HOORAY!!!

Long time, no blog. It has been a busy one around here.  I started training for another half marathon, revamped the craft room including new cabinets and storage solutions (photos this month - I swear), been playing with my new iPhone, and you can't forget about the job.  Well, that is my month in a nutshell.

Now onto a craty project -- I finally got a chance to play in the craftroom (as opposed to organizing) and made a masculine card using the Basic Grey/Hero Arts Paper and Stamps.  I stamped the ticket on patterned paper and vanilla, fussy cut the tickets, layered them, and then popped the top ticket up using foam tape. This card is so me - bright, fun, and a clean and simple design.

I also do need to share these fun photos I took with my phone this morning.  Yes, it is April 18th and it snowed and stuck to the ground.  Where is Spring?

Happy Monday and I won't stay a stranger - or at least try not to.

Supplies
Paper: Vanilla Cardstock (Neenah), PS635 - Life of the Party 6x6 (HeroArts and BasicGrey)
Ink: Early Espresso (Stampin' Up!)
Stamps: CL514 - Life of the Party Birthday (HeroArts and BasicGrey)
Extras: Lemon Tart, Ocean Tides, Chocolate Buttons (PTI); Twine (Studio Calico)

HB Woodgrain

This is my last post for my Moxie Fab Week.  The Getting Daring with Decorative Tape Challenge on the Moxie Fab Blog, is ending on March 7th, so I thought I would give it a go one more time.  This time I used strips of washi tape to create a border on my card in place of patterned paper.  I wanted to ruffle the fabric tape, but let's face it ruffles are not very masculine.  Instead of ruffles I added wrinkles to the fabric tape to keep it masculine, but still add a little bit of texture.  I added a little patterned paper and some corrugated letters by Jillibean Soup that I misted with brown and bronze mists.  This was a very quick card - very easy, but I think it a fun masculine card.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Supplies:
Paper: Watercolor cardstock (Archiver's); Patterned paper from Brook collection (Crate Paper)
Stamps: None
Ink: None
Extras: Corrugated Letters (Jillibean Soup); Brown and Bronze Mists (Maya Road); Washi Tapes (mt deco); Fabric tape (e2 Daily); Wood Veneer (SU!)

HB2U

I couldn't resist participating in the Caardvark's B-day Challenge, again.  I was inspired by this card sketch at Got Sketch and my scrap pile.  I pulled out a bunch of my lovely advertisement cards from Studio Calico and few other small scraps in my bin and went to town.  I love how the back is distressed and antiquey.  It makes the blue thickers pop!

S

Supplies:
Paper: Green patterned paper (SU!); Orange Yellow Grid paper (Sassafras); Real Cherry Veneer (Creative Imaginations); Cream Cardstock (Neenah)
Stamps: None
Ink: Tea Dye Duo (PTI)
Extras: Noteworthy Spriral Journal (Making Memories), Foam Thickers (American Crafts); Pinking Scissors (Fiskars); Buttons (PTI and Making Memories); 

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

Dude, You Rock

It was my boss's big 5-0 today, so we streamered his office this morning and had a very talented coworker make a cake.  It was awesome - it was a Viagra bottle, with undies underneath it, and little blue pills everywhere and a doctor script.  I will have to post the photo of the cake tomorrow (so don't forget to check back).

I made the card for his big day using Sketch 173 over at the CPS blog.  The papers are all Basic Grey and I added a few stamped touches with the sentiment and some medallions.  This should have been a quick card, but I had a dickens of a time getting the paper at the bottom to be equally spaced but not look too, too - well you know - square (for lack of a better word).  Not too much left to say.  I have to head out and walk the dog and snuggle in bed with a new book.  It is my first using my new nook.  So far I love it.  I am being such a bookwork in 2010 (so proud of myself).

Have a good one!

Supplies:

Paper: Basic Gray Cardstock (SU!); Oliver 6x6 patterned papers (Basic Grey)

Ink: Going Grey and Basic Black Classic Ink (SU!)

