Hmmm . . . I See Possibilities

I absolutely adore the way this card turned out (and I really only say that when I mean it).  I struggled with this sketch, but in the end was pleased with the result. 

Card Patterns is the Sketch Challenge . . .

And here is my design . . .

Those two little hearts together on the seat . . . so sweet!  Would be great for anniversary, wedding, or even with a group of hearts for Mother's Day  . . maybe in birthstone colors.  Make it stop.

All product is Stampin' Up except the cardstock base (Bazzill) and the jewels (random from my collection of odds and ends).

I see some possibilities here.  

Sketchbook Saturday Challenge #62

Just a little something for Sketchbook Saturday Challenge . . .

The sketch . . .

My design using some scraps of Stampin' Up Designer Series paper in my stash . . .

A very simple design, although I did some embossing of the border top and bottom.

 Not my usual colors, but a great way to use up pattern paper in my stash and participate in a fun sketch challenge.  All product is Stampin' Up, except for the cardstock base which is Bazzill. 

Cheers!

Jar O'Joy

A little photo inspiration from Jay Gee's Nook . . .

I see color.

I see a jar with twine.

I see buttons.

I see . . .

I fell in love with my jar, which I stamped with black Stazon onto a fairly thick sheet of acetate from my LSS, New England Scrapbook Co. in Canton, CT.  It even has a shadow.  After cutting it out, I then stamped the "label" onto white and and affixed it.  I used pop dots behind the jar and label to attach my jar to the paper, and adhered the buttons between the acetate and the paper. 

I definitely want to think about some different ways to fill all the jars I will be making!

Keep on crafting! 

Supplies . . . Bazzill Cardstock, Imaginisce Pattern Paper, Acetate Sheet, Stazon and Stampin' Up Ink, Unity Kit of the Month, American Crafts Ribbon and Brad (in flower), The Twinery Twine, Tag Punch from Stampin' Up, Buttons and flower from my scrap stash. 

Freshly Made Sketches #35 - This Too!

Twenty minutes to create . . . seemed like an eternity to dry. I have never used a white pen to color anything in before.  I use them typically when I journal or when accenting something in white.  What an interesting thought to color in the picket fence with a white pen.  Check out the nice painted look it leaves on my fence posts.  

 

Yes, a Freshly Made Sketch (#35 to be exact) . . . and I made this . . . 

. . . out of this . . . 

 

 

. . . using scraps of Bazzill Cardstock, Imaginise Pattern Paper, Black Ink from Clear and Simple, Stamps from Unity KOTM, and my retired markers from Stampin' Up . . . and a glorious white pen!  

And I like to add a little splash of color on the inside . . . just to tie it together.  

 

 

A Little Something for Mojo Monday

O.K. - if you want to skip my rant in purple, please jump down to the Mojo Monday sketch.   And if you think you saw this post earlier without the rant, you would be right. 

An interesting thought about blogging for the person with A.D.D.  I've never been diagnosed, but I'm pretty sure I'm borderline A.D.D.  And anyone who watches me on a computer will agree.  I will open window, upon window, upon window . . . and I'll be multi-tasking  trying to do a dozen or so things at the same time.  

Is a dozen an exaggeration?  No.  No joke that at my Monday to Friday gig I will find windows open on things I started hours earlier and didn't complete.  And, make no mistake (I'm about to compliment myself, which I rarely ever do) that I am super conscientious at my job.  So when I'm making some changes on something at work, and I realize that a list I'm using might need to be more accurate, I leave my original document to look at the list, and then go to a system to find better information to fix the list.  And I notice that something is a little off in the system, so I go somewhere else to try to fix that, and then from there I see that we could do a better job with something else . . . and oh, yes, I did say I was going to fix that other thing for Joe Smith, so while I'm thinking about it let's open up that other document and make a pivot of the data and, what's that?  Co-worker, you need some help?  Yes, let me help you.  I will open up that spreadsheet for you and get the information you need, oh my this needs some work too.  And it goes on, and on and on.  

So . . . too many windows in blogging means that you will post your message.  But if you had another window open where you were creating a new post, you would say . . . oh this is old.  Let me delete this two sentences because I later created a whole page with everything and posted it.  And when you do that, you will lose the post!  You will lose the post!  And now anyone logging on to see your Mojo Monday sketch, including the Mojo Monday design folks . . . they will see your rant! 

So I'm done with my rant and can now re-post my photos for Mojo Monday!  Loved the sketch (I always love their sketches) . . .

Here is my design with a little bicycle built for two. 

I used some old scraps of what I think were Imaginisce paper and included cardstock from Bazzill, two stamps from Unity Kits of the Month (stamps on the outside were from one set, and the inside stamp is from another) . . . 

