February 27, 2009

2S4Y Laura's Sketch 20/Lulu's Bonus Sketch

Even though I started my 2S4Y card Tuesday morning, I wasn't able to finish it until today. I didn't have a problem coming up with an idea; I just couldn't find the time this week! Here is my card based on Laura's sketch (complete with crooked photo)--

The yummy patterned papers are Paper Salon which I won from Linda on a recent CPS blog hop. I was just having trouble figuring out what sentiment to use and where to put it. The current Card-A-Licious challenge is to make a card without a sentiment, so problem solved!

I didn't have the correct color of blue/green cardstock, so I decided to make my own. I have a never-ending supply of cardboard I bring home from work because I can't bear to throw it away. I mixed three colors of paint to get the right color, painted the edges of the cardboard, let it dry, and distressed the edges for a perfectly-matched colored "cardstock."


Materials:
Cardstock: Paper Reflections
PP: Paper Salon
Other: cardboard, paint, ribbon, machine stitching, Cuttlebug swiss dot embossing folder

I also had enough time today to make a card for Lulu's bonus sketch--

Materials:

Making Memories cardstock, American Crafts patterned paper, Vap! scrap "forever" and letters (from unknown set) stamped in StazOn jet black, glitter felt, and Making Memories eyelets.

Thanks for looking!

February 24, 2009

CardPatterns Sketch #3

I recently found CardPatterns, a new weekly card sketch blog. They offer a chance to be a guest designer for a future sketch, so I had to play along. Here is this week's sketch--

And the baby card I made--


I used navy blue cardstock (Making Memories), baby patterned paper (DCWV), corrugated cardstock (Paper Reflections), painted and distressed die cut stars (Sizzix), computer-generated sentiment, fabric, and machine stitching. I even added a little stitching detail to the inside--

I really like this week's sketch, and I love the way my card turned out. I look forward to partipating every week. Thanks for looking!

February 20, 2009

Cuttlebug Be Inspired #19--Embossed Acetate

Since I skipped out on the last Be Inspired Challenge (I just wasn't happy with how my shaped card was progressing), I wanted to make sure I participated this week by making a card with embossed acetate. In trying to clean up my disaster of a craft room, I had just thrown away all the packages my Cuttlebug folders came in. Fortunately, I was able to rescue them! [I already have a problem with throwing anything away because you never know what you might be able to reuse. After this project, my hoarding is going to get even worse!] Here is my bright and happy card:I used the swiss dots folder to emboss the yellow cardstock and the floral fantasy folder to emboss the acetate. I stitched the two pieces together with my sewing machine. I used buttons, eyelets, and brads on the centers of the flowers and wrapped it up with some bright pink ribbon. The tag is a Sizzix die, and I stamped "happy day" on the tag in green ink. The only thing I'm not 100% happy with is the tag. I wish I hadn't inked the edges, but other than that I like it!

February 16, 2009

2S4Y Kazan's Sketch 20

Today is the last day of my four day weekend. A little part of me is ready to go back to work tomorrow. It will almost be like a little break from all the work at home--laundry, dishes, chasing after a two year old. It never ends. :)

I whipped up a quick card today for Kazan's Sketch 20 over at 2 Sketches 4 You. This was probably the quickest card I have made in a long time, but I was on a major time crunch.

Since I was working so quickly, there are two issues with my card. I didn't let the paint dry completely before putting it in my Cuttlebug embossing folder. Now I have paint in my embossing folder and peeling paint on my flower. I was also sewing so quickly that my stitching is crooked (which it usually is), and I didn't realize my thread had caught on the spool so the tension is REALLY tight. Ah, the beauty of handmade! I should be back before the end of the week with a card for Julie's bonus sketch. Thanks for looking!

Materials:
Cardstock: Hmm, not sure--both the blue and embossed white are leftovers from other projects
Patterned Paper: DCWV
Stamp/Ink: studio g swirl in StazOn cactus green
Embellishments: painted Sizzix daisy die cut, ribbon, machine stitching, epoxy stickers

February 13, 2009

Card-A-Licious 13

This week's Card-A-Licious challenge was perfect for me--a thank you card using something felt, some sort of stitching, and the color pink. I love this red glitter felt and I do a lot of machine stitching on cards, so I came up with this for the challenge--

The card is textured pink cardstock. I used three different American Crafts patterned papers and distressed the edges. I finished it up with some machine stitching in red thread, a Sizzix die cut heart is glittery red felt, and a Kolette Hall stamped thank you sentiment (one of my favorites). Thanks for looking!

