Friday, January 31, 2014

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star (Moxie Fab & Simon Says)

Yesterday we woke up to a beautiful blanket of fresh snow on the ground.  It was a wonderful way to start the day.  I think the snow makes everything look more beautiful in the winter...colors are more vibrant and everything just looks clean.  With that beautiful fresh snow in mind I knew I wanted to make a card with a lot of white and just a smidge of color.  The theme of this card was inspired by Moxie Fab's Constellations: Trendy Star Power Challenge, so I pulled out PTI's Seeing Stars stamp set and dies.  I wasn't sure if the star in the middle was sufficient for the challenge, so I sprinkled some star confetti (courtesy of Pretty Pink Posh...oh, this stuff is addicting!) on as well.  I've never had an eye for spotting them in the sky, but I'm sure we could connect these stars and come up with some constellation. :) My smidge of color was inspired by the Simon Says Anything Goes with Twine or String Challenge.  It's kind of my favorite way to use string these days.  This card is totally different than my first card for Moxie Fab's Constellation Challenge (see my other card here).  Isn't it fun that challenges have the ability to spark so many different ideas?  Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope you have a happy weekend. :)

Thursday, January 30, 2014

The Stars

Hello! Today I'm sharing a card that I made for Moxie Fab's Constellations: Trendy Star Power Challenge.  I sketched the idea for this card a several nights ago.  While I kept the basic sketch the same, this card evolved quite a bit over the few days I had to think about it before I had time to make it.  First, it represents a risk for me.  I used distress inks and a blending tool for the very first time.  Second, the purpose and recipient changed.  I stumbled upon this quote, and the more I thought about it, the more I liked it.  This card is supposed to be one of encouragement.  I did a bit of research and apparently this quote is from the novel Twilight, which I've never read, so I have no idea the context.  However, to me this quote represents a kind, gentle, encouraging reminder that there is hope and "stars" even in the blackest of times and the stars always lift my thoughts Heavenward...which I'm hoping this card will do as well.  Though I love a good view of the stars from a mountaintop, a view of the beautiful colors surrounding stars from space is absolutely incredible to me.  So I decided to create my card from that perspective.  I blended four distress inks with the blending tool, then I flicked water white watercolor on it, and finished it off with some flecks of white acrylic paint.  I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out.  I realize it isn't the typical card, but it was fun to do something different.

Sunday, January 26, 2014

CASology: Contrast...Then vs. Now

Hi!  A couple days ago I made a card for this week's challenge at CAS-ology, but I didn't have time to share it.  Though the cue card was open to your own personal interpretation, I loved the idea that most of the team members' used -- to contrast a CAS vs. a non-CAS card.  I started looking at photos from closer to the beginning of my blog and found this one (original post here).
THE OLD CARD
I remember liking it a lot when I made it, but it most definitely is not a clean and simple card.  I kept the focal point and the color palette palette the same, though I did swap out PTI's Lemon Tart for Harvest Gold, and this is my new and CAS-improved card:
I'm hoping that it's obvious that I simplified and cleaned up EVERYTHING on this card right down to the pillow. :) And the ironic part is that I am 100% certain that recipient of the first card would love this new CAS one a whole lot better.  It's so much more her.  This challenge was a blast!  Now if I could just apply this same concept with my entire house. :) There's a tad bit more time to participate (it closes Sunday afternoon), so if you get a chance, I'd highly recommend joining the fun.  Have a fabulous rest of the weekend!  ETA: I totally forgot to link up my card after I posted it...silly me!  Oh, well...it was totally worth making the card anyway.
Supplies (All PTI unless otherwise noted)
Stamps: On My Couch
Ink: Basic Gray (SU!), Harvest Gold, Raspberry Fizz

Saturday, January 25, 2014

PTI January Blog Hop: Pretty in Pink

Hello, friends!  I'm so glad to be joining in on Papertrey's "Pretty in Pink" Blog Hop today.  I'm not really a pink kind of girl, but the inspiration board was fantastic, and I had several ideas I wanted to try out for today's hop.  
Time only allowed for one card, but I'm happy that I got this one done! :) 
I combined flowers and leaves from Bigger Blooms, Birds & Blooms, and Turning a New Leaf on my project.  Even then I found myself wanting for a few other images, so I stamped some images twice, overlapping them to create some new flowers.  For example, Birds & Blooms has a 3-leaf image that I stamped twice to make a 6-petal flower.  I did a practice run on some scratch paper and ended up liking that one a bit better...funny how that happens sometimes.  Quick question before I go -- I had planned to use Raspberry Fizz on my card as my dark pink, but when I stamped it, I could hardly tell a difference between it and Hibiscus Burst.  For those of you who have both inks, is there a noticeable difference when you stamp the two colors? My Raspberry Fizz is less than a year old and I haven't used it much, but I'm wondering if maybe it's drying out and that is why the colors are looking so similar.  Any ideas?  Thanks for your help!  Happy hopping!

