment. I really like the way it turned out - and just know I'll be using this technique in the future (my mum's a quilter, and I think she'd appreciate the quiltiness of the look)

I'd list the papers... but I simply don't remember the manufacturer for each of these. I cut up 14 different random scraps.



As hard a time as I had when I read mosaic, 365's next challenge made me laugh out loud. Seriously, Pam must be working overtime to try to stump us! It's awesome!!! They're called challenges for a reason, I suppose.

Challenge # 199 - Shape Up.... and today's shape is....a hexagon! That should be the dominating shape on your card.

Tammy's example was truly inspiring, as were some of my co-participants. I'm glad I had the luxury of finishing my card late - I really needed the inspiration! I decided on a little boys card - inspired by a set of stickers my daughter, Allison, gave me. The hexagonal card with a blue hexagonal cog - and a friendly robot saying hello. Kind of a fun boy card, I think.

Cardstock - Bazzill Basics; Design Paper - BoBunny; Robot Stickers - K&Co; Letter Stickers - Making Memories; Screwhead Brads - Michael's;

G'night....

One Card - 4 Challenges

I started this card with every intention of including 5 challenges - but I couldn't fit 365 Cards' mosaic challenge on here. Dang! I tried... I cut up a luscious red heart and had it ready to glue on, but it just looked like a broken heart... which was NOT the look I was going for... so I skipped it. I've got mini hearts (cut in two), but somehow they worked... but unfortunately, they hardly qualify as mosaic.

Here's the list of Challenges met:

Unscripted Sketches #23
Cupcake Craft - Pearls & Swirls
Three Clovers - Letter or Letters (but no words)
Pile it On - Black, White + one more colour

Cardstock - Bazzill Swiss Dots; Design Paper - BoBunny; Pearls - KaiserCraft; Flourish & XO border cut with Silhouette.

I'll have to work on the 365 Challenge later this week. I'm dead tired now - work's a little overwhelming. September's the end of the fiscal year at work - and I'm soooo close to making my sales goal. Work (and therefore, life) will be a little hectic for the next two weeks (but hopefully, I'll still find time to play with paper and glue!)

Thanks for checkin' out my blog!

Get Sketchy # 5

What a fun sketch by "Get Sketchy"! The design team projects are gorgeous - and I couldn't help but be inspired. Besides, I love working from a sketch!

I did flip the sketch upside down, though. The proportions of the circle on the left appealed more to me for some reason. That, and I could have my owl peering to the left, like he couldn't wait to see what was written on the inside of the card...

The bonus challenge was to make your own embellishment. The lovely crocheted flowers are by Paper Blooms, so I can't take credit for those. I did, however, cut the branch out freehand, so hopefully that counts for something! (The owl was cut by my Silhouette)

Design Papers - Basic Grey "Mellow"; Cardstock - various from stash

It's late Sunday night, and this concludes a very wonderful weekend. While I'm sad to see it end - I sure enjoyed it while it was here... and now another work-week begins. I sure hope it's a good one!

Blessings,

365 Cards - Challenge 197

365 Cards Challenge#197 is Super Sketchy Sunday + this will also be entered into Simon Says Stamps Challenge "Oriental"

I love Pam's sketches - they're a hoot to work from, and really stretch those creative 'muscles', so to speak. This one is no exception, and once I got past looking at the oval as a giant orange football, I could see lots of possibilities (it's funny how the brain tries to de-code an abstract image with an easily recognized shape, isn't it?)

The image is a digital stamp from Sassy Design Studios "Oriental Princess" I just love her.

I printed the image three times in order to paper piece... on white watercolour paper, on red for her obi and on a piece of gorgeous origami paper (it's a fibrous, almost fabricky paper) which makes her kimono vibrant - I am very pleased with the result.

Last step: CTMH Liquid Glass made her hair and obi shine.

Cardstock - Bazzill; Bamboo Paper - Imaginisce;

I had a great day yesterday with my friend, Betty. Our makeovers were a hoot! We were completely over-done for our casual burger / beer lunch and scrapstore invasion - but it was awesome! Fun with friends and new paper... can a day get any better than that? :D

Thanks for poppin' by the ol' blog. Now I'm off to see what y'all have done in response to the 'big orange football' challenge!

365 Cards - Challenge # 196

Today's Challenge at 365 Cards is called: Just a Touch... And here's the specific challenge: Using a stamped image (ink or digi), use black on white, and just add a touch of color somewhere. I'm going with the "less is more" theory on this one!

OK, so my finished product doesn't exactly adhere to the 'less is more' part of Pam's edict. The image does, though, so that must count for something!