Stamps: Signature Greetings and Giga Guidelines (PTI)

Extra: Black Glitter Thickers (American Crafts)

Happy Belated Father's Day

 
Wow, my vacation really flew - it always does!  I meant to post this before I left, but I never got a photo before I left.  My dad is a true handy man, a craftsman, and I wanted to make a card that reflected him.  I used cherry veneer, nails from my tool box, a little measure tape ribbon, and distressed up some MM fabric letters.

I am also super excited to say that I made the COTW over at 2 Sketches 4 You for the card in the previous post!  I have been loving the PTI chair sets.

Enjoy your day!

Supplies:
Paper: Real Cherry Veneer (Creative Imaginations); Not Quite Navy Cardstock (SU!)
Ink: None
Stamps: None
Extras: Measuring Tape Ribbon (Jo Ann's); Tag and Letters (Making Memories); Nails; Sewing Machine

Calvin - SG16

This super cute image is from the Character Cafe - check out there store HERE. If you want to pick up Calvin go HERE. He is a digi image and there are 4 of him in the set (one is not enough). I decided he looked like a Springer Spaniel, so that is how I colored him. I popped him up and then popped up his little buddy with some foam dimensionals. I can't say enough about this beautiful set (I am swooning over it) and printed up 2 sheets of him. He was easy to color and love how he turned out. - his nose even has a little pink in it!

Close up of his cute mug:

I do have to give my self a woot, since I used some old gingham and a bone paperclip I picked up at least 3 years ago - and I used it! I have never used the paperclips, not because I was hoarding but I forgot I had it. The gingham I haven't used in a few years, mostly because I no longer love it.


Here is the sketch - I took liberties with the center panel by using 2 horizontal sections rather than 2 vertical sections. I created this by stamping and sponging on white cardstock to create a living room for Calvin and his best buddy to lay on. The circles are the dot spot and with a little extra pop with the paper clip embellishment.

Make sure you check out what the other gals created and stop by the Sketch Girl blog to play along --The Character Cafe is offering a $10 gift certificate to her store to the SG16 winner.

Amber
Annie
Bonnie
Harriet
Jennie
Jessica
Julie
Randee
Sara
Teresa Kline (April Guest Designer)

Supplies:

Paper: Baja Breeze, Basic Black cardstock (SU!); Solar White (Neenah)

Ink: Mellow Moss, River Rock, Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Basic Black Classic Ink (SU!)

Stamps: Friends Till the End, Dot Spot, Background: Tin Types (PTI); Woodgrain (SU!); Calvin Digi Image ()

Extras: Dog Bone paperclip (from my stach); Mellow Moss Gingham Ribbon (SU!); Copic Markers; Glaze Pen (Sakura)

HB Margarita

April was a busy man birthday month, so here is another manly card. I made the background by stamping the margarita from A Muse. I did minimal coloring to the margaritas using a few YG copics and a white marker that was almost out of juice, which gave the margaritas a foggy appearance rather than being too opaque. I had drew the circle and sentiment. This is clean and simple, yet a fun way to celebrate the year that it is legal to drink.

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:
Paper: Kraft and Not Quite Navy cardstock (SU!); Solar White cardstock (Neenah); Green Stack (DCWV)
Stamps: Margarita (A Muse)
Ink: Cocoa (Momento)
Extras: White marker and Thickers (AC); Circle Punches (EK Success and Fiskars); White Ribbon (SU!); Black Marker (Zigg)

Technique-y

Sorry I have been an absent blogger. Life has gotten in the way. I have been keeping up with the running and with Easter this last weekend. Any who......

Here is my Technique-y card. I needed to make a b-day card for my boyfriend's uncle so I decided to keep with the man colors and go techniquey. It is not really masculine, but it is not feminine either. I figured to go with a technique, since he won't be the one keeping the card...his stampin' wife will. I started out by stamping the text background in peeled paint. I embossed the leaf images over the text using clear embossing powder. Then I rubbed peeled paint, broken china, and shabby shutters distress ink over the entire image and spritzed the entire image with a little water. That is about all on this card.