Supplies (all PTI unless otherwise noted)
Stamps: Bigger Blooms, Birds & Blooms, Turning a New Leaf
Cardstock: Stamper's Select White
Ink: Pink Passion, Pink Pirouette (SU!), London Fog (Memento), Hibiscus Burst 
Other: Stitched Rectangle Die (Lil' Inkers)

Monday, January 20, 2014

Heartfelt Thanks (1 Card, 4 Challenges)

It's a holiday today in the US, so my husband is home from work.  Yay!  He was super sweet and allowed me some time to craft....and take down the Christmas tree.  I know it's nearly a month after Christmas, but we were out of town for a few weeks over the holiday and didn't really get to see much of our tree.  I wasn't tired of it when we got home, so I left it up.  And to be honest, I was sad to take it down today.  I love our tree.  Okay, onto the card.  I've had some ideas mulling around in my head for a while and today they all came together.  I combined ColourQ's palette, Curtain Call's inspiration photo, Clearly Besotted's Love Challenge, and Simon Says...Emboss It to create this card.
This card started with the heart panel, which I created with a heart from Clearly Besotted's In Stitches: Christmas set.  My original idea didn't pan out, so I recreated it using the colors in ColourQ's Challenge and turned to Curtain Call for more inspiration. I decided to use my panel like a letter, and the tag  represents an envelope.  Can you see it?  (Think of an envelope that has been totally opened.)  I actually flipped the tag upside down so the embossing would show more for the Simon Says Challenge.  I added some twine and the tag with a heart to represent the parcel on the far right in Curtain Call's photo.
And actually my layout is loosely based on the Curtain Call's photo as well. (Cascading down from the left: red tag = red flowers on top left, stacked panel and sentiments = books/parcels, red heart tag = red heart at the bottom right)  The final touch was some super fun heart confetti from the Pretty Pink Posh Store.  I can't stop using the goodies the super sweet Paulina sent me.  Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you have a wonderful week!
Supplies
Stamps: In Stitches: Christmas (Clearly Besotted), Mat Stack 3 Collection, Sew Simple Borders (PTI)
Paper: Pure Poppy, Stamper's Select White (PTI)
Dies: Tag Sale #3, Tiny Tags, Script Alphabet (PTI)
Other: Heart Confetti (Pretty Pink Posh), Twine (Lawn Fawn)

Saturday, January 18, 2014

Simon Says CAS-ual "Mondays"

I'm back for my 5th and final post today.  This card was full of surprises.  When I first saw WPlus9's Monday Mood Board #25 I was totally stumped...and I stayed without any ideas all week long until I saw CAS-ual Fridays Color Block Challenge.  I realized that I just needed to go literal with the Monday Mood Board colors, so I pulled out a bunch of PTI papers and WPlus9's Strictly Sentiments 1, and this card was the result.  It's a color combo that I would have never put together myself, but I really ended up loving how the card turned out.  The colors also reminded me of the Simon Says Monday Challenge logo, so I'm linking this card up to their "Anything Goes" Challenge.

XOXO (Love Letters)

I was having so much fun with my new sequins from Pretty Pink Posh (thanks again, Paulina!), so I made another card last night.  This card was inspired by Curtain Call's Love Letter Challenge.  I took the challenge literally and used letters that represent an expression of love. :)  I cut each letter one at a time using PTI's Upper Script Alphabet dies, popped up the panel, and placed sequins behind each letter.  
I know I went really clean and graphic with my card, but Curtain Call's inspiration photo has lots of lovely texture to it, so I wanted to make sure I had some on my card.  I used PTI's linen and canvas impression plate to emboss the card base.  You have to look close in the photos, but I love what it adds in person. The challenge Simon Says Stamps Wednesday Challenge is to emboss, so I'm entering my card there as well.  I can't get enough of this sequins...I love that it is flat.  I feel like I've used a bunch but am happy that it has hardly made a dent in my newly acquired stash.  Hope you are having a lovely weekend! :)

