Thursday, January 29, 2009

How Old?

Oh how I love The Cat's Pajamas stamps! They can always bring a smile to my face. I created today's card for the TCP Tuesday sketch challenge and this week's Blogger's Challenge.

I stamped the little indians from the "Havin' a Pow Wow" set and colored them with Copic Markers. I paired the image with Basic Grey's Archaic patterned paper, satin ribbon, and Colorbok Metal Dots. I also created two computer generated feathers to tuck behind the sentiment.

Check out Leigh's great TCP Tuesday sketch here. I tried to channel Leigh and create a background for my three little penguins, but it's tougher than it looks. Leigh is a master at it! (bowing down to you Leigh!)

The Blogger's Challenge this week was to create a birthday card...and just how does this card qualify you ask? A glimpse inside the card will hopefully answer that question.

Check out all the other projects celebrating birthdays by clicking on the Blogger's Challenge graphic in my sidebar.

I also want to give a shout out to Nancy W. for tagging me. I'm working on my responses Nancy and will post them soon. Thanks so much for following my blog!

Have a super Friday!






It's all about the details:
Card stock: Stampin' Up
Patterned Paper: Basic Grey Archaic

Stamps: The Cat's Pajamas
Ink: Memento
Accessories: Ribbon, Dimensionals, Colorbok Metal Dots
Tools: Nestabilities, Pinking Shears

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Summer Afternoon

This week's inspiration challenge at Splitcoast Stampers has us using Lang Calendars to get our creative juices flowing.

I chose this calendar as my inspiration piece. I love Adirondack chairs. They just speak summer, relaxation and soft breezes to me. I chose this image from Artistic Outpost as the focal point for my card. I love the image but I especially love the sentiment. It snowed here again this morning and never was this quote more appreciated and understood. "Summer afternoon, summer afternoon... The two most beautiful words in the English language."

Patterned paper is Stampin' Up's Green Tea...these colors are so soothing. Here's wishing we could all "slip away" to summer even if it's only for a few minutes courtesy of this craft we love.






It's all about the details:
Card stock: Stampin' Up
Patterned Paper: Stampin' Up

Stamps: Artistic Outpost
Ink: Stampin' Up
Accessories: Dew Drops, SU Ribbon, Dimensionals
Tools: Nestabilities, Slot punch

Sunday, January 25, 2009

The Same but Different

I am playing catch-up on my Blogger's Challenges. This particular challenge is to create two cards that are the same but different. I opted to use the same stamps, card stock and patterned paper, but vary the design a little.

Core'dinations card stock, Scrapworks patterned paper and Stampin' Up Just Because stamps along with the thank you sentiment from Papertrey Ink were used in both cards. The card on the left also includes paper piercing and a scalloped border. The card on the right features Trim with Flair paper trim.

One more challenge until I'm caught up. Off I go to complete my red, black and kiwi color challenge.






It's all about the details:
Card stock: Core'dinations
Patterned Paper: Scrapworks

Stamps: Stampin' Up - Just Because, Papertrey Ink
Ink: Memento
Accessories: Trim with Flair, Dimensionals
Tools: Copic Markers, Paper piercer

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Deja Vu

I loved Ana's sketch so much that I had to make a second card. This one bears a wonderful cupcake image from Art Gone Wild and the sentiment is from Simon Says Stamp set called appropriately enough "Celebrate with a Cupcake!".

I used Basic Grey's Offbeat patterned paper and Copic markers to color the cupcake and although it's difficult to see in this photo the cupcake has three layers.

The bling is courtesy of Colorbok Metal Dots, Stickles, and K & Company beaded brads.

Have you checked out Taylored Expressions Year of Cupcakes Challenges yet? You can win awesome prizes for helping her celebrate. Check it out!

Have a wonderful weekend!






It's all about the details:
Card stock: Stampin' Up
Patterned Paper: Basic Grey Offbeat

Stamps: Art Gone Wild, Simon Says Stamp
Ink: Memento
Accessories: K & Company Beaded Brads, Dimensionals, Stickles, Colorbok Metal Dots
Tools: Copic Markers, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder

Friday, January 23, 2009

One Scrumptious Year of Cupcakes!

I am super excited today! Taylor is celebrating the one year anniversary of the Taylored Expressions Cupcake Challenge! Each of the ladies on the Weekly Cupcake Crew has designed their own sketch for the celebration. I'm featuring Ana Wohlfahrt's sketch challenge. You can check out the sketch on her blog and find out about the prize you can win by participating!

Don't forget to check out Taylor's blog, the anniversary celebration headquarters, for all of the sketch challenges as well as an awesome grand prize for one random winner who participates in ALL 9 sketch challenges! We hope you'll help us celebrate this yummy occasion!

