Inspired by Family, Food and Fun

Some days you sit down and can't create a thing.

Other days you sit down and you can squeak out a little craftiness.

Last night I was on a bit of a roll.  It must have been the connection with family, food and fun earlier in the day.  A 4th of July get together with family had me creating in the kitchen first . . . an interesting new recipe that I wanted to try.  I don't cook often . . . used to when my kids were younger . . . but that cooking energy is gone.  A new blog that I happened upon recently has me intrigued to cook a little more often.  Check out Damn Delicious (I made the Fusilli Caesar Salad). 

And then last night there were these creations.

First was a little something for AEI{heart}U's challenge which was "Gold" inspired. 

I needed a touch of red for my heart.  I have two confessions . . . 1) I am in love with the Avery Elle Simply Labels stamp/die that created that label and 2) I am in search of a new gold embossing powder that has a better sheen to it . . . this one did not thrill me.  But I know that I will go to my StampNation message board and someone will have the answer for the perfect gold! 

My second card was for Paper Smooches which was an "anything goes" challenge.  I used the color combination that was suggested at Color Throwdown. 

 I created my background using the Paper Smooches Bold Blooms set.  I also used one of my very favorite sets . . . Kissables 1 . . . my sentiment is stamped on a strip of it.  (LOVE for regular stamping and for "kissing" on other stamps. 

And then finally, a little something for Seize the Sketch.  For this one I used my Studio Calico Card Kit from last month . . .

I stamped on my card base and laid the pattern paper with the oval scallop window over the card.  That bottom brown paper is a wood grain pattern paper . . . easier to see in the photo below.  The buttons are strung together using twine.  My only wish (hindsight) is that I had flipped the pattern paper so that the yellow, lighter hues were at the top of the card. 

Can I tell you there is an odd optical illusion that makes these two photos look different.  I spent way too much time studying that large yellow button because in the photo above, it does not look like I stitched diagonally to make an "X", as it appears there is a horizontal stitch across the bottom two holes.  But in the photo below you can clearly see it's diagonal.

I hope you find some time to create this weekend.  I have a few more creations that I hope to share tomorrow.

Cheers!

Supplies Used - Rain or Shine

Cardstock:  Neenah

Stamps:  Avery Elle Link it Up, Bright Days and Simply Labels Hello

Dies:  Avery Elle Simply Labels

Ink:  Versamark and Stampin' Up

Ribbon:  Stampin' Up

Other:  Stampin' Up Gold Embossing Powder

Supplies Used - Celebrate

Cardstock:  Stampin' Up

Stamps:  Paper Smooches

Ink:  Stampin' Up

Ribbon:  Close To My Heart

Other:  Scrap of Vellum Dot Paper from Doodlebug, Ki Rhinestones

Supplies Used - Thank You

Studio Calico Card Kit - June

Spellbinders Die

Versafine, Versamark and Close To My Heart Inks

White Embossing Powder