Tryin' Some Shabby Craftin...

and well.... I think I need more practice!  Anyway, I gave it a go and the more I try the better I should get (I hope!), right???   And this one little card is for four (yes four!!) different challenges.  I have always kinda balked at the idea of making a card for more than one challenge and marveled at all those gals who would make one card for like 10 challenges!  But now I'm starting to see the wisdom of their ways....  So my card is for the following challenges:  Etsy Inspired, Stampin' Sisters in Christ, Sentimental Sundays & Waltzingmouse. 

The inspiration came from Etsy Inspired and the layout from Waltzingmouse.   The Etsy store this week is Heartsong and I chose this fun little item from her store for my inspiration:  

My Hero Arts cling set Two Birds was perfect for the card.  I did some paper piecing using Websters Pages Petite Pages collection Hollywood Vogue/WonderFALL. 

The challenge this week at Sentimental Sundays is to use 3 designer papers, 3 buttons and some ribbon.  I managed to accomplish all that, but it was tricky.  For Stampin' Sisters I need to use a sentiment that conveyed encouragment or congratulations... Best Wishes fits the congratulations bill (but barely!).    

Thanks for taking a peek...

Supplies:  Cardstock:  PTI Rustic White; PP:  Websters Pages; Ink:  Ranger Forest Moss Distress ink; Memento Rich Cocoa; Stamps:  Hero Arts & Stampin Up!; Pearl:  Zva Creative; Buttons unknown; Silk Ribbon Creative Impressions

Heartfelt Creations... Black Friday Specials!

Hope everyone in the US had a fantastic Thanksgiving!  Today is my weekly Heartfelt Creations post.  Exciting things going on over at Heartfelt Creations and you don't want to miss out! Make sure to check out the blog for projects from the HC design team!  I will have more info at the end of this post.  First off though I want to share two cards that I made using some of the new stamps and the new die from Heartfelt Creations.

This card uses the new Window/Frame die that is exclusive to Heartfelt Creations and a stamp from the set HCPC 3357 Snowy Window Scene.   I stamped the image on kraft cardstock using PTI's Vintage Cream ink.  The frame was die cut from PTI's Fine Linen.

For this card I simply framed the stamped image with some patterned paper, added the twine and the sentiment.   The following is the info regarding the Black Friday Special going on at Heartfelt Creations:

Black Friday Promotions:


As a special thank you to our customers we will be offering an amazing Black Friday Savings of $20 on this must-have collection and a FREE PreCut Stamp Set of your choice (valued at $14.99) with every order over $50.To qualify for the free stamp set, you will need to list the free stamp set of your choice in the "comments box" when checking out. If you do not list the free stamp set, you will be disqualified for this offer, offer expires Nov. 26 at 12 Midnight EST.

Giving Back:

We as a company support various charities throughout the year and we are giving you a chance to participate. We are choosing a charity that is very near and dear to our hearts "Harvest India." This is an organization that gives back to there community every day, in so many different ways. They have 10 orphanages, 5 elderly homes, medical clinics, and supply water wells for the villages. We have personally met the founders of this great ministry and you can rest assured that every dollar they receive is maxed to the fullest potential. Heartfelt Creations will donate 10% of all sales on Black Friday to this great charity.

Thanks for taking a peek... hope you will check out the new sets and die from Heartfelt Creations!

Jolly Good!

A card today for the current JUGs challenge (a color challenge:  red, yellow, black & white) and the current Waltzingmouse sketch challenge.  I used three different WMS sets for the card (Vintage Labels 4, Vintage Label 14 & Victorian Frippery).  Working with the JUGs colors was a real challenge for me, but I think I combined them fairly well when it was all said and done. 

Thanks for taking a peek... to everyone in the US Happy Thanksgiving!

Supplies:  Cardstock:  PTI white; Stamps:  WMS Vintage Labels 4, Vintage Labels 14 & Victorian Frippery; Ink:  Stampin Up! Riding Hood Red, Close to My Heart black and Scattered Straw distress ink; Patterned paper:  October Afternoon Cherry Hill; May Arts black silk ribbon; PTI Pure Poppy button.

Give Thanks....