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:
Paper: Soft Suede cardstock (SU!); White cardstock (Neenah); Teal cardstock (Archiver's)
Stamps: Turning a New Leaf and Background Text (PTI); Sentiment (SU!)
Ink: Basic Black (SU!); Peeled Paint, Shabby Shutters, Broken China (Ranger Ink); Versamark (Tsukineko)
Extras: Hodgepodge Hardware (SU!); Ribbon (From my Stash); Clear Embossing Powder (Ranger Ink)

CAS Man Card

I made this clean and simple man card last week. I tend to make these cards as I need them, but I should really keep a stash of non-feminine b-day cards. I will work on that right along with the keeping my craft room neat and tidy...one of these days. I have a great weekend.

It is looking like spring today, 50 and Sunny, so I am going to head out for a run.

Supplies: Paper: Sahara Sand (SU!), Bitty Box PP (PTI)
Ink: Aqua Mist, Ripe Avocado, Snow White, and Spring Moss (PTI); Tuxedo Black (Momento)
Stamps: Dot Spot and Fillable Frames 1 (PTI)
Extras: Designer Label Punch (SU!)

Dear Friend

I made this card last month when I was with Marisa and Janie. I looked over and saw this super cute card Janie made. HERE is Janie's card that I used for inspiration.

I color and cut out this cute little dear, cut out the stamped sentiment, and then pop them up with some dimensionals. I left a lot of white space or in this case green space and outlined the green with marker. The background checker is a piece of paper from my scrap stash that I stamped at some point in the last year and never used, until now. I didn't even have to cut it down. I mounted in on pale pink and then on the white.

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:
Paper: Wild Wasabi and Pink Pirouette cardstock (SU!); Solar White cardstock (Neenah)
Stamps: Deer and Sentiment (Hero Arts); Retro Background (PTI)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Momento)
Extras: Copics; Black Marker (Zigg)

A Brief Note

This is shockingly my second post for today, so don't forget to scroll down. I have so many cards to share because I just had a creative day with Katie, plus I still have cards to share from my creative weekend with Janie and Marisa, and there are so many excellent challenges going on. Be on the look out for quite a few postings from me in the next couples weeks.

I create this card using 2 stamps I bought this summer while I was in Seattle and hadn't inked yet. Yes, I visited the A Muse store. It was fabulous...so fabulous I included a couple photos of the shop. They were very friendly and helpful, and next time I am there I will definitely stop at the shop. I made the brief note card for the color challenge going on in the A Muse Lounge by using Papaya, Sky Blue, and Orange Crush.

Supplies:
Paper: Kraft cardstock (SU!); Solar White (Neenah); Bitty Box PP (PTI)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Momento)
Stamps: Image and Sentiment (A Muse)
Extras: Copics, Stitching (Katie's uber-fab sewing machine); Zig Marker

Where Did My Time Go?

This week has been a blur. I have been in early and staying late all week at work, went to Virginia on a business trip on Wed and returned late on Friday, baby shower on Saturday, and my dad's b-day dinner today....phew....I am dog tired! Needless to say there has not been too much time for creating. I will have my sketch girl creation posted tomorrow evening so check back. Until then here is my dad's b-day card and the baby shower card. Both of the main images are embossed on craft. I inked the edges with Snow White ink for both cards and colored the deer by sponging the image with ink. I also made the bitty box paper less symmetric by stamping the patterned paper with a wood grain stamp. Have a good night!

