Just Saying Hello - MOJO96

OOohhh! I'm late! I hope Mr. Linky is still awake so I can upload my submission to this week's sketch challenge at the Mojo Monday blog before a new sketch is released! I finally inked up and created some "real" cards last night at scrappy hour. Yeah! I'm feelin' the creative juices flowing again!

Paper: Cottage Wall dp (SU); solid cardstock (SU)

Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento); watercolor pencils (Derwent)

Stamps: Swiss Pixie Heidi (C.C. Designs) ; 'Just Saying Hello' sentiment (Hero Arts)

Accessories: ribbon (May Arts); flowers (Prima and Hero Arts); brad (Bazzill); adhesive rhinestone (Kaisercraft); word window punch (SU); Nestabilities circle and scalloped circle dies (Spellbinders); Stardust glitter glue (Stickles)

Birthday Wishes - AMYRS72

Here's my submission for Amy's Friday Sketch Challenge this week. All the papers and elements are from the "Forget Me Not" digi kit by Zoe Pearn (Sweet Shoppe Designs). Enjoy!

[Yes, I cheated again... but I printed it out and photographed it... impressive, huh?]

Enjoy - MOJO95

At long last... I made a real card! I certainly wasn't as productive at scrappy hour last night as I should have been... I socialized WAY too much! Nevertheless, I managed to create a submission for this week's Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge before it ends tomorrow! This card is all "scrappy" and not "stampy" at all. I used paper from Basic Grey's new "Lemonade" collection, which I love, and I cut the letters with my Cuttlebug using the "Billboard" Sizzlits strip die from Stampin' Up. The letters are a perfect size for cards! This card took way longer to create than it should have (I messed around with it too much), but I also spent time showing friends the digi cards I've been creating, which I printed yesterday to see what they would look like, and I was impressed! I went ahead and took a photo of the three printed digi cards together to try to show what they look like as printed cards.

I just might have to do this for my holiday cards this year! It would be a lot less stressful to just design a few and print a bunch! Anyway, I've got plans to go back to scrappy hour again next Saturday, and I think I'll try to organize some projects this week so I can be more productive when I get there! :)

Paper: Lemonade (Basic Grey); solid cardstock (Bazzill)

Accessories: "Billboard" Sizzlits strip die (Stampin' Up); sprig leaves punch (Martha Stewart); ribbon (unknown); adhesive pearls (Kaisercraft); circle punches (EK Success and SU); flowers (Bazzill and Hero Arts); button (Papertrey Ink)

Thank You - AMYRS71

Well, I'm still not back on track with real crafting, but I plan on putting in some serious creation time tomorrow night during Scrappy Hour at Green Tangerines... and hopefully that will re-spark my enthusiasm for making cards! In the meantime, I have created yet another digi card for my last-minute submission to Amy Rysavy's Friday Sketch Challenge this week. I made this 'Thank You' card using elements and papers from the "Retro Cocoa" kit designed by Melissa Bennett (Sweet Shoppe Designs). I'm really enjoying making digi cards when I can't get studio time, but I'm also missing the "hands-on" creation experience. I still wonder how these digi cards would look printed out. Perhaps I'll try that out soon. Thanks for looking!

Digi Thanks - MOJO94

It's "contest" week over at the Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge blog! I still haven't been able to get into my mini-studio to craft in the evenings, but I didn't want to miss out on the random drawing so I whipped up a digi card on my laptop while the boys played outside (I swear a digi card can take longer to create than a regular card!). My submission is a simple "Thanks" card and I'm really curious to see how it would print out. I used papers and elements by Traci Reed (Sweet Shoppe Designs), and I keep learning a ton about how to use PSE6! I still need to figure out how to make a "tear" for torn paper and how to make a distressed edge for that popular grunge look. I'm guessing there is a "brush" for that and I'm guessing I would have to purchase and download it from somewhere. I haven't been been able to find anything like it in the existing brushes and tools. Anyway, I promise to get back into making "real" cards soon! I really miss the hands-on experience! I have plans to meet friends at "scrappy hour" at Green Tangerines twice this month, and I intend to make several "real" cards then. I hope you enjoy my digi card!

