Monday, June 30, 2014

Happy News!

I'm so happy and excited to share a little secret with you today.  I am never any good at secrets - thank goodness I have my DH to share everything with - I know he won't tell anyone because he leaves all the card making and crafting to me LOL!  I'm joining the CardMaker Magazine blog design team!  It's a 6 month term and I get to post once a month there.    So pinch me because I keep asking myself...  "Well, how did I get here?"  

Here's a list of my fellow team mates - maybe you know a few of them already and want to give them a big congrats as well?   The big announcement is posted here. 


I think we're going to have lots of fun!!

The Challenge #10 - You Are Amazing!

Did you have a good weekend?  I think those are the two busiest days of the week for me - Saturday and Sunday.  It seems like there is always a project that needs to get done.  I'm just glad everyone is home for a few hours to help out.  This weekend we did lots of work - weeding the garden, washing and vacuuming the cars, giving puppy a bath.  It's pretty darn hot here too which makes the chores seem a little more miserable if you know what I mean.     Late Sunday was an Eagle Scout Party - so happy and proud to see another young man from our troop achieve this rank.  I stayed home to baby sit Miss Moriko who spent most of the time napping at my feet.    I should have taken a picture of her after her bath - so funny so see that fuzzball  less foofy.  It give you a better idea of how small she really is. 

Today begins a new 2 week challenge at The Challenge!!  (try saying that three times!).  The Challenge was is another wonderful creation by Lesley Croghan and is hosted on her blog  Always Playing with Paper.  Lesley is the creator of lots of wonderful challenges including Fusion, Dynamic Duos, Seize the Birthday, Seize the Sketch, Card Concept, and Merry Monday.  This time is double the fun because there is a color challenge, and a sketch challenge.  You can use either one that inspires you, or you can incorporate them both together like I did.


Now you are just a click away from more inspiration my friends.   We're a small group - but we've got you covered - lots of beautiful things to see here from my teamies.


 Lesley Croghan (Creator)

I have two posts today - so if you are looking for the 12 Kits post just scroll down.  We're celebrating love, weddings, and anniversaries this month.  










Supplies Used:  Finished Size 4.25 x 5.5"
Stamps:  Wplus9 Coming Up Roses, Quite Like You
Pattern Paper:  Echo Park Splendid Sunshine 6x6"
Card Stock:  PTI Kraft, Sweet Blush
Dies:  WPlus9 Coming Up Roses, Spellbinder Nested Pennants, Paper Smooches Flag Tags
Twinery Flax Twine
Enamel Dots, Buttons, Sequins, Pin Dritz
Ink:  Memento, Versafine Onyx Black
Border Punch:  EK Success Double Embossed Dotted Lace

12 Kits of Occasions - Here Comes the Bride!

YAYYY!  It's time for the 12 Kits of Occasions!  Just to remind you, the 12 Kits is a group of 12 Friends who like to make cards!  Every month we take turns putting together a little kit of supplies to send to the rest of the group.  We all receive the same package of goodies, and on the last day of the month we share what we made on our blogs.   It's always fun to open the package of supplies, and then see the different cards everyone made.  Sometimes they are similar, and other times they are so very different.   I can't wait to see what everyone made this time.   

The hostess with the mostest this time is our California girl Marybeth.   And our theme for the month is "Here Comes the Bride".  Well it's June isn't it?    If I had to describe Marybeth's style in one word it would be ELEGANT.  She has a clean and layered style, and likes to emboss, add sequins and intricate die cuts for a very sophisticated elegant look.  This kit is a great representation of Marybeth's style.  Oh yes.. she is one of the sweetest ladies on the planet!!  I call her my therapist because she is always ready to listen, and give me some sound advice.  Sharing a few prayers together never hurts either!!
So what did she have for us?  Exactly what you would expect - beautiful pearlized paper, gold embossed images, fancy die cuts, and beautiful ribbons and trims.  You can get a complete list of products as well as links and a peek of projects from all the 12 kits ladies on our blog here.  

Ready to see what I made with this gorgeous kit?    Here goes!
 
 
  
 
Want to see more beautiful wedding and anniversary cards?  Just hop on over to the rest of the ladies and see what they made this month.  You're sure to love what you see.


Special Guest:   Lindsey from: Occasional Crafting


Thanks for stopping by and have a beautiful day!









All cards are 5.5 x 4.25"
Supplies I added include   Buttons, sequins, Heart Gems, Copic Markers, Embossing Folder Eyelet Stripe Cuttlebug, Dies: Spellbinder Nested Pennants, Twinery Twine  Gold Shimmer

Thursday, June 26, 2014

CASE Study #197 - Birthday Balloons

Hi!  I hope everyone is doing good.  I bet you're wondering where I've been the past few days?  A week ago today we picked up a new Akita puppy we named Moriko (Japanese for Child of the Forest).  

