Early Bird Project and Fun News

I received some Cosmo Cricket Early Bird paper with my Studio Calico kit last month. It was so stinkin' cute I picked up some more coordinating cardstock and chipboard accessories to match. I came up with these fun cards. I used brown as the base and went to town. It was so easy, and came together so quickly that I had a rough time stopping!

Now that you have seen the project. The fun news is that I made Dawn McVey's Spotlight this week (Two weeks in a row!) I couldn't be more ecstatic!

Don't forget to scroll down...2 posts in one day. I am on a roll!

Edit: Ok, so my days must run together...I had posted a card and scheduled it for Wednesday but had thought that it had already posted, and I thought the lady bug card was posted on Tuesday. Geez, I need a vacation. hahahah!!!! Sometimes you just have to laugh at yourself.

Supplies:
Paper: Patterned Paper (Cosmo Cricket); Chocolate Chip Cardstock (SU!)
Ink: Chocolate Chip (SU!)
Stamps: Sentiment (SU!)
Extras: Chipboard (Cosmo Cricket); dic cut (Quickutz); letters (American Crafts); Ribbon (Basic Grey and Fancy Pants); Punches (EK Success)

Blingy Little Lady

I used the most recent sketch from 2 sketches 4 you HERE to create this fun B-day card for a gal at work. She loves ladybugs and has a bright personality (just one of those people you love being around). I couldn't think of a more fitting card for her than a blingy lady combined with fun, bright patterned paper. I can't take credit for the lady bug punch; my friend Randee posted THIS on her blog. I decided to turn the little lady red and add quite a bit of bling (that is for you Nicole).

The Close-Up

Supplies:
Paper: Patterened Paper (American Crafts); Red and Black cardstock (SU!); White textured cardstock (Archiver's)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Moment); Basic Black marker (SU!)
Stamps: Mega Mixed Messages (PTI)
Extras: Scallop punch (SU!); 1" Circle punch (EK Success); Felt (Creative Cafe); Bling (Mark Richards and JoAnn's)

Tiled Wishes - PTI Blog Hop

The challenge for this month's blog hop is to create a project using summer as an inspiration. During the summer I love sitting outdoors and eat dinner or breakfast (I avoid lunch outdoors, since it is usually too stinkin' hot). I used outdoor seating as my inspiration for this card (a littler smaller than A6 - gotta make room for the bow). I love how people can set tables and create centerpieces for gatherings and parties; their tables look so fancy. I don't do that, but I love it when other people do - it is just too cool! : )

When I think of dinner parties and decorating, I think of Martha Stewart. I found my inspiration on her website. I just adore the tiles used as the centerpiece for the table, which became the springboard for my creation. I mimicked the tiles by creating custom patterned paper using GL2 on the GL2 grid paper with lemon tart and marigold morning inks and by stamping the flower from Friends till the end in marigold morning, white snow, and basic grey ink on cardstock. I punched out squares of each of the patterns I made and then showcased them by mounting them on basic gray cardstock. I tied a bow, added a sentiment, and I even have left over pre-made patterned paper. This card is a littler smaller than A6 - gotta make room for the bow.

The Inspiration (so lovely)

My Creation

Can't wait to see what everyone created! This was too much fun.

Supplies:
Paper: Marigold Morning, Basic Gray, Sahara Sand cardstock (SU!); Solar White cardstock (Neenah); Guidelines 2 Grid paper (PTI)
Ink: Lemon Tart and Fresh Snow (PTI); Basic Gray and Marigold Morning (SU!)
Stamps: Friends Til the End, Guidelines 2, Mega Mixed Mesages (PTI)Extras: Dark Grey Ribbon (May Arts - I think)

Raspberry Suite Color Challenge #10

Once again it is time for another Raspberry Suite color challenge, and once again I just love these colors. I know, I am a broken record, but Dawn does a fantastic job finding inspiration for these challenge. I always love the colors she chooses, and they are usually colors I don't normally pair together or gravitate toward.