Powerful Quote Digi Card - AMYRTF3

Well, I had intended on making both a digi card AND a regular card for Amy's Friday Sketch Challenge tonight... but I never made it into my mini studio to make a regular card! We're leaving in the morning for Clear Lake and we had to do laundry and pack for the kids, so that took priority. Such is life, I guess! Anyway, here is the digi card I made while the kids napped today. Everything but the quote are from digi kits by Traci Reed (Sweet Shoppe Designs). The digital papers are from the "Nicole's Graham" page kit in her "Those We Love" collection, the star brads are from the "Techno Princess" page kit, and the stitching is from the "Fly Catchin'" page kit. I initially intended to go for a "star" theme for the holiday, but it really doesn't have that feel. Oh well. A Facebook friend posted the quote on her wall today and it resonated with me so I put that on the card. Now I'll have to wait until Monday to get a real card made for Amy's Friday Sketch Challenge since I will be out of town! Say, does anyone know how to recover an accidentally-deleted "drop shadow" effect in PSE6? I accidentally deleted the "soft" drop shadow button and can't for the life of me figure out how to get it back!

YIKES! I'd better get crackin!

I've been out of sorts lately and haven't been crafting or posting (just whining alot... sorry about that)... but now I'm guest sketch designer again for Amy Rysavy's Friday Sketch Challenge and I don't have a card made and my blog isn't updated! Yikes! I'd better get crackin' and whip up a fantastic creation with my sketch! I'm actually grateful that Amy keeps using my sketches every four weeks because it's like encouragement to keep creating... which always makes me feel great! Thanks Amy!!! I think I'll whip up a digital card on my laptop while I hang on the sofa and the kids nap (since my hubs is working in his office... where my mini craft area is)... then tonight I will go in and make a real card. Be sure to check back later today for a digital card, and then again tomorrow for my proper challenge submission!

Who Am I Fooling? (AMYRS70)

Okay, I don't know who I'm fooling because I am having the hardest time getting my rear into my mini-studio to craft some cards! Every time I tell myself that I'm going to "make some cards tonight," I get distracted by something else or find myself "just too tired." You would think that I would be chomping at the bit to get crafting as often as possible! I don't know what's going on internally... maybe I'm in a funk or a rut... but I still have creative juices that need to be squeezed! *wink*

Since I'm a stay-at-home mom with two small boys, and because my mini-studio is in the corner of my husband's home office (and he works from home), I'm not able to sneak away to make a card during the day... and dragging my goodies out to the kitchen table to make a card is out of the question with the kiddos around! I am, however, attached to my laptop on the sofa quite a bit while my eldest plays in the afternoons and my youngest naps for three hours (yes, three hours!).

During my laptop-sofa-time yesterday I decided to try my hand at a digital card using Photoshop Elements 6 (PSE6) and a free digi kit I downloaded from Papertrey Ink last year... or maybe it was the year before. I also used some embellishments that I got off of a CD that I won at a papercraft event last year that is loaded with several digital kits by Traci Reed, who is an awesome designer for Sweet Shoppe Designs. I'm not familiar with PSE6 beyond mildly tweaking my photos, which I don't even do that often because I'm not a scrapbooker, but I am excited that I was able to figure out as much as I did on my own! I even figured out how to change the colors of the embellishments! Anyway, I came up with a cute digi card made with Papertrey Ink's "Spiral Bouquet" digi paper and digi sentiment plate... and I tweaked some of Traci Reed's flowers, buttons and rhinestones to match. The layout is from this week's Friday Sketch Challenge by Amy Rysavy over at her "Prairie Paper & Ink" blog. It's not necessarily a "proper" submission since it is completely digital and not even hybrid... but at least I squeezed some creative juice and learned a ton about PSE6! I'm sure there is still so much to learn, and I don't even know if this card would look very good printed out, but at least it's worth a blog posting!

I hope you enjoy my first all-digi card since there may be more digi cards in my future... especially during these lag times in-between "real" card crafting so my blog isn't so dormant! Stay tuned!

