Birthday and Thank You

I made these two yesterday. The first is really, really simple, but I like the colors.

Stamps: Butterfly Dreams (sentiment)

Ink: SU Chocolate Chip

Paper: Kraft, Pretty Pastels, In Bloom

Other: oval scallop punch (Marvy), oval punch (Marvy)

Finished Size: 4.25" x 5.5"

The second card is more my style. Red, black, kraft, buttons. I'm loving Polka Dot Basics II. Seriously.

Stamps: Daily Designs (sentiment), Take Note (circle), Polka Dot Basics II

Ink: Fresh Snow

Paper: Pure Poppy, Kraft, Black and White Basics

Other: circle scallop punch (EK Success), circle punch (EK Success), pure poppy buttons, MM floss

Finished Size: 4.25" x 5.5"

Art in Our Family

I've been scrapbooking ever since the kids can remember. We always do art projects, together and separately. The office is chock full of art supplies for them. It's no wonder they love art. Kawai's thing recently has been making me stamp images for her to color. Now, if it were up to her, she'd be all up in my Copics. Not happening. She's been told to stay out of the Copics and use the Marvy LePlumes, which are...like 8 years old. Lol. Yesterday, when she walked into the office, she saw my Love card. She asked me to stamp her an Ian and Anya, and because I didn't want to have to pull everything out again, I stamped her a whole page of the images she wanted.

And she was off. She kept asking me what color I used for this and what color I used for that...so I ended up putting the card right in front of her. She's been grumbling for a while about not having "skin colors." I keep telling her to use the crayons or color pencils, and she keeps resisting. This time though, when I plopped the twistables (with peach) in front of her, she used it. She said, "Mommy, I want my Ian and Anya to look like yours." Wow, she's only 5 and she's already CASE"ing". I'm a proud mommy. 

Interestingly enough, Kahia had to write an essay today about what his favorite subject is. He wrote about art, saying "It calms me down in tough situations." I love that art is an outlet for both of them. 

After the little princess was done with her coloring, I got a chance to make some cards without interruptions. Here's what I made, and as Sara has noticed, I am kinda getting into the Smokey Shadow.

 

I cased Mish's sketch found here. 

Stamps: Butterfly Dreams

Ink: Fresh Snow, Smokey Shadow, Black(Versafine)

Paper: Kraft, Vintage Cream, Pretty Pastels

Other: Lace Ribbon, Fiskars Treading Water Border Punch

Finished Size: 4.25" x 5.5"

The second card I made was after checking out PTI's gallery and deciding that I really need to practice using my background stamps. I saw Niki Este's card and knew I needed to try Damask Designs again...with SU's chocolate chip ink on Aqua mist cardstock. I wasted some cardstock, but I did get a big enough piece to use.

 

Stamps: Damask Designs

Ink: SU Chocolate Chip

Paper: Dark Chocolate, Aqua Mist, Kraft

Other: Chiffon ribbon

Finished Size: 4.25" x 5.5"

 I was also able to take some better pictures using my cardstock back drop and new flower frogs. The light was semi-decent today, but I know that if I'm going to continue this blog, I need to figure out something a little more permanent for taking card and layout pictures. 

Thanks for visiting today.

Dot Spot and Fillable Frames

 

Notice something new in this picture? 

I used Dot Spot and Fillable Frames. I did use Nichole Heady's trick with the post it notes to make sure I stamped straight on the frame. I also used contrasting colored ink...pure poppy and smokey shadow. It was Mrs. Enabler's idea to use two colors, and I love it.

Mojo Monday and PTI Spring Color Challenge Entry #2

Here's my kill-two-birds-with-one-stone card. I used the Mojo Monday sketch (128) AND I used Heather Nichols' spring colors.

All supplies PTI unless otherwise specified

Stamps: Daily Designs and Daily Designs Sentiments

Ink: Smokey Shadow

Paper: Spring Moss, Lemon Tart, Pretty Pastels

Other: American Crafts Ribbon

Finished Size: 4.25" x 5.5"

Sigh...

Due to the tsunami threat yesterday, I was stuck at home with nowhere to go or be. Bliss, I tell you. I created cards the entire day. I experimented with colors and really tried to step or at least dip my toes outside my comfort zone. Here are my efforts.