A card today for two challenges:  Sentimental Sundays & Stampin Sisters in Christ.  Both challenges asked us to make cards that express giving thanks.  I used the current SCS color challenge colors (kraft, cherry cobler & chocolate chip) for the card.  The stamps are from Stampin Up! (Medallion) and Verve (a Plain Jane - 1 Chronicle 16:34). 

I stamped the Medallion with VersaMark Dazzle Champagne on the Cherry Cobler cardstock.  The sentiment was stamped with Cherry Cobler ink.  Some Zva Creative bling and a big fat bow.

Thanks for taking a peek... have a great day.   Its cold, cold, cold here so I'm staying inside!

Supplies:  Cardstock:  PTI Vintage Cream & Kraft; Stampin Up! Cherry Cobler & Choc. Chip; Stamps:  Stampin Up! Medallion; Verve Plain Jane; Ink:  VersaMark Dazzle; Stampin Up! Cherry Cobler; Ribbon:  Stampin Up! Choc. Chip striped ribbon; Zva Creative rhinestone flourish

ColourQ #59...

Haven't done a ColourQ challenge in a long, long time.  Finally got a chance this week to put together something for the challenge.  I made a card similar to this about a month or so ago and yesterday I gave that first version to my little one's preschool teacher.   She was so thrilled to get that card.   The card really does incorporate all the colors from the challenge.   It is my photography skills or lack thereof, that make it look kinda washed out... sigh!

Anyway... thanks for taking a look... hope you are having a wonderful weekend!

Supplies:  Cardstock:  PTI White; Stampin Up! Rich Razzleberry; Ink:  Stampin Up! More Mustard, Old Olive & Pumpkin Pie; Stamp:  Hero Arts Little Maple Leaf cling; Ribbon:  May Arts White Satin; Punch Fiskars Upper Crust; Vanilla Smooch

Some One Layer Wonders....

Have a couple of card today for the current One Layer Wednesday challenge.  Susan pointed us in the direction of the most hilarious blog I have seen in a looooong time called "Cake Wrecks" for our inspiration.  If you want a good chuckle you need to check the blog out.  During the week "cake wrecks" are featured, but on Sunday beautifully decorated cakes take center stage.   The cakes offered up this last Sunday are so beautiful that I wasn't able to pick just one.... so I picked two!

The first is this little black & cream number.  When I first saw the cake it made me think immediately of this neat stamp I have from DeNami Design called Filigree Centerpiece.  I did several trial runs of the design I wanted to achieve before stamping the actual card.  I love how it turned out (perfect!!).  I was going to stamp a sentiment, but it just didn't look right when I stamped on one of the test runs so I left it off.  Some black bling and a big, fat organdy bow finished things off.  Yummy!

The second card is based on this beautiful cake done in red and white.  When I saw this cake I immediately thought of my Hero Arts chandelier stamp and the new pad of Hero Hues Punch chalk ink sitting on my counter.  I initially stamped the entire chandelier in the center of the card (actually did that multiple times!), but didn't like the look.  Then I got the bright (sorry!!) idea to stamp it ff to one side.   Next it was a hunt to find a sentiment that worked.  Thankfully I found the perfect sentiment in a stamp set from There She Goes.  A bit a black satin ribbon, some bling and I was done. 

Thanks for taking a peek.... I hope you will check out "Cake Wrecks"... you won't be sorry!

Supplies:  Cardstock:  PTI White & Vintage Cream; Stamps:  DeNami Design; Hero Arts; There She Goes; Ink:  Close to My Heart Black; Hero Arts Punch chalk ink; KaiserCraft clear & black rhinestones; Ranger Black Diamond Stickles; Midori Organdy ribbon

My First Gatefold Card...

The JUGs challenge (#59) this week is a technique challenge to make a gatefold card.  I have never made a gatefold card and so this the was perfect time to give it a go.  Since I'm getting this done at the last minute (again!!) I decided to keep things pretty simple.  I used a lovely Christmas set from Close to My Heart called Classic Christmas for the card.  I got the set because I loved the one and only sentiment (used in the card).  It reminds me of the song from How the Grinch Stole Christmas that the Whos sing on Christmas morning.