Be sure and check out the blogs of the other fantastic ladies who also sampled Ana's sketch:
and don't forget to visit Ana's site for the sketch and information on what you can win for playing along!

Congratulations Taylor on 52 sweet weeks of Cupcake Challenges!!




It's all about the details:
Card stock: Bazzill
Patterned Paper: ?? from my stash

Stamps: Taylored Expressions
Ink: Memento
Accessories: Brads, Dimensionals, ribbon, button
Tools: Punch, Copic Markers, Glaze Pen, Paper Piercer, Nestabilities

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Unlisted

It's my baby boy's 28th birthday on the 23rd so I thought I would attempt something a little more masculine than my usual affair. This patterned paper by Basic Grey from their Archaic set really fits the bill. Add to that a lizard (or is that a gecko) and it's perfect for a manly card. Doesn't this little guy crack you up? He's part of the Humorous Birthday set from Inkadinkado.

I used the sketch from Taylored Expressions Cupcake Challenege #51 for the card design and colored the image with Copic Markers.

I just realized that I haven't posted to my blog since the 11th! Good heavens, where does the time go? I could have sworn it was just a couple of days!





It's all about the details:
Card stock: Bazzill
Patterned Paper: Basic Grey Archaic

Stamps: Inkadinkado
Ink: Memento
Accessories: Buttons, Dimensionals
Tools: Photo Corners Punch, Copic Markers

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Untie the Ribbons - IC162

I tackled two challenges in one again with today's card. The SCS Inspiration Challenge this week is Tenugui. If you're like me, you're clueless as to what Tenugui is. Well, it turns out they are printed cotton towels that have many uses in Japanese culture. Here are a couple of sites where you can view them:

Whaonyc
Nugoo Designs

Aren't there some gorgeous designs? This pp by Heidi Grace jumped into my head when I saw the challenge. I also knew I wanted to combine it with Jen's SFYTT challenge and Verve's Asian Flair stamp set.

Hope your weekend is going well. Thanks for stopping by.





It's all about the details:
Card stock: Bazzill
Patterned Paper: Heidi Grace

Stamps: Verve
Ink: Distress Ink
Accessories: Ribbon, Dimensionals
Tools: Circle Punch, Cuttlebug and Folder

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Imagine

Those of you who visit my blog on a regular basis know that I love patterned paper. I think I could count on one hand the number of cards I have created over the last year that did not include some piece of it. That's why I love today's Blogger's Challenge! It is to create a project/card using PP. No problemo.

I combined the BC # 81 with kwernerdesign's Color Challenge this week. Aren't these fun colors?

I worked with paper from several companies: Bo-Bunny, Martha Stewart, Chatterbox, Basic Grey and Stampin' Up. I also decided to use a rub-on this week instead of stamps. I don't know about you, but I have a huge supply of rub-ons that never get touched. I love how this sentiment fit so well with the design and color scheme. Oh, and I almost forgot! The design comes straight from Taylored Expressions Cupcake Challenge #44, but it came via Nancy's iSTAMP site. While visiting her site recently, I was reminded of how much I too love this sketch. Thanks Taylor and Nancy!

Please take a few minutes to visit my fellow challenge bloggers. You'll find a list of their sites here.

TGIF!





It's all about the details:
Card stock: Bazzill
Patterned Paper: Martha Stewart, Bo-Bunny, Chatterbox, Basic Grey, Stampin' Up

Stamps: None
Ink: None
Accessories: SU Ribbon, Dimensionals, Rub-ons
Tools: Nestabilities, Inkssentials Pen, SU Scallop Punch

Cuppie Love

Remember that card from last night that ended up in my "salvage it later" pile? Well, I resurrected it tonight and this is the end result. I used the Mojo Monday sketch again and this time stamped the adorable cupcake stamps from Taylored Expressions for my focal image. The colorful PP is by MAMBI and I am crazy about it. The colors and pattern are so perfect for a Valentine's Day Card.

On a more somber note, we are experiencing major flooding here in Washington State. There will be many families who will be left homeless when this is over. The property loss and lost revenues for the businesses especially following a weak Christmas sales season will force many to go under. The sad thing is many have just barely recovered from last year's flooding....So tragic. Please say a prayer for those that are suffering the worst, and pray for sun!