Zinnia Hope (TECC72)

Happy Birthday Taylor! This card is my submission for the Taylored Expressions Cupcake Challenge this week, and it just happens to fall on Taylor's birthday! The stamp I used is "Hope" from the Hope & Grace collection by The Greeting Farm. She's so cute! I also used designer paper from the new "Zinnia" collection by Little Yellow Bicycle. I love the color combo they used! Anyway, this is a pretty basic card. I colored Hope with watercolor pencils, cut her out, and stuck her on with adhesive foam dots for some depth. I used flowers from Bazzill (they had all the right colors!), and accented the corner of the card with adhesive rhinestone gems from Hero Arts.

Paper: Zinnia (Little Yellow Bicycle); white cardstock (Mohawk 110 cover weight)

Stamp: Hope & Grace (The Greeting Farm)

Ink: Rich Cocoa (Memento); watercolor pencils (Derwent)

Accessories: flowers (Bazzill); antique nickel brads (Making Memories); adhesive rhinestone gems (Hero Arts); adhesive foam dots (Stampin' Up); brown marker; white gel pen (Inkssentials)

Gretel Bird-Day (AMYRS69)

I went to Scrappy Hour at Green Tangerines last night and wasn't very productive! I only finished two cards, including this one for Amy Rysavy's Friday Sketch Challenge. I just got my Swiss Pixies in the mail yesterday and HAD to use one! I used Swiss Pixie Gretel on this card, along with the new "Happy Bird-Day" paper from 3 Bugs in a Rug. I cut her dress from designer paper, used Stickles on her wings, and used a tiny orange rhinestone for her hair tie. I'm still coloring with watercolor pencils, but I'm totally craving a set of Copics! Hopefully for my birthday... I'll keep my fingers crossed!

Paper: "Happy Bird-Day" collection (3 Bugs in a Rug); white cardstock

Stamps: Swiss Pixie Gretel (C.C. Designs)

Ink: Deep Cocoa (Memento); watercolor pencils (Derwent); brown marker

Accessories: ribbon (May Arts); tag punch (Marvy Uchida); flowers (Bazzill, Prima); clear rhinestone brads (Oriental Trading); diamonds glitter glue (Stickles); adhesive rhinestone (Kaisercraft); dimentionals adhesive foam (Stampin' Up); white gel pen (Inkssentials)

2RedBananas - Banana Split Sunday "Pattern Frenzy"

Aaaaha! I was on my Google reader, checking out all my favorite blogs, when I realized that my Mojo Monday challenge card ALSO works for the Banana Split Sunday "Pattern Frenzy" challenge over at the 2RedBananas blog! Yay! So, here is my card again using 3 different patterned papers at once! I used the new designer paper by Chatterbox from their "Fabulous" line. On this card, I used a small floral pattern for the main piece, a yellow/brown dot paper for the accent piece under the image, and a turquise dot pattern on the dress on the image and as an accent piece under the sentiment. If you want the rest of the info on this card, check out my Mojo entry. How great that I met two different challenges without knowing it!

Fabulous MOJO90

Here is my submission for this week's Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge! I wasn't too sure about the sketch when I pulled it up, but after seeing the samples supplied by the design team, I was confident I could create a proper submission! I used the Ivy Ketto stamp (love her!), colored her in with watercolor pencils, cut her dress out of designer paper, and adhered tiny pearls and rhinestones to the ivy branch. I'm really happy with how she turned out!

Stamps: Ivy KETTO (Stamping Bella); Just for You (Hero Arts "Card Messages" clear stamps);

Paper: Fabulous (Chatterbox); brown cardstock (Bazzill); white cardstock (Mohawk 110 cover weight)
Ink: Rich Cocoa (Memento); watercolor pencils (Derwent)
Accessories: circle and classic scallop dies (Nestabilities); ticket corner punch (Stampin' Up), adhesive pearls and rhinestones (Kaisercraft); dimensional adhesive foam dots

Maui Luau Weekend - WSC84

At long last... I'm back with a submission for the Weekend Sketch Challenge! Nothing like waiting until the last minute, huh? I just got some new designer paper from Bo Bunny from their "Maui Luau" line. I love the vibrant orange and lime colors! I used a little kitty stamp and a flower from Hero Arts, using a tiny rhinestone on the kitty's collar, and an orange rhinestone on the flower. I also punched out butterflies from the Martha Stewart 3-in-1 classic butterfly punch and put diamond Stickles on their wings. I even used a very large orange flower under the image. I'm happy with how it looks!