 

I tried Smokey Shadow ink for the first time. Not sure if I love it yet. I'm trying to design a thank you card for the swap at school, but I'm getting nothing. Grrrr. Thank goodness I have until March 22.  The colors are growing on me.

The second card was made after I explored Baby Button Bits a bit more. A friend just had her baby, and her favorite color is purple. She named her baby Brynna, so I thought the bee with the sentiment would be more appropriate than the card I made for the Poppy Seed challenge. "welcome, little baby bee." Get it? "Baby B." 

I continued the button theme inside. I ended up being pretty pleased with this one.












Card 1
Stamps used: Damask Designs
Paper: Pretty Pastels (PTI), Kraft (PTI)
Punches: Marvy Oval and Scallop Oval, Fiskars Treading Water Border Punch

Card 2
Stamps used: Baby Button Bits
Paper: Plum Pudding Cardstock (PTI), Vintage Cream Cardstock (PTI)
Buttons: Plum Pudding (PTI)

Poppy Seed Challenge #1

 

I saw Lisa Johnson's challenge on the PTI forum and decided to stretch myself and go for it. Boy, am I glad I did. I got to break in the Baby Button Bits. I also decided to use this card for a friend who gave birth yesterday. 

I used a dark chocolate base and stamped my image on PTI's Stamper's Select White Cardstock.  I used SU's chocolate chip ink and PTI's orange zest buttons. I matted that with PTI's lemon tart cardstock. Then, I cut a butterfly using PTI's new dies out of lemon tart. I added three jewels down the middle of the butterfly.

This is the inside of the card.

 

Cardstock: PTI
Stamps: PTI's Baby Button Bits and Daily Designs Sentiments (sweet baby)
Buttons: PTI's orange zest

PTI Blog Hop

 I'm participating in my first ever PTI blog hop, and it's soooo exciting.

My first card was inspired by this card by Maile Belles.

 

I love the colors she used. I also liked the stark contrast of the polka dots. The design is so clean.

 

I wanted to use both of the main images in the set, so stamped the button jar in black for the background. I colored the ribbon image with Copics and popped it up, which is really difficult to see because of my horrible photography. I used a raspberry fizz button, and the "Thank You, Crafty Friend!" sentiment. 

My second card was inspired by Niki Estes and her use of butterfly dreams. I loved the way she used Background Basics: Text Style II behind the Butterfly Dreams background. I thought layering 2 background stamps was really cool!

 

My card doesn't look distressed the way hers does because...well, because I'm chicken and my inking edges NEVER comes out the way it's supposed to.  I used vintage cream as my base and added kraft and some raspberry fizz. I stamped the butterfly and colored it in with Copics. At the very last minute, I added some crocheted ribbon at the bottom to give it some texture. I'm still not really sure I like ALL that white space at the top of my card, but when I tried buttons, it looked off. So white it will stay.

Dots and Spots, Butterfly Dreams, and Studio Style

Here are three cards I made with my new goodies. I love PTI!

  

All supplies PTI except for black ink, which is Memento.

CPS- Sketch 155

Totally had fun with this card.

Cardstock: PTI dark chocolate
PP: Cosmo Cricket Nutmeg
Stamps: Hero Arts "Sweet Wonderful You"
Markers: Copics
Flowers: Prima
Button: PTI dark chocolate
Ribbon: American Crafts

Copics First Attempt

 

Here she is... I really love the markers. They're magical. 

PTI Challenge Day 13

 Today's challenge from PTI was to create a sheet (acetate) of floral embellies, use them on a card, and give the sheet to a friend.

 

The lighting is bad because I'm trying to finish before the deadline. It's 11:23 p.m. here in Hawai'i. :) I used my absolute favorite PTI set, In Bloom. I layered the big flower. You can't see, but the base of the card is kraft and there's black cardstock layered over that. The snow ink didn't show up too well, but I think that was my fault. I might have gotten some stamp cleaner on the stamp. Yikes. The flower is raspberry fizz, and the leaves are ripe avocado.

  

The sheet of embellies has one large, layered flower, three smaller flowers, and three sets of leaves. This sheet of embellies is for my enabler friend who loves raspberry fizz even more than me. I hope she can create some cool cards with these.

