Happy Friends with Flair!!

HAPPY FRIDAY!! I'm so glad it's Friday!! I am ready for the WEEKEND!!

My card idea comes from Carolina's inspiration card for FWF 44. I loved her card before they even showed it on the Unity blog!! I don't have a typewriter, but I used some ledger dp that I thought went with the whole "type" idea. I have been waiting to ink up this image. I love it! I like the Diamond Glaze that I added to the gumballs and machine to make them shine. Another little trick is to use those leftover bits of ribbon and thread them through another ribbon knot on your card. It's a great way to use those lovely, little, leftover pieces!!

Have an awesome weekend!!! I'm hoping to stamp up a storm!

Challenge: FWF 44
Stamps: March 10 KOM: Unity
Ink: Tuxedo Black Memento
Papers: dp: Library Ledger: Papertrey Ink; Rustic White: Papertrey Ink
Extras: notepaper die cut: Papertrey Ink, copics, Stampin' UP markers, ribbon, pop dots

September 2010 Papertrey Ink Blog Hop!

Hello! I'm excited to be participating in my first Papertrey Ink Blog Hop!!! To get a chance to see all the wonderful creations, please go to Nichole's blog. We were challenged to share techniques that we learned from other crafters. My current crafting inspiration is Michelle Wooderson. You can check out her blog here. I love her mix-matchy style and the way she incorporates vintage and unique items in her work. I'm sure she'll be my inspiration for years to come!! The tickets that I used on this card are from her Etsy shop.

I'm off to see everyone's wonderful creations! I can't wait:)


Stamps: Take Note, Fillable Frames #5: Papertrey Ink
Ink: Rich Cocoa Memento
Paper: Rustic White: Papertrey Ink, dp: Green at Heart: BasicGrey
Extras: vintage buttons, pop dots

Happy FWF!!

Happy FWF!! My simple blessing for this week is that it is FRIDAY!! I am so happy to have an open Saturday tomorrow that I can use in any way that I want...at my own pace...doing my own thing. I hope that you have a simple blessing to look forward to also!!

Stamps: Simply Blessings: Unity
Ink: Rich Cocoa Memento
Paper: unknown....from my stash:)
Extras: Martha Stewart trellis punch, pop dots

Photo Inspiration

Good Morning!!! This week's challenge over at Unity Addicts Challenge is a photo inspiration. I chose the challenge and photo! It was so much fun surfing the web for good photos. Unfortunately, I don't seem to be able to upload the photo to my blog, so the link to the photo is here at Pottery Barn.

My card uses my newest set from Unity, Simple Blessings. The pumpkins in the set are rather large, so to make my third smallest pumpkin I simply cut out a middle section from the medium pumpkin and then glued the top and bottom pieces down together. Worked like a charm!!! It's easy to shorten an object this way, as long as the sides are pretty straight lines. I think I could make a short, fat pumpkin by cutting the middle section from the big pumpkin on my card. I saw some pumpkins just like that at the corner produce stall Sunday!! I also have to point out the ADORABLE spider brad on the big pumpkin. Normally, I'm not a spider fan, but this little guy is so cute:)

If you'd like to play along with us (and we hope you do!) here is the link to Unity.

I'll be back with the full details on my card later today!!! Have to run to work........

Here's the details.....
Challenge: Unity Addicts Challenge #19
Stamps: Simple Blessings: Unity
Ink: Tuxedo Black Memento
Paper: flower dp: So Sophie, My Minds Eye; spider web dp: Making Memories, distressed orange dp: Core'dinations
Extras: scallop punch, fun fiber from my stash, spider brad: Making Memories

Unity Challenges

My first card is a CAS card for the Unity challenge to make your own background. I embossed it with the cuttlebug numbers folder. I love to use the numbers for a birthday card! For a kid's card, I usually highlight the birthday number...but not for adults:) I glittered it, of course, with Dazzling Diamonds. Can't get enough of that sparkly glitter!!

