Thursday, February 25, 2010

Mini Notes

I made these mini notes some time back for a friend. The idea is not original with me, but came from my friend when I visited her the beginning of this month. (Here  and here are  her post about the ones she made).
These are very fast and easy to make since they use the small pictures off the backs of calendars.
Supplies used:
  • Red/Green/Tan/Black Cardstock
  • Textile/Swiss Dots Embossing Folders
  • Kitty Stamps (Studio G)
  • Black/White  Embossing Powder
  • MS Heart Border punch
  • Fleur De Lis border punch

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

I Challenge You -- Fancy Corners Mini Embossing Folders

For the challenge this week I chose using the Fancy Corners Mini Embossing Folders.  I'm not sure I've used them but once. Since they're small they have always been harder for me to know what to do with them.  I thought the challenge would be good for me, and also give me some new ideas for them if I challenged my friend as well.  Without further ado --- here are my creations for this week.
Supplies: Tall Watercolor Flower (Hampton Art Stamps), Purple Ribbon, Chalks, Pink/Green/Yellow Crayola Markers, Butterfly stickers, and of course Fancy Corners Embossing Folder
The inspiration for this card came from here
Supplies: Flower petals, dew drop, glitter, paper piercer, felt tip pen, and of course Fancy Corners Embossing Folder
 Supplies: White/Green cardstock, Wide black/white checked ribbon, Swiss Dots embossing folder, blue/purple ribbon, two gold flower charms, Crayola marker, Organic Flourish Embossing Borders, and of course Fancy Corners Embossing Folder
 Supplies: White/Purple cardstock, flower punch, hole punch, butterfly punch, butterfly pattern, crochet flower, heart button, purple fiber, wire, scallop scissors, and of course Fancy Corners Embossing Folder
The inspiration for this card came from here
 Supplies: Butterfly Stamp (Impression Obsession), Pearlustre Saphire Embossing powder, Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, Organic Flourish Embossing Borders,and of course Fancy Corners Embossing Folder
 Supplies: White/pink/green cardstock, hat stamp (Unfortunately I don't know any details -- it's not on the stamp), dew drops, organic flourish embossing borders, sentiment printed on computer, and of course Fancy Corners Embossing Folder
It's almost impossible for me to pick a favorite this time.  The only one I'm not overly fond of is the first one - seems something is still missing.  I enjoyed myself doing these cards, though several of them went through quite a few revisions (i.e. I put one thing on and ripped it off -- tried another -- ripped that off too etc. etc.) before they were complete.  I think I used all four of the mini folders at least once, and along the way figured out what to do with that beautiful butterfly stamp. (It comes on a block with three others and they almost never looked right just inked.  When I hit upon the idea of embossing them -- that did the trick.  Have a feeling I'll be using that simple/easy card pattern quite a bit in the future!)
Now you can go over to my friend's blog and check out her creations.  Be sure to leave a nice comment for her while your there.
Till next week -- ta ta! 

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Turtle Birthday

A simple birthday card I made for my nephew, Jeffrey.  (Side note: it will be a little late getting to him, so the turtle is extra appropriate!)
Supplies used:
  • Clip art from here
  • Dew Drops
  • Metallic Bic Mark Its (colored dew drops)
  • Crayola Markers
  • Sentiment from here
  • ??? Embossing Folder
  • Circle/Scallop Nestabilities
  • Misc. Paper Scraps

Monday, February 22, 2010

Cat Card

This card was created for a cat and book lover.  I've had this stamp(Kitty tiles - Hampton Art) for quite some time (one of those $1 at Big lots deals), but have never been quite sure what to do with it.  Inspiration finally struck and I used my versa mark and chalks to color it.  The right side of the card is a detachable bookmark (image from the back of a calendar).
The card is for my husband who turns the BIG 30 today!
Thought I'd share the giant chocolate chip cookie I made him as well (he's not a cake lover so I usually do either pie or a big cookie).
Happy Birthday to the Sweetest Man Alive!