I created this 4.25 x 4.25 inch card using Guidelines 2 to create the patterned paper. This is a stamp set I had to have, but at the same time it is intimidating...mostly because there is a whole lot of stamping and lining stuff up. This set was so much easier to use than I expected and you will definitely be seeing more of it in my posts *wink* - maybe in tomorrow's blog hop. I can't believe I won't be scrambling last minute to complete the challenge like usual.

Anyway without further adieu...

Supplies:

Paper: Melon Berry cardstock (PTI); Cream cardstock (Neenah); Chocolate Chip cardstock (SU!)

Ink: Vintage Cream, Berry Sorbet (PTI); Basic Brown ink, Chocolate Chip marker (SU!)

Stamps: Guidelines 2 and Mega Mixed Messages (PTI)

Extras: Berry Sorbet ribbon (PTI); Pearls (Mark Richards); Butterfly punch (Martha Stewart); Corner Rounder (SU!)

Laughter

I saw Kristina's color challenge this week and just knew I needed to use my paisly background stamp since it reminds me of that super cute dress. I HEART paisley. I decided to use clear embossing powder with the background stamp on the basic gray to add a little texture and shine (you can see the embossing better in the close up). I paired this up with my new Quickutz die and a little Sassafras paper and we were good to go. The colors surprisingly came together so easily. It was a suprise since I usually never use rust or mustard.

I also created this card from the current CPS card sketch (CPS102). Two challenges in one; I never do that (I am so pround). I was so excited to post this one that I had to stay up late! Hope you like it.

The Close-Up
Supplies:
Paper: Really Rust, Basic Gray and Very Vanilla cardstock (SU!); PP (Sassafras)
Ink: Versamark; Really Rust and Basic Gray Classic Ink (SU!)
Stamps: Paisley Background and Sentiment (SU! - Retired)
Extras: Corner Rounder (EK sucess); Button (Autumn Leaves); Twine (PTI); Label Die (Quickutz); Clear Embossing Powder (Ranger Ink)

Live Your Bliss

It was a really busy weekend. In between the storms on Friday I went to my fav LSS, Craft Fancy, for their 1 year b-day celebration. I picked up these super fab yellow roses and pearl, swirl bling. I saw them and knew I had to make a card for my Mom's B-day with them. I matched them up with papers and a die cut from my June Studio Calico SCRAPBOOK* kit, did a little distressing to tone down the white and to turn my aquamist into a more vibrant blue, and viola. I did all that late on Sat evening. That sucker didn't stay sealed in the envelope for long, since my mom's b-day was on Sunday. She loved it! And oh how I loved this card, too. It was a nice depart from my typical style....I rarely go vintage.


*Note: I really am supposed to be scrapbooking with these things...I broke down. Too much instant gratification with completing a card.

The Close-Up

Supplies:
Paper: Aquamist cardstock (PTI); Very Vanilla Cardstock (SU!); Yellow PP (October Afternoon - SC Kit); Red polka dot PP (Cosmo Cricket - SC Kit); Die Cut (Collage Press - SC Kit)
Ink: Broken China and Antique Linen distress ink (Ranger)
Stamps: Mega Mixed Messages (PTI)
Extras: Apron Lace Punch (Fiskars); Bling and Flower (Prima)

Congrats Grad!

This is the untraditional grad card I made for my boyfriend's cousin. I usually used black and white for grad cards, but I decided to go with a little raspberry fizz, soft sky, and basic grey. Not too much else to say on this one...it came together pretty quickly with a little patterned paper and some stamping (oh and you can't forget the ribbon).

Supplies:
Paper: Basic Gray and River Rock cardstock and Patterned Paper (SU!); Raspberry Fizz cardstock (PTI)

Ink: Basic Gray (SU!); Versamark; Raspberry Fizz (PTI)

Stamps: Stampin' Up!

Extras: Soft Sky Ribbon and circle punches (SU!); Border Punch (Martha Stewart)

Pretty Peonies

The peonies are in full bloom in the backyard. They are bright and beautiful, and I just had to cut a few blooms and enjoy them inside, too. The blooms are so big it did not take too many to fill the entire vase. Too bad the blooms don't last longer (such a short season). . .I will miss them : (

I just wanted to share another photo of the goodies in my garden.

