Friday, March 30, 2012

Unity KOTM Sketch Challenge

My March Kit of the Month arrived from Unity, and I just loved the graduation caps. Remembering their monthly sketch, I knew I had to use those little caps.

The sketch . . .




I went all black and white for this one, but I included lots of glitter, jewels and embossing.



And yes . . . I used twine! My ribbon stash continues to rebel.

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Supplies

Bazzill Cardstock/Unity March KOTM/Versamark/Queen & Company Jewels/The Twinery Twine/Zing Embossing Powder

Spring Silhouette

I spent the last few weeks coming back to this inspiration photo for the Jay Gee Nook Challenge.



So many colors, I'm not sure I knew where to start. People have asked me, where do you even begin when you look at those inspirational photos. In this particular case, because there were so many colors in the inspirational photo, I went for paper first. The stamp set came second, because it needed to be Easter theme. Embellishments came third.

Here is my design shown from two angles (one shows the dimension).



The silhouetted bunnies were a bit of a stretch. I believe the stamp was intended to be one of those "egg wrappers" that you put around an Easter egg. I wasn't sure how they would look on my card. I found them to be adorable, and even more so when I put those little tails on their behinds (which I snagged from my "Pebbles" chalk set).

Now that's innovation!

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Supplies:

Cardstock - Bazzill/Pattern Paper - Authentique Splendid 6 x 6 pad/Stamps and Die Cut - My Creative Time Hello Spring/Ink - Clear and Simple/Ribbon and flowers from my scrap jars.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

The Play Date Cafe #124

Tough colors for me . . .


I recalled a paper pad with those colors . . .


And a little splash of color on the inside (the bird is on the inside too, but you can't see him in his pic) . . .


And the ribbon revolt in my crop room continues with my twine usage. I can hear the spools singing their own version of Barbara Streisand and Neil Diamond right now . . . "you don't use your ribbon anymore" . . . with sniffing sounds.

No worries ribbon!

Supplies

Cardstock - Bazzill/Pattern Paper - KaiserCraft/Stamps - Unity Stamp/Ink - Stazon/Markers - Copic/Ribbon - The Twinery/Punch - Fiskars Border and Stampin' Up Word Window

Sunday, March 25, 2012

Wobbling Mickey

I have not used an Action Wobble in a very long time and it was definitely time! If you don't know what an Action Wobble is . . . you simply must check it out.

Mickey's hand (o.k., glove) is blurry on this card because it is wobbling with an Action Wobble. It's an action shot . . .


So . . . Freshly Made Sketch . . .


Plus Disney fun in the form of Queen & Company . . .


And even more fun on the inside . . . Q & Company's Trendy Tape which is at my LSS, New England Scrapbook Company.


I love this tape because it is super easy and super fun. However, lately I am using Trendy Tape and Twine, and no ribbon. My ribbon is very jealous of the Trendy Tape and the Twine and is plotting either a strike or revenge in my scrapbook room right now! Step back everyone, it could get ugly in there.

Supplies

Cardstock - Bazzill/Pattern Paper - Queen & Company/Stamps - My Creative Time Teeny Tags Greetings and Pink By Design Animated Greetings 2/Die Cut - My Creative Time Tag/Inks - Stazon Black/Embellies - Queen & Company Trendy Tape and Rhinestone Hand, Stickles/Ribbon - The Twinery Twine (although my ribbon believes that twine is not ribbon and should have it's own category)

Ladybug Hugs for Mojo Monday

I have been so super busy that I had little time to play this weekend, but with my coffee in hand this morning I made up a couple of cards for some challenges. I have to say that making cards is a definite stress reliever for me. I use up my scraps . . . I get to play, and cards can be done in small spans of time which is all I have lately.

So last year I had scraps of this lady bug paper left from a project, and it seemed perfect for a Spring card. With the Mojo Monday sketch in hand, I went to work.

The sketch (which I love) . . .


My design outside (ladybug made from punches and paper) . . .


My design inside (the bug moves as you open it to reveal the "Ladybug Hugs" sentiment . . .


I love black, pink and white . . . and I love ladybugs when they're on paper. In general, they're cute little bugs until they invade your crop room . . . which they did two years ago (I still find the dead ones now and then in a container of paper, a drawer of ribbon, etc.). I can assure you the ones on this card are paper only.

