Papertrey February Blog Hop Challenge

I'm so excited today that I get to participate in the Papertrey Blog Hop for the first time ever!  I've been thinking about this card for a couple of days now and it turned out so much better than I thought it would.  I absolutely love these new zipper dies from Papertrey.  They can turn a boring card into something fun!  Especially for all of the little relatives that I have the probably don't even care about the card :)

I made this card with three zippers on it.  The image to the right is what it looked like before I put the zippers on.  Then I added some flowers with buttons that I die cut.  I covered the buttons with some Liquid Glass to make them shiny (thanks to Maile Belles' inspirational post from yesterday!).  I then added some white thread to make a dainty little bow.  The two butterflies are made with two layers of vellum and I added a body to the butterfly with some pearly white 3D paint.  And just so my pretty little flowers don't get ripped off of the card, I used a craft knife to slice a line through the zipper right under the edge of the flower.  That way it rips right before the flower :)



Sketch challenges

Here are a few cards I've created over the past week.  This first one was really fun to make.  I used one of the new dies from Papertrey.  I have a lot of nieces and nephews and it's always hard for me to make a fun card for them, but this is the perfect idea for a fun card!

The next 3 cards are sympathy cards that I made for my mom to use.  She had a friend pass away recently, so I made her a few to choose from.

Viva La Verve - February - Week 1

I am so excited today... For anyone who follows my blog, might know my struggles to get a good picture.  I don't have a fancy camera... just a regular old point and shoot digital camera.  This morning, I finally went into the settings to try to adjust a couple of things and I found a whole bunch of things that I wish I knew was on this camera long time ago!  I made some adjustments and here it is... a picture I'm finally happy with!  I took this picture with a regular floor lamp light (usually gives me a yellowish tint) and it's a rainy day today... so all odds were against me!  Okay, now to my card.

I said before that I'm using an old paper pack... and vowed to use it til it's gone... but there's only so much BLUE I can take, so I'm vowing to use up two different paper packs.  This one includes pink, so I have a little more variety, especially with Valentine's Day coming up.  I used CTMH Notebook paper with a CTMH Intrinsic Background stamp.  All of the dies are Papertrey, except the border, which is from MFT Stamps.

Wedding Guest Book

A couple of months ago, I was tasked with making my husband's cousin's Guest Book for her wedding in March.  I was having the toughest time coming up with a design from scratch.  I also had a tough time finding a book from a craft store that I could work with... that was... until I saw Heather Nichols's post HERE.

Oh, I just KNEW that's how I wanted to make it!

I started with a thick chip board-like sheet and cut 2 pieces to the size I wanted.  Then I trimmed the edges with a Papertrey edge die.  I cut two sheets of black cardstock the same size and adhered one piece to each side.

For the inside, I cut several sheets of white cardstock and printed on all sheets.  I created a template to punch several holes on the side to sew and  then I cut holes in each sheet with a small hole punch, using the template.    I also cut two larger holes on the side to attach the rings.  I sewed all of the sheets together with white thread and tied a small bow on the front.  After all of that was done, I decorated the front and attached two pretty white bows on the rings.

This is the first project like this that I've done... it was a lot of fun... I may find myself making more in the future!



Viva La Verve - January 2012 - Week1

This is the first Viva La Verve sketch of the year.  I used CTHM Sweetheart paper with Verve stamps and a heart punch.  This is one of my favorite color combos for Valentine's Day :)

Mojo Monday - 222

I'm hoping to finally get back into doing some sketch challenges.  I think it will be a good way to get me started in using up my patterned papers!  On this card I used CTMH That's Amore paper with a Verve Love Notes sentiment.  I need to keep this short and sweet since I have to get to work bright and early this morning :) 

A few masculine cards

These are a few cards that I made over the weekend.  I've decided that my card making New Year's Resolution has to be to start using my patterned paper on EVERY card I make!  The paper pack I used on these cards is the first paper pack I ever bought when I first started making cards.  It's Majestic Blue from CTMH and I'm pretty sure it's been retired for a  really long time!  So... I'll be using this set of papers until it's gone. Then I'll move on to a new set of papers.  I might have to make a few exceptions, though, since Valentine's Day is coming up :)