Thanks for taking a peek...

Supplies:  Cardstock:  PTI Rustic White; Gina K. Spruce; Ink:  Close to My Heart New England Ivy; Stampin Up! Real Red, Ranger Bundled Sage distress ink; Stamps:  Close to My Heart Classic Christmas;  Hero Arts - Holly Flourish db;  Twine:  PTI Rustic Cream; rhinestones:  KaiserCraft

Heartfelt Wednesday + a Sentimental Sunday

Its Wednesday and time for a project made using Heartfelt Creations stamps.  I also made this card for the current Sentimental Sundays challenge:  Childhood.   I don't have many stamps of children, but I do happen to have two from Heartfelt Creations.  The one I'm using today is called "Chickadee Surprise".  I did some paper piecing, as well as a bit of coloring on this sweet little girl.   The card layout is based on the sketch provided for the current Corrosive challenge. 

Thanks for taking a peek... hope you have a wonderful Wednesday!  Oh... and one more thing... thanks to the sweet gals at Sentimental Sundays for picking my card last week for the Top Three!

Supplies:  Cardstock:  Bazzill (red & light sage green); Patterned Paper:  Basic Grey Wassill; Ink:  Stampin Up! Early Espresso; Stamp:  Heartfelt Creations:  Chickadee Surprise (714E); Punch:  Stampin Up! Lace; Spellbinders plain & scalloped circle dies; Prisma pencils and blender pencil

Poinsettias & Holly

Two projects today, one for the current ODBD Shining the Light (#37) challenge "anything but a card" and one for the current Waltzingmouse Sketch (#23) challenge. 

First up, my ODBD project.  Since it had to be anything but a card I decided to make a gift bag and tag.  I used the beautiful Poinsettia Background stamp and the Holly Tag set from ODBD, along with the matching tag die.  I stamped all the images on watercolor paper with Ranger Distress inks (Fired Brick & Forest Moss) and then did a bit of coloring using just the paintbrust and water to draw out the color from the inks.  Some Art Glitter (Inca Gold) was added to the centers of the poinsettias and Candy Cane Stickles to the holly.  Both the tag and the bag were finished with some hunter green seambinding tied into double bows.

For my Waltzingmouse card I used one of the holly images from the Heartfelt Creations set Elegant Holly Swirls.  I stamped the image on watercolor using Forest Moss distress ink and then using water and a paintbrush painted the holly by drawing out the color from the ink.  The large berries were colored using a red watercolor pencil, water and paintbrush.  Candy Cane Stickles were added to the smaller berries.  A hunter green button was tied around the wide striped ribbon and then adhered it to the piece as shown.  The sentiment was stamped on watercolor paper using Forest Moss. 

Thanks for taking a peek....

Supplies:  Cardstock:  Gina K Designs:  Rocket Red & Spruce; Watercolor paper:  Strathmore; Stamps:  ODBD Poinsettia background & Holly Tag; Heartfelt Creations Elegant Holly Swirls; WMS Nutcracker Sweet; Ink:  Forest Moss & Fired Brick Distress Inks; Seam binding; ODBD tag die; Spellbinders small oval die; Cuttlebug; Art Glitter; Candy Cane Stickles

Wreath of Leaves

A post today with a card for two challenges, Etsy Inspired (#114) and Stampin' Sisters in Christ (#65).  When I saw the Etsy inspiration store, Happy Day Designs, and all the beautiful necklaces and bracelets she had I knew I would be doing another CAS card for the challenge.   I browsed the site for a bit and decided on this necklace for my inspiration (see photo).   The beautiful green of the necklace immediately made me think of the Hero Arts cling, Wreath of Leaves and Stampin Up!'s Kiwi Kiss. 

Then I checked SSCC to see what would be the new challenge.  Grace set the challenge based on this verse from John 3:30:  "He must become greater; I must be come less".  Interestingly, I had read that verse earlier this past week from a book on parenting.  The challenge is to make either a CAS card (signifying me becoming less); a more is more card (signifying Jesus becoming more) or a CAS version and a more is more version of the same card.  I chose, obviously, to go with the CAS card.   The card base is a 4.5" x 4.5" square cut from Kiwi Kiss cardstock.  I cut a 4"x4" square of white cardstock and stamped the Wreath of Leaves using Kiwi Kiss ink.  Some Hero Arts flower gems were added along with a bow tied from PTI's Simply Chartruse (a good match to Kiwi Kiss) and I was done.