Those crazy little bugs!

Supplies
Cardstock - Bazzill/Pattern Paper - Best Creations/Stamps - My Creative Time Teeny Tags Greetings, Pink By Design Simply Everything
Die Cut - My Creative Time Teeny Tag
Inks - Zig Marker, Stazon Black
Ribbon - The Twinery
Punch - Fiskars Circle, Stampin' Up Word Window

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Chickin' Up on Denami Challenge

I've always been a fan of the Denami Stamps, especially those cute little chick stamps, so when I saw their recent challenge, I couldn't wait to go dig out my chicks and start stamping.

I wanted to go for something a little different, and while I really struggled with this layout on my card, it grew on me. I find I will often struggle with something, get frustrated, but then like it the next day. Sometimes you just have to walk away for a bit to get a new perspective.

So here is the design . . .


And little color for the inside too . . .


This was a color inspiration, and here was the palette . . .


Here chickie!

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My supplies . . .

Cardstock - Bazzill Cardstock
Pattern Paper - KaiserCraft
Stamps - Denami
Inks - Stampin' Up and Close To My Heart
Ribbon - Stampin' Up
Punch - Fiskars

Monday, March 19, 2012

Trendy, Indeed

I saw a cute challenge . . . wanted to try it, and yet knew I would likely miss the deadline. However, I had a new product I wanted to try, so I went to work regardless.

The inspiration was super cute . . . I posted it further below. I wanted to make a doghouse version and use my new Trendy Tape purchased from my LSS, New England Scrapbook Co. in Canton.

Check out that Trendy Tape!


Here is where I got the inspiration:




Cute on the inside as well . . .


And it comes in loads of cool colors . . . including Disney!

Trendy, indeed!

Cardstock - Bazzill
Stamps - Inky Antics
Die Cut - Sizzix Doghouse
Inks - Stazon Black and Stampin' Up Marker
Embellies - Queen & Company Trendy Tape
Ribbon - The Twinery

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Freshly Made #26 - Glitz Scraps Take Two

With my scraps of Glitz still out on the table, I decided to use them for another challenge . . . Freshly Made #26.


Here is the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches:


And here is my design . . .


And the inside (which leaves just enough space for a little note) . . .


There is something satisfying in using those extra scraps and pieces!

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Cardstock - Bazzill
Pattern Paper - Glitz Laced With Grace
Stamps - My Creative Time Teeny Tags Greetings
Die Cut - My Creative Time Teeny Tag
Inks - Close To My Heart Cocoa
Embellies - Glitz
Ribbon - Stampin' Up
Punch - Fiskars Circle

Mojo Monday 232 - Couldn't, Shouldn't, Wouldn't

To my scraps and extra pieces bags I go to find some coordinating items. We all have them . . . those scraps of paper from projects gone by . . . bags of little embellishments we couldn't . . . shouldn't . . . wouldn't part with.

I had some scraps left from a layout I did last Spring. It was Glitz paper from their Laced With Grace line. I loved the colors then and was just as stoked about using up some of my scraps (only some . . . there are still more).

The sketch from Mojo Monday:


And my design . . .


With a little decoration on the inside too . . .


I challenge you all . . . use up those scraps!

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Cardstock - Bazzill
Pattern Paper - Glitz Laced With Grace
Stamps - My Creative Time (Teeny Tags Greetings)
Inks - Stampin' Up
Embellies - Glitz
Ribbon - Stampin' Up

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Be Brave

Still using up my scraps, and having colors pulled from a color challenge, I decided to put something together for another challenge . . . and combined two this time (something I've not yet tried). Here is my inspiration . . .

Card Patterns Sketch #156 . . .




. . . which I mixed with CAS-ual Fridays Challenge #43 . . .




With the sketch in hand, I tried to focus on the focal point being the message, which was the CAS-ual Fridays Challenge.

Here is my design . . .



"Be Brave" is a great message for someone going through some troubling times.

My supplies . . . Bazzill Cardstock, scraps of pattern paper and ribbon from my stash, Stamp from Unity - She Sprouted Wings, Twine from The Twinery, Embossing Folder from Sizzix and ink from Momento, Die Cut from Quickutz.