Showers of Blessings

I made this quick, fun card for a baby shower this weekend. She is having a boy, so I wanted to use blue but not go traditional. So I used a brighter blue paired with kraft, white, and a pale yellow. The umbrella was made by paper piecing the stamped image. At the bottom I used snow white ink and the retro backgrounds set from PTI to create a pattern between the ric rac and the apron lace bottom. Fast, Easy, and I must say I loved it!

Supplies:

Paper: Kraft cardstock (SU!); patterned paper (BoBunny)

Ink: Snow White (PTI); Tuxedo Black (Momento)

Stamps: Scattered Showers and Retro Basic Backgrounds (PTI)

Extras: Apron Lace punch (Fiskars); Ribbon (JoAnn's)

Raspberry Suite Color Challenge #9

I finally had a moment to breathe and created this fun card for Dawn's color challenge this week. How could I not participate with these fabulous colors. This is also helpinng me get out of my mojo funk....have you ever had one of those? You sit there and stare and stare. Finally you come up with a 15 minute card in like 3 -4 hours. That has been me the last two weeks. I think this might have broke my slump (I hope).

I created this card by making a plaid background paper using my Retro Background sets and then used a simple sentiment from Mega Mixed Messages accented with Styled Silver Hardware. Fun, easy card. If you like what you see let me know.

Supplies:

Paper: Basic Black and Wild Wasabi cardstock (SU!); Cream cardstock (Neenah)

Ink: Vintage Cream (PTI); Tuxedo Black (Momento)

Stamps: Mega Mixed Messages and Retro Basics Backgrounds (PTI)

Extras: Punch and Hardware (SU!); Ribbon (Target Club Wedd)

Russian Dolly Thank You

I have been in a mojo funk lately. I have been crochetting flowers and coloring stamped images. I finally decided to do something with some of my colored images. I cut the little dollies out and added a little bling. I popped them up on the Label Die...and viola.

The Close-Up

Supplies:

Paper: Cool Caribbean cardstock (SU! Retired); White Cardstock (Neenah and Archiver's); Riding Hood Red DSP (SU!)

Ink: Tuxedo Black (Momento Ink); Cool Caribbean Classic Ink (SU!)

Stamps: Hero Arts

Extras: Ribbon (Making Memories ?); Label Die (Spellbinders); Copics; Bling (Hero Arts and Basic Grey)

You Make Life Bright

This is the last lamp card for a while (I swear). That is only because this is my last post of goodies that I created with the gals a couple weekends ago. Time has just flown! I created this card with some hoarded Scenic Route paper and Copics. I used both sides of the patterned paper...don't you just hate it when you love both sides.

The Close-Up

Supplies:
Paper: Taken with Teal and Old Olive cardstock (SU!); Solar White cardstock (Neenah); Patterned Paper (Scenic Route)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Momento)
Stamps: Shine On (Unity Stamp Co)
Extras: Apron Lace punch (Fiskars); Corner Rounder (Creative Memories); BG Copics; Bling (Mark Richards)

Button Tree

I created this card for the Caardvarks Shape Up Challenge HERE. The challenge is to create any card that is not a square or rectangle. I got together with my friend, Katie, on Friday and had a chance to play with her Silhouette (see her blog HERE). It was so much fun! I learned to weld and re-size. I created this tree card by welding the top of the tree image to create a card I could fold and then resizing the tree top to create the hounds tooth layer. I inked and added buttons...and voila. The finished size is approximately 4.25 x 5.5 inches.

I am still resisting the gloriousness that is the Quickutz Silhouette, all I have to do is remember that I can go to Katie's or Marisa's and play! Restraint---I swear (we will see how long that lasts).

Supplies:

Paper: Kiwi Kiss and Chocolate Chip cardstock, Patterned Paper (SU!)

Ink: Chocolate Chip Classic Ink (SU!)

Stamps: None

Extras: Buttons (Bag O' Buttons); Cream Twine (PTI); Die Machine (QK Silhouette)