My second card is for another Unity challenge. I am SO ready for fall: the cooler temps and beautiful colors. It is my favorite season!! I used my newest Unity stamp set for this card. I am loving it!

Birthday
Challenge: Unity Addicts Challenge 18
Stamp: July 10 KOM: Unity
Ink: Brocade Blue: Stampin' UP
Paper: White, Brocade Blue, Rose Red: Stampin' UP
Extras: organza ribbon, Dazzling Diamonds: Stampin' UP, pop dots, spellbinders circle and circle scallop dies, Cuttlebug Numbers Embossing Folder

Leaves
Challenge: Hip Hop Sketch Challenge #25
Stamps: Simple Blessings: Unity
Ink: Rich Cocoa Memento
Paper: dp: various and Green at Heart: BasicGrey
Extras: Harvest Gold Buttons and Ribbon: Papertrey Ink, pop dots, Spellbinders ovals and oval scallops dies

Joy

My first Christmas card for this year!! Just a fun, little start for my collection. The little elf's shoes and pants are glittery, but it's hard to see in the picture. I don't know how much "joy" he's having...LOL.

In past years, I made the same card for everyone I've sent cards to. While blog surfing this year, I read about the idea to make many different cards. Some people make 1-2 cards per week all year to be ready in time for Christmas sending. Clearly, I'm too late for that!! Making different cards does sound appealing, though. I get tired of the assembly line making of SO MANY cards. We'll see what happens...

Challenge: JUGS Color Challenge #51
Stamps: image: Funky Christmas: Gina K; sentiments: Mixed Messages: Papertrey Ink
Ink: Black Memento, Real Red: Stampin' UP
Paper: Black, Real Red, Glorious Green, White: Stampin' UP
Extras: Square Spellbinders, pop dots, Spica red and black sparkle markers; Real Red, Glorious Green, Black Markers: Stampin' UP, ribbon from my stash

birthday wishes

Lots of bits and pieces came together to make this card. It was challenging and fun!! That's kind of like life, right? You put all your experiences together, stir them up, add your perceptions and Bingo! there's the life you're living!

This card was actually made for a bingo challenge......I had to choose a letter on the bingo card going across or down and do everything in each box. For example, I chose "G" across, so my card has: tags, ribbon, stitching, masking and blue. My stitching may be hard to see; I stitched on two buttons and one ribbon. Yes, I do have a sewing machine waiting in a box for me to open up...that WAS one of this summer's projects. Didn't get done.

The more I look at this card, the more I like it. It just fits for me. I love the soft, vintage feel.

Challenge: Unity Addicts Challenge 17
Stamps: July10 KOM: Unity
Ink: Brocade Blue: Stampin' UP
Papers: dp: Green at Heart: Basicgrey, brocade blue, ivory: Stampin' UP
Extras: blue tag, ribbon, orange baker's twine, ticket: Mish Mash Etsy, vintage buttons, tag punch: Stampin' UP

Happy Birthday!

I have two birthday cards to share with you today. The first one is for a male friend of mine, so it is a bit CAS. (I have to say it is also a VERY true bright yellow. I can't seem to photograph my colors well.) What isn't CAS about the card is that I tried a technique that I am not sure I've ever done before. It's called cracked glass. Basically you use glassy glaze (really chunky, clear embossing powder) and add several coats, one at a time, while the glaze is still hot. Then you put it in your freezer for a minute or two. Once it is cool, you bend it back and forth to get the glaze to crack. It looks so shiny, crackly and cool in person!! My push to try this technique was the JUGS challenge this week. My second card is for the Crazy 4 Challenges color challenge to use black, kraft and red. Isn't Buddy SO CUTE in kraft with his party hat and balloon? I used diamond glaze to make the balloon all shiny. I can't wait to give this birthday card to someone special.

Hope you're having an awesome day!! I'm so glad that I had the chance to get crafty!! I swear that sometimes it keeps me sane!