It was a long drive to the breeder in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan - about an hour away from the Canadian border.  We've been getting settled into our new lives together - I don't think either one of us is adjusting too well.  She still wants to get up at 4 am and I still want to sleep til 7.  My husband and the kids are both spending lots of time with her so I get a little "me" time - but it's going to take a little while.  She's 14.6 pounds and is very curious.  

She's taken well to "going outside" and I think she just about has the word "sit" figured out.   I'm glad for a new companion and I hope we have lots and lots of good times ahead of us.   

A new challenge begins today at CASE Study.  Our muse this month is Pamela Ho  from MIAO - A Design Blog.  There's lots of great little details to love about this card.  You know the drill, study the design, focus on the parts you like and make them your own.  So what do you see?  The pop of orange?  The vellum overlay?  The stitching?  How about the words in the circles?  Do you see the star inside the vellum die cut circle?  I don't even know if that was intentional but it looks pretty neat doesn't it?  I focused on the words in the circles, with some word balloon stamps.   I tried to reverse the color scheme - using lots of color and only a few black embellishments to pop off the page. 
I hope you'll visit the rest of the design team - They're sure to inspire you with some interesting takes on the design.

Chupa - Iwona Palamountain
Amy Wanford
Tasnim Ahmed
Silke Ledlow
Jill Foster
Gayatri Murali
Anja Curvers
Anna Kossakovskaya
Julia Stainton
Michelle Williams
Annika Lerche

Thanks for stopping by and have a beautiful day!











Supplies Used:  Finished Size 4.25 x 5.5"
Stamps:  Avery Elle Balloons, Cupcakes
Dies:  Avery Elle  Balloons, Spellbinder Nested Pennants
Ink:  Avery Elle Cherry, Fizz, Celery, Versafine Onyx Black
Ribbon:  1/4"  Black Ric Rac, 1/4" Stripe Twill Black May Arts, Twinery Twine Charcoal
Pattern Paper:  Crate Paper Party Day 6x6"
Card Stock  PTI True Black, Vintage Cream
Pin:  Basic Grey
Enamel Dots:  Melted Perler Beads

Sunday, June 22, 2014

Feather & Foliage

Happy Sunday!  It's hot humid and rainy in my little corner of the world, but I hope the sun is shining wherever you are!  That's what I love about crafting... I can make my own weather and take it with me!

I'm posting at the Poppystamps blog today!  Here's a sneak peek and if you would like to see more just click here.  And why yes.. that is a stencil in the background!  LOL!!

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Fusion - Gold Butterfly

Every other Thursday a new challenge begins today at Fusion Card Challenge.  We're teaming up with CAS(E) this Sketch this time with a gorgeous gold and white inspiration photo and a super clean sketch!   The part I like best about  Fusion - you can choose to be inspired by the photo - or you can work the sketch.  If you want to challenge yourself - work with both.  I like to pick up different elements from the photo and incorporate them into the sketch design.  It's all up to you.
Are you drooling over all that white and gold in the inspiration photo?  How elegant right?   I was smitten at first sight with that gorgeous glittery gold butterfly!  Of course I wanted to replicate it with some pretty die cuts.  I cut a background butterfly in vellum, and the top detailed cut from glittery gold paper.  I only attached it to the card in the center (the body of the butterfly) so the wings are free floating.  I wanted to make my card elegant like that lovely place setting,  so I embossed my background paper and added lots of gold. 
If you need a little more inspiration you are sure to find it this week - with both the Fusion DT and the CAS(E) This Sketch DT playing along - you're sure to find something that will totally knock your socks off!  I hope you find some time to play and join us!


Supplies Used:  Finished Size 4.25 x 5.5"
Stamps: Waltzingmouse Fancy Phrases
Dies:  Memory Box Finn Butterfly, Delia Butterfly, Poppystamps Ribbon Banners, Paper Smooches Flag Tags
Gold Foil Paper American Crafts, White Card Stock PTI
Embossing folder Cuttlebug Pirouette Anna Griffin, Vellum Paper Recollections
Gold Sequins
Gold Shimmer Twine Twinery

CASE Study #196 - Happy Birthday Butterflies

Is your summer off to a good start?   It's hot and humid here in the Chicago area.  Sounds like summer right?  Our parish is having it's "Fun Day's" Festival starting today.  It's your typical Midwest church carnival.  They clear out the parking lot and bring in lots of rides and food vendors.  The Knights of Columbus will be having a corn roast, a different band will be playing every night, and can't forget the beer garden!  My family always steps in to lend a hand.  It's nice to see old friends that my kids went to grade school, although some are a little harder to recognize now.   LOL!