Rosy Regards for a Challenge

I always love playing around with a challenge when I can find the time. I decided to play along with The Play Date Cafe this week. The inspiration for this week was awesome . . .




The black, gray, yellow and white were so pretty together, and the yellow roses reminded me that I had a rose stamp just waiting to be used! Here is my design . . .


I love black, white, and any other color together. I find them to really be stunning. I had a hard time bringing in the green for the leaves, but it worked in the end. I did use a bit of embossing powder on the flower, which gave some dimension.

My supplies . . . Cardstock, Pattern Paper and Ribbon from my scrap stash; Ink from Stampin' Up and Close To My Heart; Stamp Set is Rosy Regards from Close To My Heart; Twine from the Twinery.

Hmmm . . . with more scraps, I see a card in a similar color combination in my future.

Monday, March 12, 2012

Happy 100th Anniversary

Today marks the 100th Anniversary of Girl Scouting in America, and I was happy to be able to attend a local event held by our Simsbury Service Unity in Connecticut. I have such fond memories of my Girl Scouting years . . . both as a girl growing up in Girl Scouting and as a leader when my own girls were in Girl Scouts.

The ladies who planned our event asked me if I would be willing to make some tags to attach to gift boxes for some very special guests. I immediately remembered that I had a Close to My Heart stamp about Girl Scouting. I typed up a message about the 100th celebration, printed it out, and then stamped with green ink over the message. I stamped again over that with shimmer paint to give some gold sheen.


Happy 100th to the Girl Scouts of America!

Supplies: Cardstock from Bazzill; Stamps from Close To My Heart (Make New Friends, Bohemian Alphabet) and Clear and Simple; Die Cuts from Clear and Simple Stamps; The Twinery Twine; Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint from Stampin' Up

Monday, March 5, 2012

A Little Humor on a Monday

I'm not one to post recipes . . . as I'm not big into cooking.  However, I really wanted to post information on how to get your bread to shape like the bread on this round plate.

NOTE:  The photo is not askew . . . the plate is round.  But the bread has an awesome shape.  And it's not just one slice . . . the entire loaf has this shape.   This was no easy task and took over an hour to get just right. 


This is Freihofer's 100% Whole Wheat Bread.  I must make the claim that if you use another bread, you may not get the same great results.  Here are the basic steps:


1)  Purchase the bread along with some lean turkey and cheese to make a sandwich.  
2)  After buying the bread, toss it around from bag to bag in your car as you determine which groceries go into the office with you, and which ones stay in your car.  
3)  Once at your desk, make your sandwich using two slices of bread, about 2 oz. of turkey, and 1 oz. of cheese.
4)  Eat sandwich while on conference call (you are only listening, as talking and eating would be rude). 
5)  After eating the sandwich, but while still on the call, be distracted by someone showing you a swollen foot that they injured a week ago.  
6)  During distraction and annoyance of interruption from call, throw your coat atop the bread.
7)  Let it sit one hour.
8)  While on second call where you have to speak, get a little nervous, stand up, lean back on your coat a few times. 
9) Throw some things atop your coat. 
10) Get ready to leave the office, and put on coat, revealing the surprise beneath.  Admire.

I'm guessing that if you don't have a conference call, you can substitute a one hour talk show, interruptions from children, and a sweater and perhaps get the same results. 

Happy bread shaping!

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Freshly Made #24

With my scraps of Basic Grey still on hand, I sat down to create another card to add to my set of four, making a set of six from the same product.  This time I used Freshly Made Sketches as my inspiration.

The sketch . . .


And my design . . .



I went outside of my comfort zone on the stamping, as I typically do not mix stamps.  For this design I used three stamps, but the real stretch for me was the lighter background butterfly, which I really love. 

Always a good idea to step outside the comfort zone, as it brings great inspiration for other projects down the road.  And inspiration is a great thing!

Happy paper crafting!


(Supplies used:  Cardstock: Basic Grey; Pattern Paper: Basic Grey; Ribbon: American Crafts; Stamps: Unity January KOTM; Ink: Close to my Heart; Jewels: KaiserCraft