Celebrate
Challenge: JUGS challenge #50
Stamps: JustRite stamps (a basic, starter collection)
Inks: Tuxedo Black Memento
Paper: Yoyo Yellow, Black, White: Stampin' UP
Extras: ribbon, Glassy Glaze: Stampin' UP, Cuttlebug embossing folder-Happy Birthday, Spellbinders Large Circles, pop dots, Yoyo Yellow marker: Stampin' UP

Buddy
Challenge: Crazy 4 Challenges #54
Stamps: Buddy's Balloon: Wags 'n Whiskers, sentiment: unknown
Ink: Tuxedo Black Memento
Paper: kraft: Papertrey Ink, black, white, real red: Stampin' UP
Extras: red grosgrain ribbon: Stampin' UP, scallop edge punch: Stampin' UP, Diamond Glaze: JudiKins, pop dots

FWF

Happy Friday!!! Fall is my favorite season! I love that the weather tends to give us a break with cooler temps and the colors can't be beat. I had fun playing with fall colors when I made my card. It's hard to tell, but I did pop up the apples and the fall sentiment block. Again, I found random goodness from my stash in the form of the olive buttons. LOVE it when that happens:)

Challenge: Ippity Hip Hop Challenge 40
Stamps: July10KOM: Unity
Ink: Black Memento
Paper: dp-Green at Heart: BasicGrey, kraft
Extras: buttons, pop dots

Celebrating Books!!!

Hello! I LOVE books!!! I know that I have probably said that before, but I really do! Right now I'm reading a "cozy mystery" series about a Psychic Eye (instead of a private eye). They are written by Victoria Laurie. If you enjoy fun mysteries with a bit of romance, you'll love these! They are addicting. When you leave your comment, please let me know about a good book that you're reading now. I always like to get new book ideas!

Don't you just love the awesome dp on this card? It's full of flowers and is in mostly pink, black and teal. It's been sitting on my shelf calling to me for a while now!! The ribbon is pure luck-straight out of my stash!! Sometimes you just get lucky:)

Challenge: Crazy 4 Challenges 53
Stamps: Books a'Flutter: Unity/Ippity
Ink: Black Memento
Paper: dp: Tiffany's: We R Memory Keepers, black: Stampin' UP
Extras: ribbon, Spellbinders Ovals and Scalloped Ovals, pop dots

fall

Two posts in one day?!?! It's a miracle:) I LOVE fall the best. Here is my first card of the season!! A bit CAS, but that's what I generally like!

Challenge: Hip Hop Sketch Challenge #23
Stamps: July10 KOM: Unity
Ink: Black Memento
Paper: dp: Green at Heart: Basicgrey, kraft
Extras: threaded water scallop punch, pop dots

right here, right now

Hello! I have been told that "right here, right now" is what matters. That's all we have, and all we can live. Dwelling in the past or sweating the future won't change a thing. The current moment is just as it "should" be, based on our life's journey. Sometimes that's hard to live with, but I keep trying!

This card is for the Unity Addicts Challenge to make an ATC (artist's trading card) and use it on a card. I've never made an ATC before...all I know is that it must be 2.5 x 3.5 inches. I think mine worked out fine. The colors don't show up well; I took the photo at dusk tonight. The colors are a wonderful teal, ivory, kraft and red. I'd like to try this challenge again. It was fun to create on such a small piece of cardstock before I made my card.

Enjoy your night!! LIVE the MOMENT!!

Challenge: Unity Addicts Challenge #16
Stamps: journaling block: A Moment in Time: Unity, sentiment: May 10 KOM: Unity
Ink: Rich Cocoa Memento, White Colorbox
Paper: dp, Thrift Shop: October Afternoon, kraft, ivory: Stampin' UP
Extras: ribbon, pop dots, Rose Red Marker: Stampin' UP, threaded waters scallop punch