February 11, 2009

2S4Y Laura's Sketch 19 & My Eye Candy

I love it when my boss calls on the weekend and tells me I can have a day off during the week. Today was one of those wonderful, last-minute, extra days off. I didn't have to send my son off to daycare, and we spent the morning at the Omaha Children's Museum. Now that naptime has finally rolled around, I made my card for Laura's sketch over at 2 Sketches 4 You.


I made this "wonderful" card, but I'm not quite sure when I would use it. I guess it would be a good any occasion card.

I used Making Memories cardstock, American Crafts and Provo Craft patterned paper, Prima mulberry paper flowers, Kolette Hall "wonderful" stamp, a button, and machine stitching.

And now for my eye candy. Remember ladies--he's taken!

These are the two wonderful men in my life--my husband, Craig, and my son. When I was trying to find a picture of my husband, I realized I mostly have pictures of my cards and my son, almost no pictures of my husband, and none of us together. I probably need to work on that! I was going to take a picture of Craig just for this post, but I really didn't want to listen to him referring to himself as "eye candy" for the rest of the day. Thanks for looking!

February 9, 2009

Cuttlebug Love Challenge #17

This is a very fast post for the Cuttlebug Love Challenge since I'm totally running late for work! I made this card for my two-year-old son to give my husband for Valentine's Day:

It's not the most masculine card, but I love the bright colors! Thanks for looking!

Supplies: American Crafts patterned paper, painted Sizzix die cut hearts, circles Cuttlebug embossing folder, katie & co studio g rubber stamp, StazOn Pumpkin ink

Caardvarks Heart Challenge/CPS #102

I finished up my card this morning for the Caardvarks challenge (make a card using hearts) and based it on Card Positioning Systems sketch #102. I needed a Valentine's Day card to send my grandma, so this was the perfect opportunity to make one.

I used some textured bright green cardstock and two American Crafts "celebration" patterned papers. (I was in Tuesday Morning last week and found an entire aisle of scrapbooking stuff. I got a pack of this paper for only $5.99, and it regularly retails for $19.99. What a find!) I also used a Sizzix heart cut from glitter felt, small hearts made with a Marvy heart punch then painted, ribbon, and a katie & co stamp with some red glitter on the heart. I love the bright colors, and I hope my grandma likes it too. Thanks for looking!

February 7, 2009

Card-A-Licious/CPS

Just a quick post about my second card for the CPS card contest where two winning cards will be published in CardMaker magazine. Now THAT would be a dream come true! I used the "recipe" (three different patterned papers and orange letter stickers) from Card-A-Licious for making my card.

I didn't have any orange letter stickers on hand, so I stamped orange letters on little cardstock squares. I had to work today, so I didn't know if I'd be able to finish it in time. Fortunately, my husband wanted to play World of Warcraft before dinner, so I had an hour of free time to myself. :) Thanks for looking!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Making Memories (blue), ivory linen, not sure on the red cardstock
Patterned Paper: the Paper Studio
Letters/Ink: Making Memories rummage alphabet/StazOn Pumpkin
Other: painted Sizzix die cut stars, Making Memories brads

February 4, 2009

2S4Y Weekly Sketch--Kazan's Sketch 19

I finished up my 2 Sketches 4 You card this morning based on Kazan's sketch--

I need a birthday card for my niece who will be turning 9 on Sunday, so I made this cute little card for her--


I used red cardstock (Making Memories), blue cardstock (Bazzill basics), polka dot patterned paper (American Crafts), and a "birthday wishes" rubber stamp (Kolette Hall). The felt, ribbon, button, and foam are from my stash. I made the flower out of strips of felt and it turned out so well I'm going to make more out of other fabric. It's a great way to use up those fabric scaps to make inexpensive embellishments. Thanks for looking!

February 3, 2009

Thrifted Frame Project

I hosted our monthly Omaha Etsy meeting at my home this past Saturday. I didn't work on a project because I had a two-year-old "helper" that needed monitoring. I was so inspired by how much everybody else accomplished at the meeting that, on Monday, I actually started AND finished a project I've been wanting to make for over four years now. I had purchased a framed mirror and picture at Goodwill ($4.99) with plans to repaint it and replace the ugly apple picture with a wedding photo. I painted the frame black and distressed the edges. I cropped and matted one of our black and white wedding pics and stamped "forever" under the photo. I was going to do something more elaborate but decided that simple was probably better. I love the way it turned out.

Here's a close-up of the picture part of the frame. I have such a goofy expression on my face because my mouth is full of wedding cake!