PTI Origami Challenge

 

The challenge was to use origami, so I dug out all my origami paper and books from my childhood. I made the branch and two cicadas. The cardstock and "hello" are both PTI, of course.

CPS- Sketch 153 (PTI Sponsored)

Here's the sketch.  And then my take on it.

I played with my favorite PTI stamps today. I used their suggestion and cut the three layers of the flower out and popped them up. You can't see that too well. I have to figure out how to take better pictures of my cards. Blech. I think I might have to do what Val (my favorite Stampin' Up demonstrator) suggested and create a little tent. 

All supplies used are PTI except for the white cardstock, which is something PTI I don't have. Lucky me, it should be here sometime next week, since I just put in a massive order for yummy buttons and paper.

Becky Oehler's "Compose A Card Challenge"

Here's my take on Becky Oehler's Challenge. The first card is a traditional Valentine's card using the recipe provided. The second is a card for a friend. I know it said colors and cutting...but I didn't have those colors. Sniff. Will definitely purchase them in my next PTI order.

 

 

Simple Valentine

 I used my AC stash to create another quick card. I cut the tree out of a piece of pp. I used a PTI stamp in SU chocolate chip on the bottom, right corner. Simple. Going to St. Jude's, dude!

10 minute cards

I realized last night that keeping up this blog is hard work, but it forces me to be creative for a little bit each day. As I sat in the office trying to whip out a card, I ruined one my smudging it with ink from my thumb. Darn...I kinda liked that one. I even took the time to stamp the inside, which is not like me. As I was putting the finishing touches on the inside, I realized I put a smudge on the scored area of the card. Boo!!!

I used an owl image and tried a new card. This one was quicker and easier. I might add a couple small touches, but I think this is pretty much done. This one is going to the St. Jude's card drive my friend Val told me about.

I need to finish my sister's wedding album, do a mini album for her with the pictures she gave me of her and mom, work on 3 baby girl mini albums, and ... there's a ton of projects I NEED to work on, so maybe this blog will help me focus.

3x3 cards and envies... Part Deux

I finished the set of four notecards with envies. It turned out really boring. I used PTI's Take Note stamps with the 2" EK Success Scallop Punch for the sentiment. I love PTI because their stamp sets are made to work with particular punches, kinda like getting the most bang for your buck because face it, this is an expensive hobby. I'm thankful for a wonderful husband who understands my need to create stuff. I'm also thankful that he has no hobbies of his own...so there's money for me to spend on my "supplies." Tee hee. Sorry the pictures crappy, but I took it at night.

Tomorrow I'll have a project that's a bit more exciting. It's the start of my Valentine's projects for the kids' mailboxes. It was fun and easy after I figured out how to read. Lol. Stay tuned...

3x3 cards and envies...

Tonight, I was so stressed out from helping with homework that I thought I'd craft to relax. But my mojo is gone. Anything creative that could possibly come from my head is just not there. Boo hoo! I decided to try to find a 3x3 envie tutorial because I'd like to make more 3x3 cards to give away. I can't give 'em away if I don't have envies for 'em. So I found an easy tutorial and made a couple. Then, I decided that since I made a couple of envies, I should make the cards to go with it. And that's where I ran into problems... I made the cards, added PTI's In Bloom PP, and immediately got stuck. Yikes. Ribbon and buttons tomorrow...maybe. I hope my mojo comes back soon because I NEED to get those notebooks done for my swap. I will post the finished set as soon as I finish. If you see my mojo, please grab hold of it and bring it back to me.

2 Challenge Cards

At 11:30, I was still pretty wide awake so I thought I'd try to whip out a couple of cards. Yeah, me...whip anything out. Riiiiiight. Well, I decided to attempt Mish's "Hip to Be Square Challenge." How hard could it be? Mmmm hmmmmm. Anyway, it's now an hour later, and I'm finally done. I messed up the border punch on the first card, so I didn't get a funky border. The second card forced me to watch a bow tying tutorial, and my bow still isn't pretty. Oh, well. I accomplished my goal to craft, I guess...I also tried a new card format. I did a tent style card this time. I used my AC goodies and Kraft paper from PTI. I also used a Tiny Treats sentiment from PTI.

That's the sketch.

Here's my take on it.

Another take...