Thanks for taking a peek... hope you had a good weekend. 

Supplies:  Cardstock:  Stampin Up! Kiwi Kiss; PTI White; Ink:  Kiwi Kiss; Stamps:  Hero Arts Wreath of Leaves; Gems:  Hero Arts; Ribbon:  PTI Simply Chartruse double stitched.

DeNami Color Challenge

A quick post with my card for the current DeNami Design color challenge (#5) to use the following colors:

I kept my card pretty clean and simple.  I added a bit of interest by using a new Sizzix/BasicGrey embossing folder I bought recently that creates this really cute plaid pattern.     I used the cute DeNami stamp Rosebud Trio and sewed buttons over the little flowers. 

Thanks for taking a peek....

Supplies:  Cardstock:  PTI Kraft; Dark Chocolate & Vintage Cream; Stampin Up! Pumpkin Pie;  Stamp:  DeNami Design; Ink:  Stampin Up! Kiwi Kiss; Ribbon:  PTI Simply Chartruse; Sizzix/BG plaid embossing folder; Buttons:  DeNami Boutique Buttons (Halloween Mix)

JUGs Challenge #58...

A short post with my card for the current JUGs challenge.  This week was a sketch and a really fun one, too.  When I started my card I had such high hopes for it, but it just didn't turn out quite the way I was wanting it to turn out.  Oh well... I guess we all have "clinkers" now and then (although sometimes I think I have more "clinkers" then most people!).   The colors of the card are very pretty in real life, but just don't translate well when I try to photograph it.   I used some patterned paper from the Webster's Pages 2009 holiday collection.  Hoping I can pick up the 2010 holiday collection.

Thanks for taking a peek....

Supplies:  Cardstock:  PTI Vintage Cream; PP:  Websters Pages; Stamp:  Stampin Up!; Dies:  PTI; Pearl Flourish Zva Creative; Ink:  Ranger Tattered Rose Distress ink; VersaMagic Sahara Sand; Stampin Up! Modern Label punch

Sentimental Sundays + ODBDSLC

I just recently discovered the challenge blog Sentimental Sundays.  This week's challenge is a sketch and so I thought I would give it a go.  I combined the Sentimental Sundays challenge (#28) with the current challenge from ODBD's Shining the Light (#36) to use silver or gold cording, twine/string or hemp.  I went with twine for my card.  I used the Hero Arts cling, Classic Holly and a sentiment from the ODBD Holly Tag set.    The patterned papers are from Webster's Pages holiday 2009 collection.   Lots of distressing and "fussy" cutting for this project.  I love how the card turned out.

Thanks for taking a peek....

Supplies:  Cardstock:  Gina K. Wine; PTI Fine Linen; Stamps:  Hero Arts Classic Holly; ODBD Holly Tag set; Ink:  Palette Burnt Umber; Red Prisma pencil; PP:  Webster's Pages

Heartfelt Wednesday

Yep, its Wednesday and that means a Heartfelt Creations post.  Today I'm posting an altered project I made using the Heartfelt Creations set HCPC 2291 Regal Poinsettia 2 and the matching Spellbinders Blossom 2 dies. 

I had a tin that used to hold a bunch of felt flowers (the tin came from Stampin Up!).  My little guy had long since raided the tin for many of its felty "treasures" and I had given some away, so I had an empty tin.  Perfect for embellishing with my layered poinsettias.  I stamped and diecut three of the large poinsettia flowers and then stamped and diecut 6 of the small poinsettia from patterned paper (Prima's Angelique line).  I then cut away the "bottom" layer from two of the large flowers and four of the small.  The flowers were then glittered up with Stickles and set aside to dry.  I traced the lid of the tin on to my patterned paper (Angelique), trimmed out and then I sanded the edges a bit.  I adhered the paper using Scor-Tape.  The side of the tin was covered with pink grosgrain ribbon using Scor-Tape.  Once the flowers were dried I adhered them together and arranged them on the tin.  I finished the tin by adding some pearl flourishes from Zva Creative that I had cut apart.