I started with an image/sentiment from Stampers Anonymous by Tim Holtz and just coloured in a few sun rays and the heart with my Staedtler markers. I noticed that I smudged the stamped impression AND managed to get inky fingerprints on the bottom. I had to laugh - and leave them there - after all, isn't that the message of this sentiment?! :D

I wanted funky, so I pulled out my June Bug papers and went to town.

Cardstock - Bazzill; Design Papers & Glazed Brads - Basic Grey "June Bug"; Image - Stampers Anonymous; Ink - VersaFine Onyx Black; RicRac - Rusty Pickle; Burlap - Dollar Store

Well, I'm off! Meeting my friend Betty and going for a makeover! When we're both stunning, we're going for lunch and then off to Precious Memories for some shopping. Gotta feed my paper habit. Yay!! I LOVE weekends!

I hope you're all having a great day!

Basic Grey Inspiration + Mojo Monday Sketch

It's Challenge # 3 at the Basic Grey Challenge Blog, and I've been mulling over this inspiration picture for a week now.

I was thinking that it was little too Martha Stewart-y (LOL, go figure) to work with the Basic Grey products in my stash. I've only been card-making for a year and so far, my Basic Grey stash leans toward the funky side of BG's line... I have the Obscure, Recess and June Bug paper collections + a few sheets of Wisteria. My BG wish list is HUGE! I love their papers!

It's taken a week, but I finally found a paper that worked. June Bug. I know... you're going "what?!" The June Bug line has all those funky, bright colours and patterns. This blue/green paper was the back side of the aptly named "Kaleidoscope" paper. It reminded me of the soft green of the wall, the teal on the bedspread - and although the picture doesn't quite reveal the fine details in the paper, it's also got hints of yellow such as on the pillow and on the flowers (both real and quilted) in this room.

Another inspiration taken from the photo is the wainscotting on the lower walls. I decided to use my handy-dandy ScorPal (I LOVE my ScorPal!!) and make a few paper panels of my own - to match the sketch for week #103 for Mojo Monday.

Add a Basic Grey June Bug glazed brad, a bunch of paper flowers, and a tidy little sentiment from Stampendous... and voila: two challenges in one card!

Design Paper & Glazed Brad - Basic Grey "June Bug"; Sentiment - Stampendous; Ribbon and Paper flowers - Dollar Store; Ink - Martha Stewart "Ocean"; Stickles Diamond.

Blessings Blog-friends!
I hope you have a lovely weekend!!

365 Cards - Challenge 195

365 Cards Day # 195: Pretty Pattern

Today's challenge is all about Gingham. But you won't be surprised, I'm sure, that this is not a simple challenge. Create a piece of clothing with gingham as the pattern. You can stamp it, print a digital image, hand-draw it, or whatever you wish to do.

No, Pam, I'm not surprised. LOL

It's 2:00 am... I was in bed, but I couldn't sleep. Work stress, life stress, card ideas... swimming in my head as I lie wide awake. I thought I might as well get up and get something accomplished! Dishes, dusting, laundry all need doing, or I could log on remotely to my work computer and get a head start on my day tomorrow.... nah... paper and glue... craft room calling...

Yeah, I'm no Betty Crocker, that's for sure... and my card today kind of reflects my personal views on domesticity: "Know what I'm making for dinner tonight?"

The inside reads "Reservations!"

Cardstock - Bazzill; Design Papers - Paper Studio "Hot Pink Gingham" & American Crafts; Pearl Earring - Kaiser Craft; Shiny Belt - Sharpie & CTMH Liquid Glass; Image - clip art; Sentiment - Computer Generated (Magneto font - free download);

Hope y'all have a GREAT day!
Blessings,

365 Cards - Challenge Catch Up

Ah, finally... time in my craft room! I've been battling a cold for the past week, and the last few days when I got home from work, I was wiped out with no strength for cards (how pathetic is that!) I'm feeling better today, though - thanks to a ton of sleep, and regular drops of disgusting oregano oil. Blech!

I caught up with yesterday's and today's cards - and went to post and noticed that Pam had put tomorrow's challenge up (it's helpful being on the west coast), so I got back to work and did that one, too! I'm caught up into the future!! Ooooh, freaky.

Challenge 192 - So Sweet: The word 'sweet' had to appear on our card.

This card was actually planned out in my head a lot different than it turned out. Once I stamped this gorgeous image from Ladybug and Friends, framed it and placed it... the embellishments I planned just didn't work. They seemed only to detract from the image.

And so, my submission for this particular challenge is pared down and simple - image, (slightly crooked) sentiment and a single brad.