Grateful (Card Concept #1, SSS..Anything Goes)

I recently won a giveaway from Pretty Pink Posh.  The wonderful Paulina (who is as good and sweet and genuine as it comes) recently opened an Etsy shop full of fabulous embellishments.  My package arrived yesterday, and I opened it immediately.  After getting over my shock of how generous Paulina was and feeling downright giddy with excitement, I did something very uncharacteristic of me...I took out some sequins and immediately went to work adding it to a project I was working on.  For some odd reason when I get new things I typically have a hard time using them right away...I have to think first...but not this time.  I was seriously so excited that I could.not.wait.  This is the card I added my sequins to...
The inspiration for this card came from the brand spankin' new Card Concept Challenge.  I hesitated playing along with this challenge because I feel like I am still discovering/developing my style of card making, but then the fear that was holding me back made me realize that is exactly why I should be playing along with this new challenge.  I'm not sure (eesh...this brings back test-taking nightmares), but I'm guessing that my card falls in the clean and layered category.    I'm also entering this into the Simon Says Monday Challenge: Anything Goes.
Thanks for stopping by today!  I hope you'll stick around a bit. I'm sort of in the middle of a posting marathon and have a few more cards to share today.  Ideally I would space my posts out a bit, but I've had some of these cards for several days and I figured I better post them while I have the time...especially because challenge deadlines are coming quick!
Supplies
Stamps: WPlus9 (Fresh Cut Florals), PTI (Birds & Blooms 2013 Anniversary Set)
Ink: PTI (Dark Chocolate)
Paper: My Mind's Eye (Lost and Found Two), PTI (Stamper's Select White)
Other: Pretty Pink Posh (flat marshmallow sequins), twine

Paint Splatters...Again :) (CAS-ology Dots & SSS)

Once again, I just couldn't help myself.  I might be starting an addiction to flicking paint. (Evidence here, here, and here.)  But really, have you tried to flicking acrylic paint lately? It's like taking the fun of flicking mists or watercolors and multiplying it by 10.  It's messy and it leaves the most awesome raised dots.  Speaking of dots, the cue card at CAS-ology this week is dot, so I made this for the current challenge.  I know the dots are a bit crazy, but that just added to the fun of making this card.  I was just playing around and had a totally different card in mind, but I decided to just be simple.  I love when cards are pure fun and not stressful at all.  And just because I can, :) I'm also liking this up to the Simon Says...Anything Goes.

Simple Valentine & Birthday (CBS, SSS & CASology)

Hello!  Happy Saturday!  The sun in shining today and I am grateful. :)  I few days ago I had a little bit of time to make a card for the following challenges:
Clearly Besotted Challenge #7: Love
Cas-ology Week #78 Challenge: Dot

I'm hoping the dots are obvious. :) I flicked acrylic paint this time because I really like the dimension it adds as opposed to using watercolors or mists.  With a toddler we are all about touch & feel things in this household and this bumpy texture is pretty fun to touch. :) The sentiment is from Clearly Besotted's stamp set "Remember".  It took a couple tries to line up the stamping just right across the card base and die cuts, but I'm so glad I finally tried this technique.  I love the way it looks.
My next card I just made for fun.  I needed some birthday cards, and I've been dying to ink up the balloons from Clearly Besotted's Make a Wish Set.  I grabbed a bunch of PTI inks and stamped away without a real plan.  I love how the inks look when overlapped...perfect for balloons.

Friday, January 10, 2014

Curtain Call Take #3 & OLS Challenge

**This is my 3rd post today...I know, I'm on a roll. :) **
Hello, again!  I know I've said this before, but flicking paint brings me a ridiculous amount of joy.  I think it's so fun. After making this card I just couldn't stop, so that's how this card came to be.  I used the colors from Curtain Call's Smitten Challenge photo as my inspiration.  
This card came together quickly, which was nice because the first card that I made for Curtain Call's Challenge took me for.e.ver.  A little paint, a little stamping, a little glitter...done!  Gotta love a simple one layer card.  Isn't this big thanks fun? It's from Paper Smooches' Chit Chat set, and it makes me smile every time I use it. ETA: Thanks to the heads up from my blogging buddy Darnell, I'm also entering this card into the new and improved One Layer Simplicity Challenge because I truly made this card to restock my thank you card supply.  My mom requested homemade cards for Christmas last year (seems weird to say that considering it wasn't even a month ago), so I cleared out most of my stash of cards to give to her. 