It's all about the details:
Card stock: Bazzill
Patterned Paper: Me and My Big Ideas

Stamps: Taylored Expressions
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Ribbon, Metal Dots, Crystals, Dimensionals
Tools: SU Punches, Paper Piercer, Copic Markers

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Bonjour

I was beginning to think that this card was just not meant to be. I wanted to play along with the new Mojo Monday sketch so I took out some patterned paper I've been wanting to work with and started in. No, it is not the paper you see here. That card ended up in my "I'll try to salvage it later pile". Next, I pulled out my tin of Paris rubber stamps by Cavallini. This is a set I just "had to have" about four years ago and inked for the first time tonight. When I tried to work with the sketch, I discovered that the Eiffel Tower was too tall, so back to the drawing board. I re-sized the card base and dug out this beautiful PP by KI Memories and finally was on my way to a finished card. I love the combo of pink, black and white...it just says "french" to me.

I popped both the Eiffel tower and the sentiment panel on dimensionals and added a mix of crystals and a silk ribbon to finish the card.





It's all about the details:
Card stock: Bazzill
Patterned Paper:
KI Memories
Stamps: Cavallini
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Ribbon, Crystals, Dimensionals
Tools: SU Punches

Monday, January 5, 2009

A Groovy Kind of Love - FS100

The Featured Stamper this week is from my neck of the woods. The Pacific Northwest that is. Check out Julie Ebersole's gallery over at SCS for some terrific inspiration. I love Julie's simple style..so clean and often whimsical. This is the card upon which I based mine.

I chose a deep tomato colored card stock from my Core'dinations stash and reached for one of my favorite stamp sets from Verve called "Feeling Groovy". This set just makes me happy and I also noticed that Julee has it on sale right now. The small amount of PP is from Bo-bunny.

Very simple and very fun. Thanks for the inspiration Julie!





It's all about the details:
Card stock: Core'dinations
Patterned Paper:
Bo-Bunny
Stamps: Verve
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Ribbon, Metal Dots, Dimensionals
Tools: None

Sunday, January 4, 2009

Kind Words

I made today's card for a co-worker who lost her mother over the Christmas holiday. These are always the most difficult cards to make. I am so very thankful that I still have my mom and dad with me.

I bought this set from There She Goes a short while ago because of this beautiful sentiment. I have such tough time choosing just the right words at times like this and I thought this said it all perfectly.

Hope you have had a relaxing weekend. We just had another two inches of snowfall today. The last bit of snow from the previous storm just melted away, so this was an unexpected event. It's pretty, but it sure does make it tough getting around. I know what we have here doesn't compare to what many of you are experiencing. I can just see Ida rolling her eyes at me for complaining about this minuscule amount.





It's all about the details:
Card stock: Bazzill
Patterned Paper:
Scarlet Lime
Stamps: There She Goes
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Ribbon, Metal Dots, SU Hardware, Dimensionals
Tools: Distresser

Saturday, January 3, 2009

A Fond Farewell

Today I am posting my final projects as a design team member for Storage Units Ink & More. Even though the decision to step down was mine, it was a very difficult one to make. I can't thank Denise enough for having faith in me and giving me my first design team experience. It was made all the more special because it was the first team assembled for her new stamp line. I also had the privilege of working with some of the most talented stampers anywhere and loved working with SUINK's wonderful stamps. The experience definitely made me venture outside my comfort zone and stretch my stamping abilities.

Be sure to check out the new design team that Denise has assembled. Their work is phenomenal and I know you will love their creations.

Thank you again Denise. It was such a great adventure.




























































It's all about the details:
Card stock: Core'dinations
Patterned Paper:
Stampin' Up, Flair, and KI Memories
Stamps: Storage Units, Ink & More
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Ribbon, buttons, Dimensionals, Inkssentials Pen
Tools: SU punch, Copic markers, Nestabilities

Thursday, January 1, 2009

In a Jam

OMG, I had the toughest time coming up with something for today's Blogger's Challenge. It is a color challenge this week ... Chocolate Chip, Red, and Baja Breeze. These are not three colors that I would normally reach for to create a project, but you know what? I think it works!

The image and sentiments are from a cute mini stamp set by Inkadinkado. Aren't they fun? I colored the images with Copic Markers, cut out and raised portions on dimensionals. The red patterned paper is from a Stampin' Up Patterns Pack and the blue PP is from an old DCWV stack. I also added a ribbon from Stampin' Up in Baja Breeze.

I have been absent from the Blogger's Challenge for awhile and it feels so good to be back! Be sure and check out all of this week's wonderful creations. You'll find a list of participants here.

Happy New Year!





It's all about the details:
Card stock: Stampin' Up
Patterned Paper:
Stampin' Up and DCWV
Stamps: Inkadinkado
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: SU Ribbon, Dimensionals
Tools: Mat Pack, Paper Piercer, SU punch, Copic markers