Groovy Day

I had a chance to get into the craft room on Sunday and had a bit of mojo goin' on.  I knew I wanted to use my Retro Style stamp for the Signs of Peace Challenge over at the Moxie Fab blog.  The trick was adding the peace signs.  I didn't have any paper or stamps or anything with peace signs on it, so I made my own.  I had this brilliant idea to hand draw peace signs and punch the holes with my paper piercer, and then use hand stitch the peace signs in a few different colors of embroidery floss.  In my head this didn't sound labor intensive...I know how does that not sound like a lot of work...yeah, it was.  Although it was quite a bit of work, I love how it turned out. And I really didn't stray from how the card looked in my head, which is rare. Usually I have this grand idea that changes as I put my idea into action.  Does anyone else do that?

If anyone is wondering how I made such perfect circles, I used 2 different size circle punches and created a swiss cheese looking template on a peace of printer paper - get the pun.  When in doubt at least it made me laugh :)

Have a great day!

Supplies:
Paper: Basic Black and Kraft cardstock (SU!); Solar White 80lb Cardstock (Neenah)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Momento)
Stamps: Retro Style (Unity Stamps Co.)
Extras: Embroidery Floss, 3/4" and 1" circle punches (EK Success); Copics

Genuine

I just had to participate with the Finding Inspiration in a Layout challenge over at the Moxie Fab blog.  I think it is a fabulous idea!  I loved the background of this scrapbook page (pictured below) with the large blocks of patterned paper, stitching, distressed strips, and ribbon tying everything together.  I emulated those techniques and layout in my card above using some Cosmo Cricket Boyfriend paper, ribbon, and chipboard.  I added a little extra distress around the two largest block of patterned paper using the PTI tea dye duo inks and used two layers of sloppy stitching for this card.  I also used PTI's woodgrain impression plate and the chamomile tea dye ink to bring out the woodgrain a bit more.  Other then a little extra texture I really stuck to the base layout of the scrapbook page.

I am also super excited.  1)  I had a great run tonight 4 mi with a 10:11 min/mile pace.  That is pretty quick for me especially in this humidity and 2)  I made the Schlosser Designs DT (announcement here).  I think #2 might be part of the reason I ran so well...I am quite over the moon about being on their DT starting in August!!

Supplies:
Paper: River Rock cardstock (SU!); Boyfriend Collection Patterned Paper (Cosmo Cricket)
Ink: Basic Black (SU!); Tea Dye Duo Ink (PTI)
Stamps: Garden Variety Stamp Set (Unity)
Extras: Boyfriend Collection Ribbon and Chipboard (Cosmo Cricket); Woodgrain Impression Plate (PTI); Sewing Machine

Adventure

My friend's mom is being forced into retirement after 25 years. She is not sure what she is going to do and says maybe travel the world. This will be a change for her and of course she is upset at being forced to retire. I decided to cheer her up a little and make her a fun, light-hearted card using the latest 2S4Y sketch. I pulled out my new MME Love Me Do paper line and matching Copics. Once I put it together I added stitching around the entire.

Supplies:
Paper: Solar White (Neenah); Patterned Paper (MME) Ink: Tuxedo Black (Momento) Stamps: Hodgepodge of Happiness (Unity Stamp Co.) Extras: Hodgepodge Hardware (SU!); Copics; Ribbon (Target Club Wedd); Gold Paint Pen (Zigg)

A Cup of Happy

I have been so busy lately. Getting caught up at working, getting sick, and having a B-day. On Friday I saw 500 Days of Summer, a must see! Then on the weekend I went with Janie and Marisa to a White Sox game. Go, go White Sox! You have to see this video below (Marisa is a turncoat...and she calls herself a Royals Fan). Just kindin', love ya! This video makes me giggle everytime I watch it. Janie is the camera operator/interviewer, Marisa is being interviewed, and I am in the background giggling (every now and again you can see the side of my face in the camera). Such a busy month, but fun! Thought I would let you know where I was.

I just finished halfway putting together a Halloween card. I am almost done, but I needed to step away. I will post that later. Here is a card I made for my friend, Joan, on her b-day. I used some goodies from Crate Paper and my new Unity stamp set. It is so versatile and I can't wait to use the pie! I stamped the cup on kraft and then colored it in with copics to create an earth tone feel.

Happy Monday....okay as happy as the beginning of a work week can be.