Stamp: kitty from "I Love My Cat" set & flower from "Mushrooms" set (Hero Arts clear stamps)

Paper: Maui Luau (Bo Bunny); brown cardstock (Bazzill); white cardstock (Mohawk 110 coverstock)

Ink: Rich Cocoa (Memento); watercolor pencils (Derwent)

Accessories: circle and classic scallop circle dies (Nestabilities); 3-in-1 classic butterfly punch (Martha Stewart); orange creamsicle flower (Bazzill); white gel pen (Ranger Inkssentials); diamond glitter glue (Stickles); piercing tool

Yes, I'm still here! (AMYRTFS2)

I'm so sorry it has been over a week since my last post! Life has gotten in the way. I weaned off a medication and the withdrawal made me very dizzy (among other things) and unable to craft! Now I am slowly getting back into the swing of things... just in time for Amy Rysavy's Friday Sketch Challenge over at Prairie Paper and Ink, which I am the guest sketch designer for this week! YEAH! Here is my sketch and my sample. I made this card larger than my usual 4.25 x 5.5 because it's a birthday card for my mom and I am enclosing a few 5 x 7 photographs. I made this card 5.5 x 7.25 to accommodate the photos. I used one of my new Ketto stamps, which I adore, and I used fairly new designer paper from Basic Grey's "Marrakech" line... I just love the colors of these papers! I recently splurged on several new stamps and papers, so be sure to check back to see my creations with those! I hope to get back on my plan to post every other day, or at least 2-3 times per week. We'll see how that goes! Anyway, here are the stats on this card:

Stamps: Tatiana KETTO (Stamping Bella); Birthday Basics (PaperTrey Ink)

Paper: Marrakech (Basic Grey); white cardstock (Mohawk 110 cover weight)

Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento); watercolor pencils (Derwent); grey marker (Le Plume - Marvy)

Accessories: circle and classic scallop dies (Nestabilities); mini flower punch (dollar bin at Michael's), 5/8 circle punch (EK Success); flowers (Prima, Basic Grey, Hero Arts); adhesive rhinestones (Kaisercraft); clear rhinestone circle brads; dimensional adhesive foam dots; sponge

Dream SFYTT

Happy Wednesday! Things are a getting a little better at our house today... although my youngest boy now has a bad head cold. Poor thing. Anyway, here is my submission for Jen's Sketch For You To Try this week over at I{heart}2Stamp! I used some older designer paper by Basic Grey from their Blush collection. I still love it! I also used sentiment stamps from Papertrey Ink's "Spiral Bouquet" stamp set, and rounded the corners instead of cutting an oval (because I'm still waiting for my oval nesties to arrive!). I trimmed the right edge of the card, exposing the inner card underneath, and I punched that edge with a scalloped border punch. It turned out okay, but not my favorite. Onward and upward! Thanks for looking!

Paper: "Blush" designer paper (Basic Grey); accent cardstock (Bazzill)

Ink: Timber Brown (Stazon)

Stamps: Spiral Bouquet (Papertrey)

Accessories: scalloped border punch (Fiskars); flowers (Prima and Kaisercraft); large antiqued brad; corner rounder

Elzybells Wishes - AMYRS3

This week has been challenging... but I'm happy to finally be posting my submission for Amy R.'s Friday Sketch challenge this week over at Prairie Paper & Ink! I used an adorable image stamp and sentiment from Elzybells that I just love! I also dug up some fun paper from Bo Bunny from their "Vinage Carnival" line, which was actually designed by Shabby Princess. Once I figure out the digital scrap thing, I plan to download lots of papers from Shabby Princess designs! They're gorgeous! Anyway, here are the stats:

Paper: Vintage Carnival (Bo Bunny - Shabby Princess); accent cardstock (Bazzill)

Ink: Timber Brown (Stazon); watercolor pencils (Prismacolor)

Stamps: Moon Girl and Make a Wish (Elzybells)

Accessories: scalloped circle and circle dies (Nestabilities); sentiment window punch (SU); adhesive candy dots (Pebbles); scallop border punch (EK Success); ribbon (May Arts)

Praying for You WSC82

Here's my submission for this week's Weekend Sketch Challenge hosted by the wonderfully talented (and beautiful) Mary Jo Albright!  I pulled out the "Grandpa Floral" Wild Asparagus designer paper again... because it's just so pretty... but this time I used the tree image and a sentiment from Stampin' Up's "Thoughts and Prayers" stamp set.  I used markers to color the tree before stamping it, and made a faux button by punching a circle out of cardstock, piercing little holes in it, and drawing thread lines on it.  Turned out kinda cute if you ask me!  

Paper:  Grandpa Floral (Wild Asparagus - MME)

Stamps:  Thoughts and Prayers (SU)
Ink: Timber Brown (Stazon); markers (SU)
Accessories: tiny rhinestone gems (Kaisercraft); grey velvet ric-rac; circle punch and corner rounder (EK Success); paper piercer; sponge for edges; dimensionals (SU)

Lemongrass MOJO87

My submission for this week's Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge was made with designer paper from Crate Paper's "Lemongrass" collection... which I LOVE!  I used a mushroom stamp from A Muse and colored it with watercolor pencils (dying for Copics, but need to find a money tree).  I wasn't sure what to put in the middle square of the sketch, but was really happy once I put a butterfly there!  I punched it with a punch from Martha Stewart and jazzed it up with Stickles and pearls.  I also added Stickles to the dots on the mushrooms, and to the white spots on the bottom designer paper.  I just wished Stickles didn't take so long to dry! 

Paper:  "Tangerine," "Orchard" and "Citrus" from the Lemongrass collection (Crate Paper); accent cardstock (Bazzill)

Ink:  timber brown (Stazon); watercolor pencils (PrismaColor)

Stamp:  mushrooms (A Muse)

Accessories:  glitter glue (Stickles); butterfly punch (Martha Stewart); adhesive pearls (Kaisercraft); circle and scallop die cuts (Nestabilities); dimensionals adhesive foam (SU); scallop border punch (EK Success) 

Sweet Stems Tea Party CPS116

Happy Friday! I'm so glad the long holiday weekend has started! The weather is supposed to be decent all weekend... upper 80's... perfect! Here is my submission for this week's sketch challenge over at Card Positioning Systems, which is being hosted by Stamping Bella (one of my favorite companies!). I don't know yet what they're giving away, but I hope I win! I just love their stamps!

Paper: Tea Party designer paper (Stampin' Up); accent cardstock (SU)
Stamp: Sweet Stems (SU)

Ink: Stazon black; watercolor pencils
Accessories: adhesive pearls (Kaisercraft); green ribbon (SU); dimensionals foam dots (SU)

Believe - AMYRS67

Alrighty! I'm *finally* getting back into the swing of things. I also signed up for scrappy hour at Green Tangerines this Saturday night so I can get some creating done! Anyway... here's my submission for Amy's Friday Sketch Challenge this week. I used a zinnia flower stamp from Savvy Stamps, cut it out with the oval Coluzzle (must get oval nesties!) and colored it with watercolor pencils. I used paper by Daisy Bucket Designs from their "Garden Gate" line and sponged the edges. I also used antiqued brads and ribbon from Stampin' Up. Thanks for looking!

Stamp: zinnia flower (Savvy Stamps); believe (Studio G)

Ink: Timber brown (Stazon); watercolor pencils

Paper: "Garden Gate" (Daisy Bucket Designs)

Accessories: antiqued brads; red ribbon (Stampin' Up); oval template (Coluzzle); corner rounder; dimensionals; sponge