Baby Shower Card Supplies:
Paper: Bitty Dot and Bitty Box Patterned Paper (PTI); Kraft cardstock (SU!)
Ink: Snow White ink (PTI); Versamark
Stamps: Nursery Necessities (SU!)
Extras: Embossing Powder (Stampendous); Buttons (Autumn Leaves); Scallop Punch (EK Success); Corner Chomper; Black Pear (Mark Richards)

Deer Card Supplies:
Paper: Bitty Box Patterned Patterned Paper and Ripe Avocado cardstock (PTI); Kraft and Chocolate Chip Cardstock (SU!)
Ink: Snow White (PTI); Versamark; Cocoa Brown (Momento); Mellow Moss and Soft Sky (SU!)
Stamps: Wood Grain and Noble Deer (SU!)
Extras: Hemp and Library Clip (SU!); Antique Rust Embossing Powder (Ranger Ink)

Game Over

I am back from my Holiday Blog Break! I hope everyone had a very Happy Holiday and a Fantastic New Year. My 2010 resolution is to post 2-3 times per week and get back to participating in more challenges. So to kick off the year here is a card I created yesterday.

I made this card for my boyfriend's brother-in-law's 30th Birthday!b He enjoys video games and would appreciate the humer (I hope). After the card was made and envelope ready, Mike had the brilliant idea to record the sound that plays when Mario dies and have it play inside the card when it is opened. Here is the sound bite I am talking about:

Mario Dies sound bite Mario sound bites

Supplies:
Paper: Basic Gray cardstock (SU!); Patterned Paper (Boyfriend from Cosmo Cricket)
Ink: None
Stamps: None
Extras: Chipboard and Rub-ons (Boyfriend from Cosmo Cricket); Black Metalic nailheads (JoAnn's)

Sketch Girls Challenge #8

Wow 2 weeks have passed so quickly and it is time for another sketch girl challenge! I won this fabulous boyfriend collection at the Moxie Fab Blog on WCMD (Thank you Cosmo Cricket and Cath!) and knew I had to use it as soon as possible. I also figured you could use a little break from the Halloween and Christmas *wink*. The hardest part about making this card is picking only a few items from the boyfriend collection to use. As I was going through the collection and making my card I got a fun 80's song stuck in my head....hahaha! In case you don't know which song I could possibly get stuck in my head while making this card watch the video. I crack my self up sometimes. Have a happy Friday -- TGIF!!!!

Don't forget to stop by the Sketch Girl Blog to see what the other Sketch Girls created and to play along using this sketch. Don't forget you can flip it on its side or even upside down like I did.

Supplies:
Paper: Spring Moss cardstock Bitty Box patterned paper (PTI); The Boyfriend Elements (Cosmo Cricket)
Stamps: None
Ink: None
Extras: The Boyfriend Chipboard and Cardstock sticker (Cosmo Cricket)
Holy cow I just realized I didn't even use ink on this card!

Sketch Girls Challenge #5

It is that time again...for another Sketch Girl challenge. For this challenge I created this fun Bot card. You know how I love puns, so I had to use another one. I picked up 3 robots with sentiments at the Scrapbook Expo in St. Charles this past August. I giggled when I bought them, and the sentiments still make me laugh. The sentiment is normally straight, but I curved it when I placed it on the block to curve around the edge of the circle. I mounted the Bot on Tangerine cardstock that was cut in a circle and then cut out notches to make a gear. The other gear is chipboard that I painted orange.

Stop by the Sketch Girl blog to play along and hop on over to the other girl's blogs to check out their work using the links in the far left column or at the Sketch Girl Blog. Happy hopping!

Supplies:
Paper: Sahara Sand, Tangerine Tango (SU!); Solar White (Neenah); Patterned Paper (Sassafras))
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Momento); Basic Black Marker (SU!)
Stamps: Robot stamp and Setiment (Storage Units, Ink & More)
Extras: Copics; Ribbon (Basic Grey); Buttons (Making Memories); Chipboard (Maya Road); Pearls (Mark Richards)

Sketch Girls Challenge #3

It is time again for the next Sketch Girl Challenge! I created this card using Annie B's sketch below. I just love square cards and of course THICKERS! I might have mentioned that once or twice *wink*. I started my card with the patterned paper, I found the patterned paper adhered together in a square in my unfinished projects bin. I started it and then decided I wanted to change the proportions. I distressed my patterned paper reminant and added a little ribbon. I distressed a journaling tag, added a little circle of cardstock, adhered this to the patterned paper, and then added the letters on top of everything.