Supplies:
Paper: Kraft cardstock (SU!); patterned paper (Crate Paper)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Momento)
Stamps: Hodgepodge of Happiness (Unity)
Extras: Markers (Copics); cardstock dies (Crate Paper)

Tonight is the Night....

of edits! I revamped my Dawn McVey color challenge card HERE so make sure you check that out. I also created the card labeled below last night and brought it into work, because it seemed off. Randee looked at it and said "it would be cute with some ribbon here". So, what did I do? I went home used my last bit of my cool Caribbean-esque Target ribbon and made the After photo. Love it! It is amazing what a little ribbon can do.

Before

And After

This was the first card I made coloring with Copics on Kraft and it will definitely not be the last. I loved how it turned out. At first it looks a little muddy, but then the color pops once the ink dries. I also need to note that adore this new stamp set I purchased this past week end...love it!

Have a great night! I am off to schedule some post while I am on vaca ~whooo hooo~. I leave for Seattle on Friday and I can't wait. I haven't been their in a few years, and since I was last there my cousin and her hubby had a baby girl...well, I guess not so much a bab since she is 1 1/2 now! Time flies. Last time we went out we stayed in the San Juans on Fourth of July and had a Sunset Cruise. Here are a few pics from the last trip. I know a wordy post tonight, but my enthusiasm got the best of me! Sorry.

Supplies:
Paper: Kraft (SU!); Patterned Paper (K&Co)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Momento); Black marker (SU!)
Stamps: Hodgepodge stamp set (Unity); Sentiment (SU!)
Extras: Ribbon (Target Club Wedd); Copics

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)

Urban Prarie Lamp

This is one more card I created using a Unity Stamp Co. set I borrowed from Randee. I paper pieced the lamp shade and added a little baubley bling. I also added a little stitching around the lamp on the grid patterned paper (you can barely see it). The edges of the white and sorbet cardstock are inked with black ink to make the image pop.

Supplies:
Paper: Baja Blue and Basic Black cardstock (SU!); watercolor paper (Archiver's); Raspberry Sorbet cardstock (PTI); Urban Prarie Patterned Paper (Basic Grey)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Momento)
Stamps: Shine On (Unity Stamp Co.)
Extras: Border Punch (Martha Stewart); Bling (Mark Richards); Large Corner Punch (EK Success)

You Light Up My Life

I created this 4.25 x 4.25 inch card using one of the super fun sentiments from the Shine On set. I decided to really let the fun sentiment shine (ba-dump-bump) by adding a little silver hardware around the sentiment accented with a patterened ribbon. I would normally not use a patterened ribbon with patterned, but I loved how this turned out. I had already cut and colored one of the lamps, so I placed it on the inside of the card.

The Inside:

Supplies;
Paper: Patterned Paper (Basic Grey); Sahara Sand cardstock (SU!); Raspberry Fizz cardstock (PTI); Solar White (Neenah)

Ink: Momento Black

Stamps: Shine On (Unity Stamp Co.)

Extras: Raspberry Fizz Polka Dot Ribbon (PTI); Silver Styled Hardware (SU!); Blue Bling (Kaiser); Fushia and Orange markers (Copic)

You Clearly Shine

I had more fun with Randee's stamps and created this fun acetate card using Shine On by Unity Stamp Company. I have a few more cards to post using this set from my weekend with the gals, plus I stamped more images to color with my copics to make more fun cards. I am such a sucker for a play on words, which is just one of the many reasons I love this set.

The Inside:

Supplies:

Paper: Bitty Dots Patterned Paper (PTI); Solar White cardstock (Neenah); acetate from my stash

Ink: Momento Black and Versarmk

Stamps: Shine On (Unity Stamp Co.)

Extras: White Detail Embossing Powder (SU!); Pink Bling (Hero Arts); Black Bling (JoAnn's); Blue Bling (Kaiser); Teal family of markers - can't remember the exact color I used (Copics); Aquamist Polytwill Ribbon (PTI); Scallop Die (Spellbinders)

Sunny Day Turtle

It is a perfect day outside today. . .Sunny and bright, but not too hot. I got together with Janie (visit her blog here) and Marisa (visit her blog here) this weekend to get in a little crafting in. I was quite productive and have at least a week of posts from our good time. Here is a card I finished this morning using a Unity set I had on loan from Randee. Check her blog out here.

In other news....I was so excited last night to see that I made Dawn's Spotlight with my Butterfly card here! YEAH!!!

Off to walk to pooch and enjoy the weather.

Supplies:

Paper: Patterened Paper (American Crafts); Tangerine Tango and Sahara Sand cardstock (SU!)

Ink: Tuxedo Black (Momento)

Stamps: Unity Stamps

Extras: Scallop Circle Die (Sizzix); letters (American Crafts); Ribbon (SU!); Button (PTI); YG03, YG06, YG91, YG95, YG97, E35