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Cards from Friends

Since I've used up all of my previously created (before this week) projects on this weeks posts, and since I'm
having a major battle with my TMJ (you know it's bad when you spend more time holding your head than your scissors and can't even manage to color an image without pain shooting up your arm!)-- this post will not be about what I have created, but rather what some of my friends have created and sent me!
One thing I love about cardmaking is that there are so many different styles and each person has their own unique style.  I love all the different styles and have tried my hand at a lot of them.  If I were to define my style it would probably be "pile it on" as I never know when to quit adding things!
That being said ...... here are three different cards created by three different people in the last three (or five) years. Though I'm known to clean things out and pitch anything not used in the last year, one thing I NEVER throw away is a homemade card from a friend.  I enjoyed browsing through my collection to find these, and enjoyed re-reading the sweet notes inside just as much. Here's to three great ladies who made three sweet cards!

Hopefully today will be better (TMJ wise) and I'll be able to share something of my own by tomorrow!

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

I Challenge You - Butterflies

 
My friend, Christa, picked the theme for this week.  As you can already tell it was Butterflies!
Here are my butterfly creations:
 
Trying to get the "gears" turning, so I started out simple. This was the first card I made...a quilled butterfly
Supplies: 
  • Blue/Pink/Yellow/White cardstock
  • Circle/Scallop Nestabilities
  • Stylized Flowers Embossing Folder
  • Quilling Tool
 Another quilled card -- this time the flowers are quilled and the butterflies punched.
Supplies:
  • Green/White/Pink/Blue/Yellow Cardstock
  • Quilling tool
  • Mini Sewing Machine
  • Butterfly punch
  • Swiss Dots Embossing Folder
  • ???? Embossing Folder
  • White Fibers
 An extra simple shape card. I was still in "getting started" mode here.
Supplies:
  • Pattern from an old Paper Crafts Magazine
  • 1/2 Sheet Amplified Monster Ballad (American Crafts) -- Who comes up with these names???
  • Spread your wings stamp - Studio G
  • Black Embossing Powder
  • Felt tip pen
  • Markers
 I made this card around the sentiment
Supplies:
  • Purple/White/Black/Green cardstock
  • Circle/Scallop/Blossom Nestabilities
  • Script Embossing Folder
  • Patterned Bugs Clear Stamp Set (Inkadinkadoo)
  • Dew Drops
  • Chalks
  • Pink Embossing Powder
 I saved my two favorite for last (as usual!). This was such a fun card to make.  Everything on it is freehand cut, save for the flowers/butterflies which were punches.  It was so fun to design and make this cute little garden gate -- the entrance to the "Butterfly Garden."  Here's the inside of the gate:
Last, but not least......my favorite card....
Another very fun card to make.  I started with the black butterfly base (cut from a pattern) and added a dictionary page to that.  Traced around the edges with a pink marker, added a scallop "flower" to the center, crochet flower on top of that, and heart button (with pink fiber tied in it) on top of that.
The card base is a piece of white cardstock brayered over with pink and green ink.  Then covered with versa mark and Kaleidoscope embossing powder added to the top.
Wide lace, pink gingham ribbon, green polka-dot ribbon across the bottom and a little spring tag (Craft smart stamp) popped up with dimensionals -- edged with dew drops. 
To make the faux stitching I used a paper piercing tool and pierced holes around the tag, then I traced around it with a fine tip felt pen.  So much fun!!!

I really think this theme could be revisited sometime as I ran out of steam before I ran out of ideas!

Now you can visit Christa's blog and see her Butterfly creations for this "I Challenge You" Wednesday.....enjoy!