Anniversary card

I'm very late making this card... our anniversary was on the 22nd, but because of my husband's darned work (and other things), I'm just now getting around to give it to him.  I'm looking forward to 2012.  My husband should be getting out of the Army this year, which will be a huge sigh of relief!  It's been very tough 13+ years, but has definitely made us all stronger!  We will stick around Fort Knox, though... since I work here.  And I don't think I could ever give up Army life that easily :) 

Now, to my card... I used some neglected Basic Grey paper (all my patterned paper is neglected!  sometimes I forget I have a HUGE stash of it LOL!).  On the back cream panel, I stamped PTI Harvest Berries leaves and attached a WPlus9 pocket die... with some PTI die cut tickets and with Verve sentiments on them.  I didn't attach the tickets... they can be pulled out.  At first I wasn't completely feelin' this card... but after I stamped the Harvest Berries leaves and sanded the pocket down (after running it through the canvas/linen impression plate-- makes a huge difference!) I really like how it turned out :)

That's all for now... Happy New Year!



Birthday card and a lil dog

Now that I'm finished with my Christmas cards... time to move on! :)  I recently saw a card by Lisa Stenz that inspired me to make this one.  I've noticed the hard way that I have a huge stash of girly cards (I bet I have about 50 or more!) and no more masculine cards!  So my challenge in the upcoming months is to work on masculine cards.

I used a star die to create a stencil.  Then I sponged Olive and Twilight (CTMH) ink in the stencil, then stamped Happy Birthday, alternating colors.  I really like how this turned out... I can see myself using this technique alot!  Especially for Valentine's Day with a heart, instead of a star.  After I added a few popped smaller star dies, I added some Lime Green Stickles.  I know I keep saying it, but it really does look better in person (I think I'm going to have make sure my craft room is on the SOUTH side of the house when we move!)

Next up is a cute little puppy that I crocheted.  I stumbled across a blog where someone had made one of these cute little puppies.  And of course, I had to have it!  I went to the local bookstore and found the book... if I had lots of time, I'd be making these every day!  Just a tip for those that make stuffed animals... I've tried searching everywhere for the safety eyes.  I found some online that are super expensive!  They are really cute, but a cheap alternative is to sew the eyes and nose on with yarn, and cover them with some black diamond stickles!  It makes the eyes sparkle and makes the nose look wet... Oh they are so cute!

More Christmas cards!

Here are the last (I think) of my Christmas cards for this year.  Of course, I'll be hoping there are a couple of people I forgot so I can make a few more ;)  

All of the papers I used are from a stack from Oriental Trading Company.   I bought the blue/purple/pink/green stack from them two years ago.  Then I bought this really rich green and red/burgandy stack last year.  I've been finding myself not using papers as much lately, so I made myself get them out and start using them!

On this first card, I used all Papertrey stamps, dies and impression plates.

On the next card, I used a mix of Papertrey (background music notes), Close To My Heart (flurries), and My Favorite Things (snowflake dies and sentiment).  On the sentiment, I went over the words in a silver gelly roll pen.  I love the sparkle!

This next card was fun to make!  I love a quilted look... although I made this one really simple, I still really like it!

On the last card, I sort of cased a card HERE by Nichole Heady.  I  think she used the Mega sized mat stack dies... I used the original size with the Tiny Treats Christmas stamp set... I think I just might have to get the Tremendous Treats set next year.  I love these images!  I colored in the Holly berries and leaves with some Gelly Roll pens.  I love how they shimmer!  And on the corners, I added some random dots of Stickles.



Christmas cards

Here are a few cards that I've been working on this past week. I've actually made several more and shipped them off to my mom and mother-in-law... but forgot to take photos of them before I mailed them. I'm hoping to finish all of my Christmas cards today. I only have a few left, then I can get them ready to mail out on December 1st!



Veteran's Day cards

Here is the small collection of Veteran's Day cards that I made for the people in my office.  They all measure 4.25 x 2.75 (a 4.25 x 5.5 folded in half).  I had alot of fun making these!