Thanks for taking a peek....

Supplies:  Patterned paper:  Prima Angelique; Tin:  Stampin Up!; Ribbon:  Stampin Up! pink; Stamps:  Heartfelt Creations; Ink:  Stampin Up! Cherry Cobler; Zva Creative pearl flourishes; Scor-Tap

Cool Blues....

Two cards today for three challenges.   First up is a card I made for the Etsy Inspired challenge (#113).  I haven't been able to do an Etsy Inspired challenge for ages despite my desire to participate!   Inspiration this week comes from Putu Princess Escapes.  My inspiration was taken from this t-shirt.  When I saw it I immediately thought of my Waltzingmouse Asian Garden set.  Because her shirt designs are very clean and simple, I kept my card clean and simple and just stamped the tree trunk in brown and then the rest of the tree using Stampin Up!'s Baja Breeze ink. 

My second card is for the current Stampin' Sisters in Christ challenge (#64), as well as the Flourishes Warm Winter Wishes challenge (FLLCNOV10).   The SSC challenge was to make a card depicting the weather and since last week I was the fortunate recipient of the ENTIRE November Our Daily Bread Designs release (yay!!) I used the Snowflake background stamp and did some emboss/resist stamping.  The tag was die cut using the new tag die from ODBD (part of my winnings!).   I stamped the sentiment (also ODBD) in Stormy Sky Distress ink, die cut it using a Spellbinders oval and them ink distressed the edges a bit.  

Thanks for taking a peek....

Supplies:  Cardstock:  PTI White & Vintage Cream; Stampin Up! Not Quite Navy; Ink:  Stampin Up! Baja Breeze; Palette Burnt Umber; Ranger Stormy Sky & Broken China Distress inks; VersaMark Watermark ink; Ranger Fine Detail Clear Embossing Powder; Stamps:  WMS Asian Garden; ODBD Snowflake background & Holly Tag set; Dies:  Spellbinders Sm. Ovals & ODBD tag die; Ribbon:  PTI Enchanted Evening.

Tryin' Out Some New Challenges...

Hello!  Tryin' out some new to me challenges today:  CASE Study (#13) and Corrosive Challenge.   The CASE Study muse this month is Heather Pulvirenti (you can see her card here).   The color scheme was determined by this week's Corrosive challenge:  black & blue.  I used some American Crafts patterned paper (from the Elegant line), a Zva Creative black rhinestone flourish and PTI's Spring Rain grosgrain.   The sentiment is from Stampin Up!'s set Whimsical Words.

Thanks for taking a peek...

Supplies:  Cardstock:  Bazzill light blue; PTI Vintage Cream; PP:  American Crafts Elegant; Ink:  Memento Summer Sky; Flourish:  Zva Creative; Ribbon:  PTI Spring Rain; Fiskars corner rounder; Stamps:  SU! Whimiscal Words

CAS-ing Christmas

Three CAS cards I made today.  One card is for One Layer Wednesday.  The other cards are just some ideas I had and thought I would try out.   All these cards were made using Hero Arts stamps.

The first card is my One Layer Wednesday card.   I used the Hero Arts set Merriest Wishes.   When I bought the set it was because I liked the three different trees that are included and I didn't pay much attention to the other "bits & pieces" in the set.... until today.  While looking at the trees this curvy line down at the bottom of the set caught my eye.  It is the perfect line for creating that gentle "hilly" look on a card!  Love it!   I'm going to be making a few more of these cards and then I will be sending them off to North Dakota where they will be distributed to inmates at the North Dakota State Penitentiary.  All the details can be found here.

The second card uses the Wreath of Leaves cling from Hero Arts.  I stamped it on kraft cardstock using the now retired SU! color Handsome Hunter (craft version).  The perfect green to use on kraft I think....  I hadn't used that ink pad in probably 5 years and it was still as juicy as the day I first used it!   