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Birthday Purse

Another Birthday Purse I made for a friend's daughter.  I love this paper --- brown and pink is one of my favorite combos. Did that same lace/crimper thing along the edge of the purse flap....love how it makes it look girly/lacy.
Supplies used:
  • 1 Sheep Romance Love Fool  (American Crafts)
  • Pink Cardstock
  • Paper Crimper
  • MS Border Lace punch
  • Scallop Nestabilities
  • Dew Drop
  • Polka Dot Ribbon
  • Magnets (to hold the flap down)

Monday, February 15, 2010

A Valentine Gift

I made this pocket up as a hostess gift for my good friend who hosted our homeschool Valentine party last Friday.  She's a fellow stamper, so what better gift could I give her than a new set of stamps?  (I actually got her the Lanterns Inkadinkado set, but I put one of my sets in to photograph the pocket.)
Thought I'd include a little photo tutorial on those heart flowers for one of my readers that learns best by visuals!
I started out with four punched hearts
 
Folded those in half


 Glued them together (back to back)  like this


The finished "flower"
Supplies used:
  • White cardstock 5 1/4 x 11 scored and folded at 4 1/4
  • Green Cardstock (Grass free-hand cut)
  • Stem/Leaves - Cuttlekids die
  • Small Butterfly Punch
  • Sparkle Flouish (Scrappy Cat)
  • Versa Mark
  • Green/Blue Chalks
  • Swiss Dots Embossing Folder

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Last Two Valentines


Inside
Two last Valentines Cards before the actual day --- The first is for MY Valentine!  It's not a hard task to shop for a gift for my husband -- he loves history/books/music and other audio presentations -- his love of learning makes the list of books he'd like endless and his love of music equals that.  It's not a hard task for me to find 10 things  I love about my sweetheart -- there are many more than that!  The hard task is making my card masculine enough.  I know I've said it 100 times, but masculine cards are NOT easy for me. I finally decided on a pocket card and am pleased with the results.

Supplies:
  • Happy Valentines Day Stamp (Studio G)
  • Lip Stamp (misc. kids stamp - no details on it)
  • Mini Sewing Machine
  • Dew Drops (colored with nail polish)
  • Pocket Template here
  • Scrip Embossing Folder
  • Misc. Paper Scraps
  • Sentiment printed on computer 
The second is a valentine for the sunshine of our home -- our seven year old daughter! I made it like her daddy's and included 10 things I love about her.  The list could go on and on, but I included my top 10.
Here's the girl version: 

Friday, February 12, 2010

Card Making Gift Set


Another one of these sets --- with a new twist.  Open it up to find.... a card making set.
I really like these boxes and how they open up so "big," but the contents are what leave me stumped at times. You see, I like to give gifts that won't just look pretty, but also serve a purpose to the person I plan to give them too.  What to put in all those little pockets to fit each gift recipient?  Well, this time I decided to make it a card-making kit for my sweet sister-in-law, Pam (whose birthday is today!).  Since I know she likes to scrapbook (and I think she'd enjoy card-making if she ever gave it a try), but doesn't get time to enjoy this hobby much --- I thought she might enjoy a taste of it with a kit that gives you everything you need, and lets you decide how to use it.
I embossed six cards with different embossing folders...
included six different "bands"to use on the cards in various ways (more on that on down this post)
Some sentiments and flowers
Here are a few ideas of how to use the bands and flowers -- my seven year old came up with two of them -- she's very creative!
So there you have it -- a different way to use those fold-out  stationary boxes!  Happy Birthday Pam, Hope you like it!!

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Masculine Birthday

I made this card for my Alaskan b-i-l who has a birthday later this month.  Masculine cards don't come easy, and I'm rarely 100% satisfied with them when I'm finished.  This one was an exception to that -- it was both easy and I'm pleased with the way it's turned out.
Supplies:
  • The Amazing Changing Forest Stamp Set (The Nature Co.)
  • Tree Stamp (Studio G)
  • Random Enjoy Stamp  (Stampendous)
  • Black Embossing Powder
  • Chalks
  • Circle/Scallop Nestabilities

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

I Challenge You -- Bird Theme

Welcome to week #2 of "I Challenge You." I chose birds as our theme for this week's challenge.  Here are my creations...
Card # 1
Not sure if anyone else has this problem....but when I first start a "challenge" I feel a bit paralyzed. So many ideas running through my head --- where do I start --- what do I use first --- will I have time to get them all done --- etc. etc. etc.  Well this card was a product of my "brain freeze" and I'm still not sure if I should keep it or pitch it in the trash can.  My daughter likes it, and can't understand why I'm not sure what to do with it. It's my least favorite of all the ones I made -- but I was in "trying to get started" mode.
Supplies:
  • Old Music
  • Provo Craft Flower Die Cuts
  • Martha Stewart Bird Stamp
  • Martha Stewart Lace punch
  • Crayola markers
  • Misc. ink and cardstock 
 Card #2