I think this would be a very sweet card for any special someone... lover, friend or child.

Cardstock - Bazzill; Image - Ladybug & Friends; Sentiment - Technique Tuesday; Brad - stash.



Challenge 193 - Card Recipe:
5x5 Card
4 different patterned papers
3 blossoms
1 stamped (ink or digital) image
5 rhinestones
The sentiment is up to you

I find recipes fun, but challenging - not for the ingredients allowed, but for the ingredients not listed. I am pleased with the result this time, though.

I gotta admit, however, that this is the second attempt. The first card I made was fine, but I couldn't resist adding things that weren't in the 'recipe' (that's actually the way I cook, too)

The first card's been given away already... and I didn't take pics. Oh well. C'est la vie!


Cardstock - Bazzill & DCWV; Design Papers (clockwise from top left) SEI "Bridgeport", Paper Studio "Hot Pink Gingham", Basic Grey "Eva - Courtier", BoBunny "Green Dot"; Flowers - Prima; Image - Artistic Outpost "Bluebird"; Sentiment - PennyBlack (I think); Rhinestones - Swarovski (2 black in flower, 3 white on corners;

Challenge 194 - Imagine This: Technology

The specific challenge was to see how technology inspires you...

Oh, I'm not much of a techno-dweeb... I love this whole blogging thing, and I work at a software company - on a computer for 8 hours a day... but I don't know the inner workings, can't program in the simplest of languages and am not in the least bit interested to learn. Which means that I'm completely out of my league in most of the conversations at work. LOL That's OK... I sell the stuff - I leave the programming to others.

This card actually features a software CD from my company. It's an old version of our software, so it was going to be destroyed... I 'saved' it (and a dozen of it's friends) because I knew I'd put it on a card one day! Voila!!

Cardstock - Bazzill; Design Papers - Basic Grey "Obscure"; Images (main & bg) - Artistic Outpost "Geek is Chic"; Letter Stickers - Basic Grey; Metal 'screw' brads - Michael's; Metal mesh - Dollar Store;

Thanks for stopping by for a visit. I hope you're having a great day.

365 Cards - Challenge 191

I LOVE Statutory holidays!! I woke up this morning at 8 am (which is usually when I start work) rolled over and hugged my hubby and thought "I'm getting paid for this"

The challenge of the day over at 365 Cards is: Musical Monday & our cards were to be inspired by Chantilly Lace (the song by The Big Bopper)

My stash is sadly short of lace, but I did find this piece in my sewing box (leftover from a Halloween costume made eons ago). I stretched it over a piece of pink cardstock & pink gingham paper and tied a big bow. An epoxy greeting "Sweet" topped it off.

The colour on the picture is off (the ribbon is not that bright) but I've given up trying to fix it.

I think this might make a lovely baby card - or it can even be used as a 'thank you', so I've left the inside blank.

Cardstock - Bazzill Basics; Gingham Paper - Paper Studio; Epoxy Greeting - Little Yellow Bicycle; Ribbon & Lace - from stash.

Today's card was supervised by my old cat Smokey (aka Schmoo) who can't say he approves because there is nothing catty about it. Perhaps I'll make a cat-themed card later for fun, but chances are he'll still have that disdainful look on his face. There's just no pleasing some people.

I hope y'all have a great day!!

Super Sketchy Sunday Challenge + PIO #14

Yay! Super Sketchy Sunday at 365 Cards. I love Pam's sketches - they're always challenging and fun to work with. I'm also going to enter this card into Pile It On's challenge #14 for the week - Birthday.

I must admit that this sketch had me baffled at first, so I printed it and flipped it (I have a hard time visualizing it with my head tilted to the computer screen). For me, I thought it was fun flipped sideways - but I still wasn't sure what I was going to do until I dug through to my stash to see what I had... Paper is what usually inspires me.

I thought these little Doodlebug fishies were perfect. I bought the matching glitter card stickers - and now I'm really glad I did. I popped the stickers for added dimension and fun.

This one's too special to sell. It's going to be saved for my great-nephew...

Well, I'm off. Mom and Dad are coming over later, and I'm going to put on a pot of soup.

Cardstock - generic construction paper from da stash; Design Paper - Doodlebug Designs "Deep Blue Sea"; Glitter Stickers - Doodlebug Designs "Seaside"; Stamp - CTMH; Ink - Opalite Nordic Ice & VersaFine Majestic Blue; Ribbon - da stash.

I hope y'all have a GREAT day!!





**Yay! This card made 365 Cards' Top 3 Card of the Week!
With so many great entries every week, this is an honour indeed! Woo hooo!