This was quick and easy, plus I always need masculine cards. I never have them around when I need them; I can't help it I love to make girly cards. Click HERE to play along!

Sketch #3

Don't forget to stop by and see what the rest of the DT created:
Alyssa
Bonnie
Chris
Eve
Harriet
Jennie
Jessica
Julie
Katie
Leigh Ann
Randee
Sara

Supplies:
Paper: Kraft and Not Quite Navy cardstock (SU!); Spring Moss cardstock (PTI); Patterned Paper (DCWV)
Ink: Tea Dye Ink Duo
Stamps: None
Extras: Thickers (American Crafts); Ribbon (Autumn Leaves); Tag (K&Co); Circle Punch (SU!)

Just Chillin'

Father's Day (Belated)

Happy Birthday

I love the Making Memories just chillin' paper. I used a sheet of the patchwork paper from the Boy collection to make a masculine Father's day and B-day card. I love the fact that all of the fun patterns are all on one sheet.


For the Father's day card all I did was cut a strip from the patchwork paper and it looks like a mixed several patterns all on my own (I love easy). I added some PTI buttons and a sentiment to finish it off. -- I know I am a procrastinator and finished my Father's day card the day we visited and didn't mail it on father's day. What can I say...I need the pressure. ha!

I still had the paper out on my desk, so I cut out the pattern squares and created a patterned paper background. I stamped and punched out stars, added a button, and that was it. Quick and easy, but it looks more time consuming. I am sure you will see this fun paper again!


Supplies:
Paper: Patterned Paper (Making Memories); Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, and Sahara Sand cardstock (SU!); Textured White Cardstock (Archiver's)
Ink: Chocolate Chip and Pumpkin Pie (SU!); Ripe Avocado and Spring Moss (PTI)
Stamps: Happy Father's Day (SU!); Stars and Sentiment (PTI)
Extras: Buttons (PTI); Star Punches (SU!);

Wish Big

I picked up this super cute, star stamp set from PTI more than a month ago and have yet to play with it! I just love this set. It can be masculine (like this card), feminine, for a baby, for a grad...on a house with a mouse. I guess what I am saying is it is super-versatile. I used a sketch from the CPS blog (CPS122) for the layout. I just move the inside box to the left because I wanted to use the swirl stamp on top of the patterned paper, and the swirl looked better in that direction.

Supplies:
Paper: Patterned Paper (We R Memory Keepers); Tangerine Tango and Kraft (SU!); Solar White (Neenah)
Ink: Tangerine Tango and Basic Gray (SU!); Ocean Tides (PTI)
Stamps: Star Prints (PTI)
Extras: Ribbon (Basic Grey); Star Punches (SU!); Label Die (Quickutz)

With Sympathy - SFYTT

I needed to make a quick sympathy card for a co-worker and I didn't have one on hand. I couldn't think of a quicker way to get one done than using a sketch. I used this week's sketch from Jen del Muro. Here is my interpretation of the sketch. I used Versamark to stamp the leaf on the Spring Moss cardstock and to distress the paper.

Supplies:

Paper: Textured Basic Gray and Basic Black cardstock (SU!); Spring Moss cardstock (PTI); Cream cardstock (Neenah)

Ink: Versamark; Spring Moss (PTI)

Stamps: Mega Mixed Messages (PTI); Pocket Silhouettes (SU!)

Extras: Nestabilties Dies (Spellbinders); Ribbon (Target Club Wedd); Black Embossing Powder (SU!); Pewter Bling (Kaiser)