This one doesn't exactly have a bird in the picture (unless you count the little ones on the embossed background)--- just it's nest and eggs.
Supplies: 
  • Birds and Blooms embossing folder
  • Circle/Scallop Nestabilities
  • Crayola markers
  • Clip art from here
  • Sentiment from here 
Card #3
This card is very simple and went together in minutes
Supplies:
  • Digital image from Mo's Digital Pencil -here
  • Crayola Markers
  • Circle/Scallop Nestabilities
  • Wide fabric ribbon
  • Textile embossing folder
 Card # 4
These last three cards are my favorites!  This one shouts "SPRING" to me -- it'll be here before I know it! 
Supplies:
  • Owl Garden Clear Stamps Set
  • Chalks
  • Circle/Scallop Nestabilites
  • Birds/Blooms Embossing Folder
  • Organic Borders Embossing Borders
  • Dew Drops
  • Paper Piercer
  • Scallop Scissors
Card #5
This card is for a very good friend of ours who had a birthday this month.  He likes eagles (decorates his study in them) -- I searched around till I found an eagle image I liked and created the card around that.  
Supplies:
  • Image from here (the eagle is cut out and popped with dimensionals)
  • Crayola Markers
  • Chalks
  • Circle/Scallop Nestabilities
  • Sentiment printed on my computer
  • The Amazing Changing Forest Stamp Set -- (The Nature Company)
  • Misc. Inks/Cardstock
 Card #6 -- My favorite one of all -- I really like how it turned out with the bird/sentiment popped up, and the butterflies wings folded to look like they are really flying. 

Supplies:
  • Flights of Fancy Stamps (Tim Holtz)
  • Small Butterfly Stamp (Stamp Craft)
  • Chalks
  • Black Embossing Powder
  • Versa Mark
 Now go to my friends blog (here) to see what she has created in the Bird Theme.
As always -- feel free to join the fun by leaving a comment on either of our blogs with a link to your bird creations!
Come back next Wednesday to see a new challenge.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Two For Tuesday Cards


I had the privileged of being a guest designer over at Two for Tuesday this week.  Here are the cards I created with the images Cora sent me. (I'm sure you can tell which one was my favorite!)
Supplies:
  • White/Pink Cardstock
  • Crayola markers
  • Circle Nestabilities
  •  Petite Scallop Nestabilities
  • Swiss Dots Embossing Folder
  • Inked over the dots with navy ink
  • Small snowflakes punch
  •  Gauzy ribbon
  • Hat pin done up with misc. beads
  • Stone Sticker 
  • Pink fiber  
Supplies:
  • Blue/White/Pink Cardstock
  • Crayola markers
  • Textile embossing folder
  • Paper crimper
  •  1/2 of paper doily 
  • Rose from here - printed four times and layered
  • Transparent embossing powder (on rose)
  • Tag - Provo Craft die cut
  • My Friend stamp - Studio G

    Supplies:
    • Crayola markers
    • Blue/Yellow/Green/White Cardstock
    • Flower - Provo Craft die cut
    • Leaves - Cuttlekids die cut 
    • Swiss Dots embossing folder
     Directions for yellow "lace" around picture:
    Cut two or three strips of yellow cardstock 11 inches long x 1 inch wide
    Punch with Martha Stewart lace border punch
    Run through paper crimper
    Attach around the image to form a frame of sorts - folding and "pinching" along the way
    Supplies:
    • White/Red Cardstock
    • Coastal Clear Stamp Set - (Inkadinkadoo)
    • Versa Mark
    • Chalks
    • Embossed w/Swirls Embossing Folder
    • Crayola markers