Snowman Birthday (TAWS & Curtain Call: Smitten)

Hello!  Back with my second post for the day.  We've had several snowy days this week, so I figured a snowman card would be appropriate.  I chose this little snowman from TAWS' Chill Out set because his hat reminded me of the knit mittens in Curtain Call's inspiration photo.  I also thought this little snowman looks like he is celebrating, which I thought was fitting for a birthday card.  I've been wanting to make a birthday card for The Alley Way's 3rd Birthday link-up (BTW: They have tons of giveaways and a great discount going on right now), and I'm glad I finally had time to do it. :)
I get a kick out of the hot pink and orange snow on this card.  Hee.  Hopefully it will bring a smile to the winter birthday recipient. Oh, and the sentiment is from TAWS' All About You set.

Stitched Love (CC:Smitten)

 
Today's card was inspired by Curtain Call's Smitten Challenge photo.
I cross-stitched a panel cut with Papertrey's Strip Stitch Die (thanks Marybeth for sending some to try out!).  I enjoyed doing it, but it took me a lot longer than I expected....a lot longer.  I followed somewhat of a pattern for the letters and winged it with the mulit-colored stitches.  I was hoping it somewhat resembled the photo, replacing the swirly grey pattern with the letters.  The colors ended up being quite a bit bolder than I was going for, but I guess it gets the message across loud and clear. :)

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Thanks! (BIC #45)

I was thrilled when I saw the inspiration photo for the current TAWS Be Inspired Challenge.  I'd seen this photo before and had never forgotten those gold glitter dipped balloons (love them!).
I LOVE this card.  Allow me to tell you why...
This year my son's Christmas requests were all over the place at first, but around the beginning of December every time anyone asked him what he wanted, he would say "two hammers!"  On Christmas day, (much to his delight!) he received not just one set of tools but three!  Apparently we all wanted to be the one to grant his Christmas wish. :)  As I was pulling out my TAWS stamp sets I saw the hammer in Toy Land and the idea for this card popped into my head.  Plus, I think this elf from Toy Land is adorable and I feel the same about my son, so it just worked. :)   I originally intended to color the elf using the colors in the inspiration photo and dip black letter in gold but two things stopped me: 1. I remembered Joyce's flower card where she kept the flowers black and white and used a colored sentiment...it was unexpected and I liked that.  2. I realized this card was turning out to be awfully similar to last year's Christmas thank you cards. The last little touch was using my craft knife to cut the glove so my little elf could hold the hammer.  Oh, this card just makes me smile...big!  I hope you like it, too.

My Hope...CAS-ual Fridays #125

Hi!  I'm back and with a card that is about as personal as it gets for me.  Those who know me well know that I'm very indecisive, so when I saw this week's "in a word" challenge at CAS-ual Fridays I panicked for a second.  The idea is to chose word that represents what you hope for this year.  Well, I couldn't choose one...but the words on my card all work together for a common purpose. :)
I combined two sentiments from PTI's Inside and Out: Well Wishes.  This represents exactly what my hope is for this year: to focus on what I need (and what my family needs).  I've done a lot of pondering and know some things that I really need to do to have peace and growth in my life and that requires change.  As I make those changes I know I will especially need courage, strength, and faith because let's face it...some of those changes are going to be tough.
(I know...essentially the same picture but I couldn't decide if I liked it against the dark or light background...remember what I said about being indecisive? :) )
My card was definitely influenced by this card by Laurie Willison.  I admire her cards so much, and to me, her style represents so well one major part of my goal--simplify, keeping only things with meaning/purpose.  The changes I made reflect things I love like twine, woodgrain, and watercolors. :) The colors (coral, aqua, green, grey) have meaning, too.  They are my favorites.  I craft with them.  I wear them.  I decorate my house with them.  They make me happy.  And white is the main color because well, I want my life (and my home for that matter) to be cleaner and more pure.  And there you have it. Thanks for stopping by....I hope you'll come back soon.  I have a card to share later today that I'm super excited about.