The  first one I used a PTI star die with a MFT dog tag die.  I braided some thread to  make the "chain" and stamped the flag with CTMH's Vintage USA. 

On this card I used an MFT Well Worn die set with a Verve sentiment.

On this next one, I used the PTI Label Basics die and stamp set with the new PTI Tag Sale Die.  The sentiment is from Verve's American Hero set.

The next card uses all PTI dies (Mat Stack 1, Tiny Tags and the star shape. The background set is from WPlus9.

The three star card uses all PTI dies with a CTMH sentiment.

And finally, my favorite one of the bunch.  I used an MFT die from their First Class Friend set. The sentiment is from Verve's American Hero set.



Make it Monday #37 - Layered Mats and Frames

Like I said in my last post... I really need to find a better way to get some good shots of my cards...  This really does look better in person!  : p 

So to the card... I used the new Christmas Poinsettia PTI stamp for the flower and framed it with the Mat Stack #3 die.  I added some MS gold glitter to the tips of the flower and added some gold mini brads in the center.  On the frame, I stamped the music notes in Versamark and brushed on some gold pigment powder... and finally to finish it off... I sponged on some gold 3D paint around the edges of the cocoa piece... after embossing it :)

Again... the colors are so much richer in person... maybe I need a darker background... I will have to experiment!  Thanks for looking!



Sweet Sunday Sketch - 140

I'm slowly making my cards for Veteran's Day.  I sure wish I could find a better place to take pictures.  I'm using natural light, but I jsust can't get a good shot!  The colors actually look richer in person... but this will have to do.

Clean and Simple Challenge 161

I'm not sure if this qualifies as clean and simple... I tried to add as much interest as possible without going overboard :)  

Supplies used -
Stamps: PTI Fancy Flourishes, Tag-Its 2; CTMH American Celebration
Other: Star punches, prisma glitter, stickles, CTMH Kraft Borders

Make it Monday #35 - Washi Tape

Gosh, it seems like FOREVER since I've made and posted a card!  This past month has been so busy with sports, work and other stuff... I just haven't found the time to get any card making done.

I was really excited to try the new Make it Monday for this week.  At first glance, I was thinking that I didn't have the supplies to make my own custom Washi tape... but when I realized all you need is Scor-Tape and tissue paper... I was excited to get started because I have both of those supplies! :p

This card took much longer than expected... mostly because I had planned on putting my new Washi tape over the dark cardstock.  I didn't realize that once you peel the white backing off of the scor-tape, the nice, bold, white background becomes more of a translucent tape... which wasn't looking too nice with my dark background.  So I had to adjust a little and add a little white gel pen to my white stripes.  The red stripes were made with the Text Style background stamp from PTI.  And the Thank You sentiment is from the Mat Stack 1 Collection.

Since Veteran's Day always sneaks up on me, I'm trying to start early getting my Veteran's Day cards made.  Don't forget to thank a veteran this year!  They really appreciate it! ;)

***Speaking of Veteran's Day and cards... anyone know where to find a stamp set designed for military that says "Happy Veteran's Day"?  I have several military themed stamp sets with lots of sentiments... but none with THAT sentiment.  Thanks in advance!

Pregnancy Milestones cards

Just the other day I had someone email me, asking for a special card request.  And the more I looked into it, I thought it was just the neatest idea.  She said that she's seen some cards by Hallmark, that were like postcards from baby.  She just found out she is pregnant and her husband is in Afghanistan so she wanted to send cards to him, that are from the baby... that tell how the baby is developing.  Here are the first few cards I've made, beginning with week 6.

 This card is when baby's heart has begun to beat.

At this week, baby is the size of the cherry on this card.

Hands and feet are forming.

Baby's eyes are formed, but not yet opened.

 Baby can open and close his hands (with which he will be able to throw a ball)

And finally, baby's tooth buds are forming... this was the only lil guy I could find in my stamp collection that had some teeth showing!

Lots of cards

Here are some cards I've been working on, but haven't had time to post.  Many of them were for sketch challenges... but I didn't get them posted in time!