Have you ever ridden on a bicycle built for two?  It's super fun.  I had a friend growing up who had one.  I used to love it when we would take it out for a spin.  

c

Craft on people . . .

Paper Smooches

My remedy for a stressful day is to find a card challenge and create. I love creating cards because they are like little scrapbook layouts. And I love a challenge because it provides direction for me, much like following a map.

Today I turned to the Paper Smooches Sparks Challenge . . .

There inspiration pictures was an interesting stretch for me . . .

One would think you would need a design with many words in blue and orange hues. Not me. I saw one orange word amongst the blue and remembered I had some paper with rows of butterflies in blue and orange. Why not single out one orange butterfly in the row of blue ones!

And a little color on the inside . . .

Supplies: Cardstock - Bazzill; Pattern Paper - KaiserCraft (butterfly and blue) and Little Yellow Bicycle (orange stripe); Stamps - Paper Smooches Healthy Vibes; Inks - Stazon Black

Shut the Front Door!

One of my favorite Unity Stamps and perfect for their monthly challenge which was to create a card using a flap, window or door. I created a few of these in different designs, but this one was my favorite.

And inside the door . . .

I punched holes for ribbon, so the ribbon can be seen on the inside as well. It adds a nice touch.

Supplies: Cardstock - Bazzill; Pattern Paper - Doodlebug; Stamps - Unity Shut the Front Door, My Creative Time Turn that Frown Upside Down; Inks - Stazon Black; Embellishments - Doodlebug - Ribbon - May Arts

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!

--------------------------------
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.

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

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.

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

Card Patterns #154

I've been on a mission lately to use the supplies that I have on hand.  I happened upon a new challenge called Card Patterns and decided to give it a whirl. 

And so the pattern . . .

I find with sketches it is all in the interpretation.  The toughest part for me on this one was that swirly black border under the ribbon.  Here is what I came up with for my design:

My "black swirls" ended up being Staz-on stamped on a piece of clear acetate.  I had some Staz-on in other colors, but I thought the black would really make things pop and add a bit of elegance.  All supplies are Stampin' Up except for the acetate piece that I had leftover in my stash. 

The card would be great to give to someone who has learned they are expecting.  It's a cute stamp.  I definitely want to try stamping on the clear sheets with a scrapbook layout in the near future.  It's a great look!

More of the Same

The other day I pulled a "kit" of papers and made a few cards for some challenges.  I wanted to carry through using those supplies for a few more cards, and the Unity Monthly Kit Sketch Challenge seemed to be a perfect fit.  If you missed the first two cards, I will post their photos below. 

Here is the sketch for February . . .

 And here is my design using Bazzill cardstock, Basic Grey pattern papers, some coordinating ribbon and my Kit of the Month from Unity (January kit, as the February one has not hit my mailbox yet) . . .

 I wanted to stamp my image on the gold Basic Grey pattern paper, and still have enough of the reverse side to get the print for the birds and flowers, so I cut my design a little short and moved my sketch up to just the square.  My interpretation of the hearts was that one was more defined than the other, so I stamped one image straight onto the gold paper, and then stamped the flower image on pattern side of the paper and cut and popped to get the more defined image.  

I made two cards . . . which I will put with the cards from earlier this week (shown below) . . . and I'll have a set!  

Yeah!  I'm using my stash! 

Purr-fect Challenge

I love the collage photos that challenge blogs post.  A myriad of interlocking photos that come together to create a beautiful canvas to inspire.  I spend more time looking at them than I do creating, which is not necessarily a bad thing.  I find them comforting. 

The Jay Gee's Nook Challenge photo for their current challenge was so inviting.  I spent the last 18 days just gazing at the beautiful colors . . .

Yet it wasn't until tonight that I felt the urge to create a little something colorful. 

Blue Bazzill Basics - White Bazzill Smooth - The Twinery Twine - Market Street Stamps (Cool Cats and Pawprints on our Hearts - edge die cut from Stampin' Up - ink and markers - dimensional tape.

Purr-fect! 

Splash of Hot Pink

When I saw that The Play Date Cafe Challenge was "splash of color" and that the splash of color was hot pink with black and white . . . I had to play along.  Here is the inspiration . . .

And so I used a recently purchased stamp . . . which I absolutely love . . . to create the card below.  Hot pink was perfect for a marshmallow peep bunny.  And since the challenge was just splash of hot pink, I colored only one of the peeps and then gave it a nice "sugar" coating of Stickles (looks yummy enough to eat).  

And while I love the stamp, I also love that I used a white seam binding that I could stamp on.

Supplies include Bazzill Black and White Cardstock; edge die and emboss folder from Stampin' Up; Stamp and Seam Binding from Close to My Heart; Stazon Black Ink;

I see more peep cards in my future.  Love the peeps . . . to look at . . . but not so much to eat!