A new challenge begins today at CASE Study and I think you're going to like this one.  Our muse this month is Pamela Ho from MIAO - A Design Blog.   Look at the card we have by her this week!  You know the drill, study the card and copy the parts you love.  I turned this one on it's side - making the dark skyline a layer of die cut branches.  If you look close you will see I double cut them - once in vellum, to mimic the shadow of the skyline on the original card.  Instead of a dog being lifted by green and yellow balloons, I have something else that flies... yellow butterflies. 
Here's the finished card...
Now it's your turn!  Need a little more inspiration?  Check out designs from the rest of the team by clicking on their names below.


Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you have a great day and that I see you linked up at CASE Study Challenge Blog!





Supplies Used:  Finished Size:  4.25 x 5.5"
Stamp:  Waltzingmouse  Teeny Trees
Pattern Paper:  American Crafts Best of Maggie Holmes 8 1/2 x 11"
Dies:  Memory Box  Kaleidoscope Butterfly, Moonlight Butterfly, Leafy Border
Buttons, Pearls
Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black
Card Stock  PTI White, True Black, Lemon Tart,  SU! Daffodil Delight

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

SSCB#32 - Long The Summer

We're at the half way point of challenge#32 at Serendipity Stamps Challenge Blog.  A new Challenge begins on the first Wednesday of every month.  At the half way point - the third Wednesday of the month - the design team posts a second project for the challenge to remind you that there is still time to play along and hopefully inspire you to join us.  The challenge this month is to make a card with a die cut window.  You can make a frame, or even lay a die inside the opening you create.  I always joke that Mary tries to keep us on our toes because she always keeps it interesting for the design team by adding a little twist to the challenge.  This time she has asked the design team to make an accordion card for their samples today. 
I'm usually inspired by things I see - or the time of year.  We were in Hilton Head Island, SC about a month ago.  We try to go every year around the same time, and usually it's my first taste of summer.   It's coastal living at it's best and we've made lots of good memories there.   WIth so many images fresh in my mind a nautical card was fun and easy. 
The accordion card base I made consists of three 4.25 x 5.5" cards all taped together to create a zig zag / accordion shape.  You can find a tutorial at Splitcoaststampers.  I used the same method as in the video to connect my cards, I just changed the shape from the one shown in the tutorial.
Since it's a window challenge I started with the cover of my card - cutting an oval shape window, and inserting a piece of transparency that I stamped with a seahorse.  I used Staz On Ink in White.  To give it a more finished look I created a frame by cutting the same oval from a larger scalloped oval shaped die cut. 
Here's the finished card 
And a few close ups so you can get a better look at the inside.    The star fish is embossed in gold.  I left the page behind the open window clean so that the pattern paper creates a background for the stamped seahorse.
I stamped the sailboat to look like a watermark stamp so you could hand write a message over it.   The lighthouse die is new from Serendipity and  most of the other dies - the Seahorse, foliage, oval and scallop oval are from Cheery Lynn.  Did you know Serendipity now carries Cheery Lynn dies in their inventory?  
Would you like to see more cards from the design team?  Just click on their names below to jump to their blogs.



I hope you'll join us at Serendipity for this month's challenge.  One random winner will receive a $20 gift code off their next order.  Everyone is a winner though because the sale this week is 40% off the highest priced item in your cart.  Use code “40fromhigh614”  Good through 6/24.   You'll also receive a free cling stamp with each die you purchase while supplies last.  




Lighthouse DieHaiku-Long The SummerSail BoatScallop ShellStarfishSea HorseThinking of You LgFrench Flair Silver Nesting Dies - LargeFrench Flair Purple Nesting Dies - LargeOval Purple Nesting Dies - Small

Supplies Used:  Finished Size 4.25 x 5.5"
Stamps:  Serendipity Stamps:  Sea Horse, Star Fish, Scallop Shell, Sail Boat, Thinking of You Large, Long the Summer Haiku
Dies:  Serendipity Stamps Lighthouse, Cheery Lynn B118 Pair of Ferns, B267 Seahorse Family, XL12 French Flair Stackers, L12 Silver Stacker French Flair Classic,  L7 Oval Classic, XL8 Oval Scallop Stacker, Buckle RETIRED Spellbinders
Pattern Paper Mambi Me & My Big Ideas Ocean Collection
Card Stock:  SU! Coastal Cabana, Tangerine Tango,  PTI Aqua Mist, White, Kraft, Enchanted Evening, Silver Foil American Crafts
Twinery Twine Gold Shimmer
Button:  Basic Grey
Border Punch:  EK Success Double Embossed Dotted Lace 
Ink: Versamark, Memento Nautical Blue, Staz On White, Fresh Ink Birch
Gold Embossing Powder ZING!
Transparency