The final card uses the Trees of the Season clings (winter tree).  I stamped the tree on red cardstock using cream ink.   The results???  Pinkish trees!  Oh well... I backed the trees with cream cardstock in an effort to lessen the pinkish hue. 

Thanks for taking a peek... hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Supplies:  Stamps:  Hero Arts; Inks:  SU! Handsome Hunter craft ink; PTI Vintage Cream & Pure Poppy; Brilliance Coffee Bean & Pearlescent Ivy; Cardstock:  Gina K. Rocket Red; PTI Vintage Cream, White & Kraft; Ribbon:  SU! Real Red

A Two Challenge/Two Card Post

I have two cards today for two different challenges.  I don't really like to do these kinds of posts, but I also don't really want to do two separate posts, either.

My first card is for the current JUGs challenge #57 to make a fabric flower.  Actually the uber talented Dana challenged us to make a burnt edges flower, but I don't own the type of fabric needed to do that technique.  I did recently buy this super cute fabric from Stampin Up! so I made a flower using the directions that came with the package of fabric.

My second card is for the current Waltzingmouse sketch challenge #21.  While I was trying to figure out what I was going to do, I remembered that I had these cute little paper bags... perfect for a tag.  I dug one out and got to work. 

Thanks for taking a peek...

Supplies:  Cardstock:  PTI Kraft; Gina K. Spruce & Rocket Red; Stampin Up! Baja Breeze; PP:  October Afternoon Thirft Shop; Kaiser clear rhinestones; SU! Scalloped Edge punch; Stamps:  WMS Very Vintage Christmas & Vintage Labels 4; There She Goes Bloom; PTI Vintage Labels; Hero Arts Canvas Stripe; Ink:  SU! Riding Hood Red & Handsome Hunter; PTI Vintage Cream; Candy Cane Stickles

Heartfelt Wednesday

It's Wednesday and that means I will be sharing another Heartfelt Creations DT project.  For this card I used the Heartfelt Creations set Elegant Holly Swirls (HCPC 3339), Holly Leaves (HCPC 3340) and the matching Holly dies (HCD 705).

The Elegant Holly Swirls set has two holly images.  For my card I used the larger of the two.  The image was stamped using Riding Hood Red Ink on My Minds Eye Snowed In patterned paper.  Holly leaves from the Holly Leaves set were stamped on patterned paper (Snowed In) and die cut using the holly dies.  These were popped up over the main image.  The image was finished with a trimmed out berry, some Stickles and pearls that I colored with a red Copic marker (Cardinal Red) to match the red ink.  The image was matted with red cardstock die cut using the largest Spellbinders Lacey Square die.

Thanks for taking a peek... i hope you check out the Heartfelt Creations blog.  My fellow design team members are an incredibly talented group.   I also wanted to let you know that Heartfelt Creations will be releasing some fantastic new sets and the most gorgeous new die on "Black Friday".  To celebrate they will be having some amazing deals for customers!

White on White + A Bit of Green

Wow... I can't believe November is already here and that Christmas is right around the corner (yikes!)!  So, I'm trying to work on some Christmas cards (ha ha!), but the card for this post isn't one of them (tee hee!).  My card is another two-fer.  One card made for two challenges:  ODBD's Shining the Light challenge and Stampin' Sisters In Christ.   For Stampin' Sisters the challenge was to make an either all white or all cream card.  With Shining the Light the challenge was to make a card using one of their top three challenges:  sparkle, punches or dies or texture.  I went with texture and diecutting.   Stampin Up! came out with the most gorgeous embossing folder called Elegant Lines.  I used that folder here.  The embossed piece is matted with some DCWV metallic green cardstock, although it is a little hard to tell it is green.  I added some pale green pearls and some yummy sheer Midori organza ribbon.  The sentiment. ODBD's Grow in Grace, was stamped using Ranger's Bundled Sage distress ink and then die cut using a Spellbinders Labels 4 die.   The label was tucked up close to the bow.

Thanks for taking a peek... hope your November is off to a good start!

Supplies:  Cardstock:  PTI White; DCWV green metallic; Stamps:  ODBD Grow in Grace; Ink:  Bundled Sage; SU! Embossing Folder; Kaiser pearls; Midori organza ribbon